Motheo is the Sesotho for “foundation” or “ strong base of a building” and is derived from the geographic positioning at the heart of the economic and industrial development of the province. Three local municipalities fall within the jurisdiction of the Motheo Region:

Mangaung Local Municipality

• Bloemfontein: Known as the “City of Roses”, it is the sixth largest city in SA and the capital of the Free State in all respects. It is also the seat of the Appeal Court, while forming the cultural, tertiary educational and shopping hub of the province. Also from a historical point of view, Bloemfontein/Mangaung ranks top of the list.
  
• Botshabelo: 45km from Bloemfontein on the N8 road to Lesotho it is the largest township settlement in the Free State and the second largest after Soweto. Botshabelo contains a massive industrial complex comprising 240 000 m² of floor space, currently 100% occupied by a total of 154 factories.
  
• Thaba 'Nchu: Situated 12km from Botshabelo, this town is a site for luxury hotels and casino's, with the Maria Moroka Nature Reserve surrounding Thaba 'Nchu Sun and Setlogelo Dam. At Thaba 'Nchu, industrial development is coming on stream, with the revamped Selosesha Industrial Park, the 13 000m² Ratlou shopping complex, an office block, houses and blocks of flats.
  

Mantsopa Local Municipality

• Ladybrand,
• Hobhouse,
• Excelsior,
• Tweespruit and
• Thaba Phatswa.

The area is also traversed by the Maluti Route on the R26 from Kwazulu Natal via the Eastern Free State, up to the Eastern Cape highlands and the Lesotho Kingdom. Ladybrand especially is an economically bustling town with high property prices and sometimes being populary referred to as the “capital” of Lesotho.

Naledi Local Municipality

• Dewetsdorp,
• Wepener and
• Vanstadensrus

Stretched along the Highlands of the Maluti Route, the R26 Route winds through this area.

• Civic Centre
• Anglican Cathedral – one of the oldest buildings in the city
• Aventura – Maselspoort, 21 km from Bloemfontein
• Botanical Gardens
• Freshford Museum
• Zoo Gardens
• Sand Du Plessis Theatre
• National Museum – huge collection of fossils and archaeological discoveries
• Women’s Memorial Monument
• Anglo-Boer War Museum
• Loch Logan Waterfront
• Mimosa Mall Shopping Complex
• Naval Hill and Franklin Game Reserve
• Oliewenhuis Art Gallery
• Free State House - Premier’s residency
• Twin-spired Church
• President Brand Street –housing inter alia Appeal Court, Free State Legislature, Gen.C R de Wet Statue, City Hall, Afrikaans Literature Museum
• Rose Festival
• SA Military Museum

For more information contact : Tel: 051-352 4820

• St Johannes Lutheran Church, established 21 July 1929 – scene of the first forced removals of coloured people to the present Heidedal
• Motshabi Centre, formerly YMCA club, the mecca of dance and indoor sports at the time
• Madison Square Garden Beer hall next to hostel no.1
• Drive through Fort Hare Road, the Mangaung CBD
• Digareteneng (Place of Curtains), built to coincide with the visit of King George V in 1952
• Maphikela House built in 1926 and commonly known as the birth place of the ANC, declared as a national monument Mr Thomas Maphikela was the first General-Secretary of the ANC
• Coostah House, the only sandstone building in the township next to the Arena. Today it is a tailor shop.
• Klein Makhasa hall. Nelson Mandela addressed a meeting before the adoption of the Freedom Charter in 1954 in Bochabela Location. Also a mecca for song and dance
• Moods and Flavours for top quality jazz. Other pubs and taverns include Las Vegas, TBI, Quiet Storm, etc.
• Jack Parr House: Victorian style house in Bloemanda
• The first hotel in Mangaung – Mahatane Hotel – today still standing proud
• Ramkraal Prison - Now Setshabelo Art Centre
• Paradise Hall
• Klein Makhasa Hall – where then President-to be Nelson Mandela gave an address before the 1955 adoption of the Freedom Charter
• Ten Pounds
• Moshoeshoe Road - barber stalls, beer hall, migrant hostels
• Traditional African home-brewed beer - “Umqombothi”

For more information contact: Tel 051-352 4820

Bloemfontein/Mangaung can be viewed from the top of Naval Hill, where one also come across wildlife in the Franklin Game Reserve, the only reserve of its kind in the world completely surrounded by a city. Bloemfontein offers all the modern elements and facilities needed to ensure its viability as a competitive urban destination. These include upmarket shopping centres, hundreds of restaurants and a host of nightlife opportunities, etc. The streets of Bloemfontein are lined with magnificent sandstone architecture especially President Brand Street, which is well worth a walk down. There are many impressive museums and monuments - one of which is the national Women's Memorial commemorating the 27 000 women and children who perished during the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902. A little later in history the ANC was formed in 1912 in the Mangaung township of Batho, while the Nationalist Party was founded in Bloemfontein in 1914.

