View source for Senekal

{{Other uses|Senekal (surname)}}
{{distinguish|Senegal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2020}}{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Senekal
| image_skyline           = NG kerk Senekal.jpg
| image_caption           = Dutch Reformed Church in Senekal
| pushpin_map             = South Africa Free State#South Africa#Africa
| coordinates             = {{coord|28|19|S|27|36|E|region:ZA|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[South Africa]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of South Africa|Province]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Free State (province)|Free State]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Districts of South Africa|District]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality|Thabo Mofutsanyane]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[List of municipalities of South Africa|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Setsoto Local Municipality|Setsoto]]
| subdivision_type4       = Main Place
| established_title       = Established
| established_date        = 1877<ref name=established>{{cite thesis |last=Robson |first=Linda Gillian |title=The Royal Engineers and settlement planning in the Cape Colony 1806–1872: Approach, methodology and impact |date=2011 |type=PhD thesis |publisher=University of Pretoria |chapter=Annexure A |chapter-url=https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/26503/05back.pdf?sequence=6&isAllowed=y#page=31 |url=https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/26503 |hdl=2263/26503 |pages=xlv–lii}}</ref>
| government_type         = Local Government
| leader_party            = ANC
| leader_title            = Councillors
| leader_name             = Mrs M Mthimkhulu (Ward 3); Mrs M Motsei (Ward 5);
Mr M Silasi (Ward 6); Mr L Modire (Ward 7)
| area_footnotes          = <ref name=census2011>Main Places [http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/469003 Senekal] from Census 2011.</ref>
| area_total_km2          = 32.9
| population_footnotes    = <ref name=census2011 />
| population_total        = 3466
| population_as_of        = 2011
| population_density_km2  = auto
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = Racial makeup (2011)
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name=census2011 />
| demographics1_title1    = [[Bantu peoples of South Africa|Black African]]
| demographics1_info1     = 53.3%
| demographics1_title2    = [[Coloureds|Coloured]]
| demographics1_info2     = 1.4%
| demographics1_title3    = [[Indian South African|Indian]]/[[Asian South African|Asian]]
| demographics1_info3     = 1.7%
| demographics1_title4    = [[White South African|White]]
| demographics1_info4     = 42.8%
| demographics1_title5    = Other
| demographics1_info5     = 0.8%
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = [[First language]]s (2011)
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name=census2011 />
| demographics2_title1    = [[Sotho language|Sotho]]
| demographics2_info1     = 47.4%
| demographics2_title2    = [[Afrikaans]]
| demographics2_info2     = 45.8%
| demographics2_title3    = [[South African English|English]]
| demographics2_info3     = 3.0%
| demographics2_title4    =
| demographics2_info4     =
| demographics2_title5    = Other
| demographics2_info5     = 3.8%
<!-- blank fields (section 2) -->
<!-- Other information -->
| timezone1               = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]]
| utc_offset1             = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[List of postal codes in South Africa|Postal code]] (street)
| postal_code             = 9600
| postal2_code_type       = [[Post-office box|PO box]]
| postal2_code            = 9600
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in South Africa|Area code]]
| area_code               = 058 481
| website                 = http://www.senekal.biz
}}
'''Senekal''' is a town situated on the banks of the [[Sand River (Free State)|Sand River]] in the eastern part of the [[Free State (South African province)|Free State]] province of [[South Africa]]. It was named after Commandant [[FP Senekal]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} It is the second largest town in Setsoto Municipality after [[Ficksburg]], the seat of Setsoto. Senekal lies on the [[N5 (South Africa)|N5 national road]] between [[Winburg]] on the west and [[Bethlehem, South Africa|Bethlehem]] to the east.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Way: N5;R70;R707 (304592049) |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/304592049 |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=OpenStreetMap |language=en}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
It has two townships, Matwabeng and OR Tambo Section, the latter being the latest, largest and fastest growing.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
Senekal combined with its townships have two police stations, correctional facilities, one hospital and three functioning clinics with the fourth still underway in OR Tambo Section.
It has a radio station, Naledi Community radio station, which serves most parts of the Eastern Free State and small parts of Lesotho.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} It broadcasts on 103.9&nbsp;MHz.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
Farming around Senekal plays a vital role in the economy of the province and country at large. Produce includes maize, sunflower, wheat, milk and livestock.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
The two most spoken official languages around Senekal are [[Afrikaans]] and [[Sotho language|Sesotho]], the latter being the most widely spoken.
