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South African Infantry School

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The South African Infantry School is within the Army Base in Oudtshoorn , Western Cape . The Infantry School , now at Oudtshoorn, was established in November 1953, after a history dating back to the South African Military School in Bloemfontein, established in 1912. It is the Infantry’s “centre of excellence” and offers a number of infantry-specific courses to regulars and Reservists.

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52-702: On the 1 July 1912, the South African Military School was established in the old President's residence in Bloemfontein. The school's name was changed to The School of Musketry on the 1 November 1912 and moved to Tempe in Bloemfontein . On the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the school at Tempe was closed and all the members of the staff were transferred to Potchefstroom . These staff members were responsible for

104-590: A Sotho township, was the first formal housing projects to be approved by the municipality in 1956. Physical buffers such as the railway line and roads were put into place to separate black ethnic groups, the white and coloured population. Eleven thousand housing structures, of which approximately 6,000 were government-built rental accommodations, were erected in Mangaung between 1952 and 1968. In 1968, Mangaung faced severe housing shortages when as many as 3,000 to 6,000 housing units were needed. To counter this problem,

156-574: A motocross track (tempe) run by the Bloemfontein Off Road Club, as well as a go-kart circuit (M&F Raceway), which was closed down in early 2015. Bloemfontein has a comprehensive shooting centre 20 km (12 mi) south of the city, offering most forms of shooting, including various clay target, pistol, and rifle disciplines. Bloemfontein's shooting sports community has produced many provincial and national representatives. Bloemfontein's Metallic Silhouette Shooting Range

208-423: A 55 km eastward expansion called Botshabelo was added in 1979. The Bloemfontein municipality channelled off all black urbanisation to Thaba Nchu and Botshabelo, which were developed as a source of cheap labour for the city of Bloemfontein. A subsidised bus service was established, and Botshabelo was declared a decentralisation point, meaning it was designated to become an industrial development point to reduce

260-547: A festival was appropriate, given the area's name. In 1976, the events spanned over a few days and included activities related to roses in the Sanlam Plaza. Since then, the rose festival has expanded and grown to meet the needs and interests of the public. Horticulturalists are invited to participate in competitions to design and improve unkempt gardens around the city. Festival activities occur in private gardens all over Bloemfontein as city residents open their gardens to

312-407: A green environment, such as solar power, grey water systems, vegetable tunnels, JoJo tank systems, etc. Bloemfontein houses many institutions of learning, from pre-schools to universities and colleges. Classes are taught in different languages from school to school, with some even teaching all their classes in two languages. The languages are predominantly Afrikaans , English, and Sesotho . There

364-600: Is Mangaung , meaning "place of cheetahs ". Though historically a !Orana and Barolong settlement, and then a Boer settlement, Bloemfontein was officially founded in 1846 as a fort by British Army major Henry Douglas Warden as a British outpost in the Transoranje region, at that stage occupied by various groups of peoples including !Orana (so-called "Korana" of the ǀHõaǁʼaes, ǀHũdiǁʼaes, Einiǁʼaes, and others), Cape Colony Trek Boers , Griqua (at that time known as "Baasters") and Barolong . Warden initially chose

416-521: Is a Further Education and Training College called Motheo FET College, which comprises three main campuses (Thaba N'chu, Hillside View, and Bloemfontein) and satellite campuses in Zastron, Philippolis, and Botshabelo.Motheo TVET College The private sector mainly drives Bloemfontein's economy. Bloemfontein's share of National GDP, employment, and population is the lowest among the benchmark group of South African and Southern African cities, falling just below

468-669: Is also hosted at the Waterfront, along with the Miss Volksblad Rosebud competition for girls aged 3–4 years old, organised in conjunction with the Volksblad daily newspaper. The Rose Morning High Tea usually occurs at the Urth Garden Centre, where tea and treats are served. The Urth Garden Centre is a retail and wholesale nursery that is located on Kenneth Kaunda Road in Bloemfontein. The crowning of

