Bela-Bela

Bela-Bela (Tswana/Pedi for "the pot that boils")[2] - also known by its original name Warmbaths, Afrikaans: Warmbad[3]- is a town in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Deriving its name from the geothermic hot springs around which the town was built.

Not to be confused with Bella Bella (disambiguation).

Bela-Bela
Warmbaths
Coat of arms of Bela-Bela
Coat of arms
Motto: 
Salus et vita
Bela-Bela is located in Limpopo
Bela-Bela
Bela-Bela
Bela-Bela is located in South Africa
Bela-Bela
Bela-Bela
Bela-Bela is located in Africa
Bela-Bela
Bela-Bela
Coordinates: 24°53′S 28°17′E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceLimpopo
DistrictWaterberg
MunicipalityBela-Bela
Established1873
Area
[1]
 • Total23.29 km2 (8.99 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total45,001
 • Density1,900/km2 (5,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
 • Black African89.1%
 • Coloured1.7%
 • Indian/Asian0.7%
 • White8.2%
 • Other0.3%
First languages (2011)
[1]
 • Northern Sotho43.0%
 • Tswana18.1%
 • Tsonga12.4%
 • Afrikaans9.4%
 • Other17.1%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
0480
Area code014

The town is situated in the Waterberg District of the Limpopo Province. It lies off the N1 road between Pretoria and Polokwane (Pietersburg). Its hot springs produce 22,000 litres per hour at 52 °C (126 °F).[4]

The main hot springs holiday resort (previously run by state-owned company Aventura, formerly called Overvaal[5])[6] in the town is still branded Warmbaths.[7]

History
Slides and pools in the hot springs resort

When the Tswana tribes first moved into the region in the 1800s, they discovered hot springs in the area.[8]

The Voortrekker Carl Van Heerden established the first farm in what is now Bela-Bela and called it Het Bad. In 1873, President Burgers' Transvaal government bought the land and established a resort called Hartingsburg after the prominent Dutch biologist Pieter Harting.[3] The British occupied the town during the Anglo-Boer War, and renamed the post office Warm Baths in 1903, and proclaimed the boundaries of Warmbaths to be the entire farm of Het Bad.[2]

In 1920 Warmbaths was proclaimed a township (in the legal, not racial sense) and the township was designed by architect John Abraham Moffat[9] in that year. In 1950, it became a magisterial district. In 1932 Warmbaths became a village town and was established as a town council in 1960.[2]

Called Warmbaths in English, the Afrikaans name for the town was Warmbad.[3]

On 14 June 2002[10] the South African government officially renamed the town Bela-Bela (meaning "boiling boiling").[11]

Incorrect variations on this spelling are sometimes found, such as "Bella Bella"[12][13] and "Bela Bela".[4]

Climate
Climate data for Bela-Bela (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 40
(104)		 37
(99)		 37
(99)		 34
(93)		 32
(90)		 28
(82)		 28
(82)		 33
(91)		 37
(99)		 38
(100)		 38
(100)		 39
(102)		 40
(104)
Average high °C (°F) 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 28
(82)		 26
(79)		 24
(75)		 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 24
(75)		 28
(82)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 27
(81)
Average low °C (°F) 17
(63)		 17
(63)		 15
(59)		 12
(54)		 7
(45)		 3
(37)		 3
(37)		 6
(43)		 10
(50)		 14
(57)		 15
(59)		 16
(61)		 11
(52)
Record low °C (°F) 9
(48)		 10
(50)		 3
(37)		 2
(36)		 −2
(28)		 −8
(18)		 −6
(21)		 −6
(21)		 −3
(27)		 3
(37)		 6
(43)		 7
(45)		 −8
(18)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 120
(4.7)		 84
(3.3)		 74
(2.9)		 37
(1.5)		 7
(0.3)		 6
(0.2)		 2
(0.1)		 5
(0.2)		 16
(0.6)		 58
(2.3)		 101
(4.0)		 124
(4.9)		 634
(25.0)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 12 9 9 6 2 1 1 1 2 8 11 13 74
Source: South African Weather Service[14]

Education

Bela Bela has proven to be a town of intellectual importance through its academic achievements. The town is home to schools like Albert Luthuli Primary School, Bela Bela High school, Hleketane Primary School, Hoërskool Warmbad, Jinnah Park Primary School, Khabele Primary School, Laerskool Warmbad, Maope Secondary School, Mmamakwa Primary School, Mmampatile Primary School, Raeleng High School, Spa Park Primary, Settlers Agricultural High School and Ulando Secondary School.

Notable people

AB de Villiers

See also

References
  1. "Main Place Bela-Bela". Census 2011.
  2. "History of Warmbaths/ Bela-Bela". Marula Marketing. Archived from the original on 10 January 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  3. "Warmbaths". ArteFacts. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  4. "Warmbad / Bela Bela Information and Accommodation". Archived from the original on 30 December 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  5. "Committee Briefed on Repeal of Overvaal Resorts Limited Bill - Parliament of South Africa".
  6. News, eProperty. "Land claims put brakes on sale of Aventura resorts - eProperty News". eprop.co.za. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. "Warmbaths, A Forever Resort | Holiday destination in Bela-Bela, en-route between Pretoria and Pietersburg (Polokwane) | leisure, corporate, conference, weddings, hotel, accommodation, health hydro, spa, water park | Limpopo | South Africa". www.foreverwarmbaths.co.za.
  8. "Bela Bela, Limpopo | By South Africa Channel". Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  9. "Moffat, John Abraham". ArteFacts. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  10. "OldPlaceNames". South African Geographical Names System. Archived from the original on 8 February 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  11. "Bela-Bela Tourism". Bela Bela Tourism. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  12. "Minister says refugee children in SA must attend school". Mail & Guardian. 21 June 2009. Archived from the original on 16 October 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  13. "Residential and Commercial Property in Bela-Bela Limpopo South Africa". SA Property Showcase. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  14. "Climate data for Bela-Bela". South African Weather Service. Archived from the original on 10 September 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
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