Places of interest in Senekal include Arizona Game Reserve, Biddulphs Mountain Resort and [[Willem Pretorius Game Reserve]], though in Matjhabeng, falls under Setsoto Boundaries.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} One of the oldest churches in the Free State can be found at the centre of the town.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} The church is fenced with petrified wood, originally excavated from farms nearby.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
== Farm attacks and 2020 protests ==
In October 2018 rural safety in the Senekal area was thrown in the spotlight when Mr Mandeni Johannes Moloi was murdered on his farm, after several break in attempts at his house.<ref name="kle1">{{cite news |last1=Kleynhans |first1=Leona |title=Mandeni Johannes Moloi murdered in farm attack - DA FState |url=https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/mandeni-johannes-moloi-murdered-in-farm-attack--da |accessdate=15 November 2020 |agency=PoliticsWeb |publisher=politicsweb.co.za |date=5 October 2018}}</ref> Two alleged perpetrators were arrested, and the [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|DA]] proposed the establishment of rural safety units.
On 6 October 2020, agricultural leaders and community members protested outside the Senekal Magistrate Court, as the trial of Mahlamba and Matlaletsa, the accused killers of farm manager [[Killing of Brendin Horner|Brendin Horner]], commenced.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Pijoos |first1=Iavan |title=‘Enough is enough’: Hundreds gather to demand justice for Brendin Horner |url= https://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2020-10-06-enough-is-enough-hundreds-gather-to-demand-justice-for-brendin-horner/ |accessdate=10 October 2020 |newspaper=News24 |date=6 October 2020}}</ref> Protesters stormed the court and a police car was turned over and allegedly set on fire.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Seleka |first1=Ntwaagae |title= WATCH l Police van torched as farmers storm holding cells of Brendin Horner murder accused |url= https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/just-in-armed-free-state-farmers-storm-holding-cells-of-brendin-horner-murder-accused-20201006 |accessdate=10 October 2020 |newspaper=News24 |date=6 October 2020}}</ref> Various groups and public figures, including Police Minister [[Bheki Cele]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Cele ’disgusted’ by farmers resorting to violence at Brendin Horner murder trial |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/free-state/cele-disgusted-by-farmers-resorting-to-violence-at-brendin-horner-murder-trial-4681e48f-c313-4562-b100-058d369ae4e7 |accessdate=10 October 2020 |newspaper=IOL}}</ref> Justice and Correctional Services Minister [[Ronald Lamola]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Lamola condemns Senekal violence |url=https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2020-10-08-lamola-condemns-senekal-violence/ |newspaper=DispatchLIVE}}</ref> Free State Premier [[Sisi Ntombela]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Premier Sisi Ntombela notes vandalism and strike action at Senekal Magistrate’s court |url=https://www.gov.za/speeches/premier-sisi-ntombela-notes-vandalism-and-strike-action-senekal-magistrate%E2%80%99s-court-7-oct |website= South African Government |accessdate=10 October 2020}}</ref> and the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union,<ref>{{cite news |title= Political parties condemn farmers' violent rampage outside Senekal Magistrates Court |url= https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/political-parties-condemn-farmers-violent-rampage-outside-senekal-magistrates-court-3759a02b-fb62-44cd-9383-2bbc90ca11b3 |accessdate=10 October 2020 |newspaper=IOL}}</ref> condemned the occurrences. Their next court appearance of 16 October<ref>{{cite news |title=Attend #BrendinHorner court case - Malema |url=https://www.ofm.co.za/article/centralsa/297792/attend-brendinhorner-court-case-malema |newspaper=OFM}}</ref> was once again accompanied by demonstrations from different groups outside the court building.<ref>{{Cite news|date=16 October 2020|title=IN PICS: Tensions high in Senekal|work=eNCA|url=https://www.enca.com/news/pics-tensions-high-senekal}}</ref>
==Notable people from Senekal==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their OWN article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
* [[Dj Finzo Sefatsa]] - Lesedi FM
* [[Naka Drotské]] – former rugby player and coach of the [[Free State Cheetahs]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Allen Erasmus Drotske|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/player/11657.html|access-date=2020-10-26|website=ESPN Scrum|publisher=[[The Walt Disney Company]]}}</ref>
* [[Toks van der Linde]] – former rugby player and TV personality<ref>{{Cite web|title=Albert van der Linde|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/player/12127.html|access-date=2020-10-26|website=ESPN Scrum|publisher=[[The Walt Disney Company]]}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Senekal Commando]]
* [[Senekal's War]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Senekal
|North     = [[Steynsrus]]
|Northwest = [[Ventersburg]]
|Northeast = [[Lindley, Free State|Lindley]]
|East      = [[Bethlehem, Free State|Bethlehem]]
|Southeast = [[Rosendal, Free State|Rosendal]]
|South     = [[Marquard]]
|Southwest = [[Winburg]]
|West      = ''[[Allemanskraal Dam]]''
}}
{{Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Populated places in the Setsoto Local Municipality]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1877]]
[[Category:1877 establishments in the Orange Free State]]