520-615: Is one of the top metallic silhouette shooting ranges in the world. Three IMSSU international championships have been held here : Bloemfontein has two rock climbing clubs with a wall and boulder cave. Every year Bloemfontein, the 'City of Roses', celebrates the 'Bloemfontein Rose Festival', also known as the 'Mangaung Rose Festival', in October—the cool month in which roses in the Free State bloom best. The majority of

572-459: Is very common but snow is rare. Snowfall was reported in August 2006 with snowfalls occurring again at the airport on 26 July 2007. As recently as August 2020 and July 2021 very light snow fell across the city with heavier snowfall on 4 June 2024. In addition, the city's highland elevation allows for exceptional temperature diurnal of about 15-20°C (27-36°F) Bloemfontein suburbs include Heidedal to

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624-573: The Battle of Paardeberg , the British captured the city and built a concentration camp nearby to house Boer women and children. In 1913, the National Women's Monument was constructed on the outskirts of the city to commemorate all Boer civilians who died in concentration camps during the war. The hill in town was named Naval Hill after the naval guns brought in by the British to fortify

676-506: The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality , which was upgraded from a Local Municipality in 2011. The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality elects a municipal council for five-year periods through a mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) system in which wards elect individual councillors alongside those named from party lists. Voters get two votes: one for a representative to become a ward councillor and

728-738: The Orange Free State Republic (1854–1902). From 1902 to 1910, it served as the capital of the Orange River Colony and since that time as the provincial capital of the Free State . In 1910, it became the Judicial capital of the Union of South Africa . A possible etymology for the city's name is that it is called Bloemfontein lit. "Bloem's fountain", after Jan Bloem II, a Griqua leader. The Orange Free State

780-610: The legislative capital Cape Town and administrative capital Pretoria , although the highest court in South Africa, the Constitutional Court , has been in Johannesburg since 1994. Situated at an elevation of 1,395 m (4,577 ft) above sea level, the city is home to 256,185 (as of 2011) residents and forms part of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality which has a population of 747,431. It

832-739: The 28 March 1980, the Infantry School received its own song from the well known Dirkie and Doll de Villiers. The song was handed over to the Commanding Officer, Col W.G. Kritzinger, during a parade at the school and the song was performed for the first time by the School's choir. During December 1980, the Exerce Perfectioni Statue was handed over to the School by the City Council of Oudtshoorn. The statue

884-650: The Blue Bulls in 2006 and retained the Currie Cup title in 2007 by beating the Golden Lions , resulting in the Cheetahs remaining Currie Cup champions until 2008 when the failed to make the final for the first time since 2004. 2009 saw the Cheetahs return to the Currie Cup final, but they could not beat the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld . In 2016, the Cheetahs won the Currie Cup after a perfect season, beating

936-590: The Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein. The Knights cricket team representing the Free State and Northern Cape in various series is located at Mangaung Oval , part of the Free State Stadium complex. Bloemfontein features as a regular venue for touring international and local cricket teams. The town has one of the most active soaring communities in South Africa and the world, using the New Tempe Airport , north of Bloemfontein. Bloemfontein has

988-705: The Cape Stands residential area, which was occupied by the city's coloured population , and moved the residents to Heidedal . However, due to Coloureds living in such proximity to black people, intermarriages across racial lines occurred, resulting in a partially mixed population in Heidedal and Mangaung . In 1952, the Bloemfontein municipality began building new residential areas for the city's black population. New residential areas to separate ethnic groups such as Sotho , Xhosa and Tswana were formed. The residential areas were jointly known as Mangaung. Phahameng,

1040-758: The King and Mangaung in the year of nomination. The Mangaung Rose Classic Cycle Tour is a road race that takes place during the festival every year. The event is organised by AfriCycle Tours, and the dates are announced annually. The race starts at the Urth, and the race distances include 22 km, 56 km, and 106 km. This expo forms part of the Mangaung/Bloemfontein Rose Festival and gives 'green' and organic local businesses an opportunity to promote their businesses. This includes showcasing different products and services that support