Bloemfontein has a busy cultural and social events calendar. One of the annual events not to be missed, is the Macufe Festival in September, a cultural eisteddfod of storytelling, poetry, art, music and dance. In terms of arts and entertainment, Bloemfontein offers the world-class Sand du Plessis Theatre. This draws nationally acclaimed events and artist performances. Close to it, one can enjoy meals at Loch Logan Waterfront at one of the exquisite restaurants. This Waterfront has a permanent flea market which offers the best craft found from this region. Meanwhile, for a true African ghetto experience, visit the historical township jazz performances. Today Mangaung Municipality covers Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba ‘Nchu, with the administrative head office at Bloemfontein.

60 Km from Mangaung lies Botshabelo and Thaba ‘Nchu. Botshabelo is believed to be the largest township in the Free State and second largest in the country after Soweto. Thaba ‘Nchu is well-known for the Barolong tribe and Chief Moroka the famous. Apart from Thaba ‘Nchu Sun and Naledi Sun, while exploring the heart of the Free State you will also get great resorts like Philip Sanders and Aventura Maselspoort. Finally, watch the sun set at Soetdoring Nature Reserve after having watching the lions in the park being fed.

Botshabelo - “a place of refugee” - is 45 km from Bloemfontein on the N8 road to Lesotho and is believed to be the largest township settlement in the Free State - and the second largest in South Africa after Soweto. It is also well-known for its struggle for national liberation and against their incorporation into Qwa-Qwa, the then homeland. Even though there is few job opportunities, it has a low crime rate.

Attractions

• Arts and crafts
• Botshabelo Creation Co-op - traditional dress, weaving silk painting and bead work
• Heroes’ families - get the stories of loneliness, brutality and pain
• Petro Sanchez Clinic - K-section named after a Cuban doctor who was abducted while in service
• Community radio station - experience the local radio waves and chatting with local folks
• Rustfontein Dam and Nature Reserve, 10km from Botshabelo - game viewing, angling, water sports and picnic area with braai facilities - one can also visit the Bloem Water purification plant
• Onverwacht farm house - where the first settlement of Botshabelo was established in 1979.

Tourist Info: Tel: 082 422 0605 / Fax: 051 534 6187

Situated 65 km from Bloemfontein on the N8 - 10km from Botshabelo - this town was established in 1873 after long being inhabited by Chief Moshoeshoe and Basotho. “Thaba ‘Nchu” is the Sesotho name for “black mountain”. Today Thaba ‘Nchu is home to two luxury hotels and casino’s and the Maria Moroka Nature Reserve which surrounds Thaba ‘Nchu Sun and Setlogelo Dam.

Attractions

• Villages of tribes and communities which reigned supreme in the 1800’s
• Chief Albert Moroka’s house and seat of the Barolong tribal authority
• Historical memorial buildings - hospital and college
• Mmabana Cultural Centre - drama, arts, ceramics, bead work, silk painting and sporting activities
• Thaba ‘Nchu Sun and Naledi Sun
• Serwalo Sangoma Kraal
• Leroane Jazz Tavern
• Kromdraai forced removal ruins
• Arts and crafts

• Rustfontein Dam N8 off to Botshabelo
• New Berry Dam Westminster
• Philip Sanders Resort Bloemfontein
• Tierpoort Dam Bloemfontein
• Maselspoort Dam Bloemfontein
• Wimaweh Resort Thaba Patshwa
• Caledon River Wepener
• Welbedacht Dam
• Leeu River Dam Thaba Phatshwa
• Egmont Dam Vanstadensrus

For more info call: 051 447 1362/3

• Reyneke Park Bloemfontein
• Bloemfontein Caravan Park Bloemfontein
• Dagbreek Caravan Park Bloemfontein
• Tom’s Place Bloemfontein
• Soetdoring Nature Reserve Bloemfontein
• Philip Sanders Resort Bloemfontein
• Maselspoort Holiday Resort Bloemfontein
• Tweespruit Municipal Caravan Park Tweespruit
• Hobhouse Municipal Caravan Park Hobhouse
• Thaba Patshwa Camping Site Thaba Patshwa
• Rusfontein Dam / Palmietfontein Botshabelo
• Maria Moroka Park Thaba ‘Nchu
• Egmont Dam Vanstadensrus
• Caledon Nature Reserve Wepener

For more info call: 051 447 1362/3