Vryheid (AbaQulusi)
KwaZulu-Natal

The beginnings of the town of Vryheid reach back to the year 1884. After the end of the Anglo-Zulu War a group of Voortrekkers - with the leader Lucas Meijer - promised Zulu King Dinizulu military protection. In return the Boers received large portions of land and later here proclaimed their "Nieuwe Republiek" with Vryheid as the capital. and Lucas Meijer as President. The republic only existed until the year 1888 and then became part of the Zuid-Afrikaanse Republiek.

Vryheid is today a quaint country town, Afrikaans in style and atmosphere, with some 70,000 inhabitants. It belongs to the AbaQulusi municipality. Several historical buildings in the town centre are reminders of the town's history, like the "Lucas Meijer House", the "Old Raadsaal" (Town Council), the "Old Fort" and the "Landdrostkantoor" (Magistrate's Office). Most houses stand in Landdrost Street, where the local history museum, "Nieuwe Republiek Museum" also is situated, which houses a collection of remnants documenting the history of Vryheid.

Vryheid lies on the eastern outskirts of the so-called "Battlefields". This region in the north-west of the province of KwaZulu-Natal once was the scene of many historical events. Here numerous battles with far-reaching consequences were fought out, first between the Voortrekkers and the Zulus, then between the British and the Zulus and eventually between the Boers and the British. Mainly historically interested people from Great Britain, America and South Africa like visiting the old battlefields and monuments. Knowledgeable guides relate details of the tragic events of South Africa's colonial history and ever so often spectacular "re-enactments" of the main battles are being performed.

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Vryheid (AbaQulusi) KwaZulu-Natal

Vryheid (AbaQulusi)
KwaZulu-Natal