1092-546: The Maphikela House (where the African National Congress started) is situated. The Free State Stadium and the surrounding sports complex are the primary sports venues in the city and province. The venue was the hosting stadium of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa matches played in Bloemfontein. There are several other sports venues in the city, however, including facilities belonging to

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1144-556: The Union's judicial capital. Bloemfontein was also given financial compensation. On 8 January 1912, the South African Native National Congress (SANNC) was founded in Bloemfontein. The Union of South Africa had not granted rights to black South Africans, causing the organisation's creation. Its primary aim was to fight for the rights of black South Africans. During the implementation of pass laws ,

1196-583: The city of Port Elizabeth . The city's share of the National GDP is 1.73%, with a share of national employment at 1.86% and a share of the national population at 1.67%. Bloemfontein's GDP growth, at 0.57% in 2015, stood in the lower half of the benchmark group of cities. Like other major cities in South Africa, Bloemfontein's GDP growth has slowly decreased in recent years. The city is home to two of South Africa's top construction and infrastructure companies. Raubex Group Ltd, established in 1974 and listed on

1248-642: The city saw major demonstrations that forced South African authorities to exempt women from them for nearly four decades. From 1 to 9 January 1914, James Barry Munnik Hertzog and his supporters met in Bloemfontein to form the National Party of the Orange Free State , and to lay down its principles, following Hertzog's exit from the South African Party in 1913. The National Party grew to govern South Africa in 1948 and implement

1300-437: The city. A railway line was built in 1890 connecting Bloemfontein to Cape Town . The railway line provided a centrally located railway station and proved critical to the British in occupying the city later. The writer J. R. R. Tolkien was born in the city on 3 January 1892. However, his family left Orange Free State (now Free State province , South Africa) following the death of his father, Arthur Tolkien , when Tolkien

1352-436: The distance between the place of employment and the place of residence. In 1988, approximately 14,500 people were commuting daily between Botshabelo and Bloemfontein. This meant that 55% of Botshabelo's workforce was employed outside the city. In 1994, after the disestablishment of the apartheid government, Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, and Thaba Nchu became part of Motheo District Municipality . The Motheo District Municipality

1404-493: The east and southeast, Bain's Vlei , Woodland Hills Wildlife Estate , Brandwag , Ehrlich Park , Fauna , Fichardt Park , Fleurdal , Gardenia Park , Generaal De Wet , Hospitaalpark , Kiepersol, Lourier Park , Park West, Pellissier , Uitsig , Universitas , Westdene , Wilgehof and Willows to the south of the city. In the centre is Bloemfontein Central . To the west of Bloemfontein, you will find Langenhoven Park . To

1456-536: The events happen at the Loch Logan Waterfront in Bloemfontein. The festival attracts rose enthusiasts from all over South Africa and the world to participate in and experience this grand showcase of roses and other local events and attractions. The festival has made Bloemfontein a popular tourist destination with thousands of people attending the festival annually. The first rose festival occurred in 1976, when council members decided that hosting such

1508-503: The first digital planetarium in the southern hemisphere, the Naval Hill Planetarium, and Boyden Observatory , an astronomical research observatory. Bloemfontein is popularly and poetically known as "the city of roses" for its abundance of these flowers and the annual rose festival held there. The city is situated in the middle of the country; hence it is referred to as "Central South Africa". The city's Sesotho name

1560-607: The general public. Most festival activities occur at the Loch Logan Waterfront, the largest shopping centre in central South Africa. It spans about 80 000 m of space and is the hub of shopping, entertainment, sport, and culture in Bloemfontein. The waterfront displays flowers created by local nurseries as well as the official municipal display created by the parks department, which the Mangaung Municipality organises. The Free State Rose Society's champion Rose Cut Competition, with approximately 700 entrants every year,

1612-455: The general vegetation is Highveld grassland. Bloemfontein experiences a Cold Semi-arid climate ( Köppen BSk), with hot summer days and cool, dry winters with frosty nights. Rainfall usually arrives in the summer months, often in the form of dramatic but short-lived afternoon/evening thunderstorms that serve as a temporary relief from the heat. The city tends to be dry and dusty in winter with freezing nights and mostly mild, sunny days. Frost

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1664-467: The growth and maturing of the republic resulted in the development of Bloemfontein. The city constructed numerous public buildings that remain in use today, facilitated by the republic's governance and compensation from the British for the loss of the diamond-rich Griqua Land area. The old Orange Free State's presidential residence, the Old Presidency , is currently a museum and cultural space in

1716-650: The historic 4–1 defeat of England by Germany in the round of 16 Bloemfontein's Free State Stadium is home to two rugby union teams; the Cheetahs , who as of 2023 compete as in invited side in the EPCR Challenge Cup , and the Free State Cheetahs who play in the domestic Currie Cup . The Free State Cheetahs won the Currie Cup in 2005 against the Blue Bulls ; they drew the final with

1768-477: The landlord (British government), had the right to occupy urban land in towns where local municipalities did not yet exist. On 3 June 1861, the council demarcated three locations in the following areas; the black population was to move to the area that lay to the right of a neighbourhood that was known as Kaffirfontein, Coloureds were to move to the Waaihoek Black residential area on the eastern outskirts of

1820-438: The next number of years for the training of volunteers for overseas duty. During 1920, the South African Military School was established at what was then called Roberts Heights (This has subsequently changed names twice, first to Voortrekkerhoogte and now to Thaba Tshwane ). The college was granted the status of School in 1924 as a result of the training of the first group of permanent force Officer Candidates. The school

1872-418: The north you will find Arboretum , Baysvalley , Bayswater , Dan Pienaar , Helicon Heights, Heuwelsig , Hillsboro, Hillside, Hilton, Naval Hill , Navalsig , Noordhoek , Pentagon Park, Panorama Park, and Waverley . To the northeast, you will find Roodewal and Vallombrosa. The predominantly black suburbs are Rocklands, Phahameng, Phelindaba, Bloemanda, Bochabela, JB Mafora, and the most historic Batho, where

1924-614: The other for a political party. The latter vote distributes seats in the municipal council amongst parties, while the former distributes seats through the individual representatives. Bloemfontein is located in central South Africa on the southern edge of the Highveld at an elevation of 1,400 metres (4,600 ft), bordering on the semi-arid region of the Karoo . The area is generally flat with occasional hills ("koppies" in Afrikaans ), and

1976-543: The policy of racial segregation known as apartheid . When the National Party won the 1948 South African national government elections , they began implementing the policy known as apartheid . The policy was built on separate development of ethnic groups, and racial segregation was enforced. In Bloemfontein, residential segregation had begun in the 19th century with the passing of Ordinance 1 of 1860, which determined that no non-white, without written permission from

2028-856: The position against attack. On 31 May 1910, exactly eight years after the Boers signed the Peace Treaty of Vereeniging that ended the Anglo-Boer War between the British Empire and two Boer states , the South African Republic (Republic of Transvaal) and the Orange Free State , South Africa became a Union. Due to disagreements over where the Union's capital should be, a compromise was reached that allowed Bloemfontein to host Appellate Division and become

2080-646: The role of the unit where National Servicemen Junior Leaders were trained. The second occurred in December 1976 when it was decided to remove virtually all Citizen Force courses from the School and transfer them to the Danie Theron Combat School in Kimberley . In January 1977 another historic event occurred at the Infantry School that is the advent of the first prospective Cadet Officer intake of then recently qualified teachers. In those years,

2132-520: The site primarily because of its proximity to the main route to Winburg , the spacious open country, and the absence of horse sickness . Bloemfontein was the original farm of Johannes Nicolaas Brits, born on 21 February 1790, owner and first inhabitant of Bloemfontein. Johann – as he was known – sold the farm to Major Warden. With colonial policy shifts, the region changed into the Orange River Sovereignty (1848–1854) and eventually

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2184-560: The town. The inhabitants of these settlements had to pay the so-called hut tax and grazing rights tax. This laid the foundation for the implementation of residential urban segregation as envisaged by the architects of apartheid. When the South African apartheid government passed the Group Areas Act of 1950, the Bloemfontein municipality put into effect changes in the racial set-up of the city. The municipality demolished

2236-513: The unit had shouldered its share of the burden of duty in the operational area. Later on it had become policy to send companies of National Servicemen to the operational area as part of their training as Junior Leaders. 1977 was an important year in the school's history as they received their Colours on the 1 October 1977 and were granted the Freedom of the City by the City Council of Oudtshoorn. On

2288-470: The university, schools and sports clubs. Other stadiums in the city are Mangaung Oval , Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium and Clive Solomons Stadium . Bloemfontein was joint home (together with nearby Botshabelo ) to South African Premiership team Bloemfontein Celtic before the team sold their franchise in 2021. Some of the matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup were played at the Free State Stadium, including

2340-604: Was an independent Boer Republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Extending between the Orange and Vaal rivers, its borders were determined by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1848 when the region was proclaimed as the Orange River Sovereignty , with a seat of a British Resident in Bloemfontein. As the capital of the Orange Free State Republic,

2392-686: Was disestablished on 18 May 2011, and Mangaung was upgraded to become an autonomous metropolitan municipality with Bloemfontein as the main seat. Until 1994, the city was South Africa's sole judicial capital. It remains the seat for the Supreme Court of Appeal (formerly the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court). The city is also an administrative centre with many private hospitals and educational institutions. Free State Provincial Government building Bloemfontein forms part of

2444-550: Was during this period that the decision to move the Infantry School to Oudtshoorn , its present location, was taken. On 1 January 1964 the new, fully fledged Infantry School opened its portals in Oudtshoorn to admit its first students under the command of Cmdt M. N. Horner, SAIC. Since that day, the School has undergone two major metamorphoses. The first being in January 1974 when, in addition to its established role, it assumed

2496-558: Was enlarged just before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1935 with the creation of the following branches: During the 1940-1945 years, certain of these branches were moved. The Regimental Training was taken over by the Weapon Training Branch for example. It was during this era that the idea was mooted that there should be an independent Infantry School. In November 1953 the Weapon Training Branch

2548-569: Was officially renamed the Infantry School in terms of SADF order No. 206/53, but this renamed unit remained an integral part of the South African Military College . On 1 October 1963, after having been a ghost unit for almost 10 years, the Infantry School was finally established as a self accounting unit. At this stage and until 1 January 1964, Maj J. H. Rossouw, SAIC, was appointed Acting Officer Commanding. It

2600-810: Was one of the host cities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup . The city of Bloemfontein hosts the Supreme Court of Appeal , the Franklin Game Reserve, Naval Hill , the Maselspoort Resort and the Sand du Plessis Theatre . The city hosts numerous museums, including the National Women's Monument , the Anglo-Boer War Museum , the National Museum , and the Oliewenhuis Art Museum . Bloemfontein also hosts

2652-418: Was three (1895). He recorded that his earliest memories were of "a hot country". In 1899, the city was the site of the Bloemfontein Conference , which failed to prevent the outbreak of the Second Boer War . The conference was a final attempt to avert a war between Britain and the South African Republic , and its failure set the stage for war, which broke out on 11 October 1899. On 13 March 1900, following

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2704-421: Was unveiled by Gen Magnus Malan . 11 Field Postal Unit Bloemfontein Bloemfontein ( / ˈ b l uː m f ɒ n t eɪ n / BLOOM -fon-tayn ; Afrikaans: [ˈblumfɔntɛin] ), also known as Bloem , is the capital and the largest city of the Free State province in South Africa . It is often, and has been traditionally, referred to as the country's "judicial capital", alongside

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