Bela-Bela
{{distinguish|Bella Bella (disambiguation)}}
{{Use South African English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Bela-Bela
| native_name =
| other_name = Warmbaths
| image_shield = Warmbaths logo.png
| motto = {{lang|la|Salus et vita}}
| pushpin_map = South Africa Limpopo#South Africa#Africa
| coordinates = {{coord|24|53|S|28|17|E|region:ZA|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = South Africa
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Limpopo
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Waterberg
| subdivision_type3 = Municipality
| subdivision_name3 = Bela-Bela
| subdivision_type4 = Main Place
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 1873
| leader_title = Councillor
| area_footnotes = {{cite web |url=http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/981003 |title = Main Place Bela-Bela |work=Census 2011}}
| area_total_km2 = 23.29
| population_total = 45001
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011)
| demographics1_title1 = Black African
| demographics1_info1 = 89.1%
| demographics1_title2 = Coloured
| demographics1_info2 = 1.7%
| demographics1_title3 = Indian/Asian
| demographics1_info3 = 0.7%
| demographics1_title4 = White
| demographics1_info4 = 8.2%
| demographics1_title5 = Other
| demographics1_info5 = 0.3%
| demographics_type2 = First languages (2011)
| demographics2_title1 = Northern Sotho
| demographics2_info1 = 43.0%
| demographics2_title2 = Tswana
| demographics2_info2 = 18.1%
| demographics2_title3 = Tsonga
| demographics2_info3 = 12.4%
| demographics2_title4 = Afrikaans
| demographics2_info4 = 9.4%
| demographics2_title5 = Other
| demographics2_info5 = 17.1%
| timezone1 = SAST
| utc_offset1 = +2
| postal_code_type = Postal code (street)
| postal_code = 0480
| postal2_code_type = PO box
| postal2_code =
| area_code_type = Area code
| area_code = 014
}}
Bela-Bela (Tswana/Pedi for "the pot that boils"){{cite web|url=http://www.accommodation-warmbaths.co.za/history.htm|title=History of Warmbaths/ Bela-Bela|publisher=Marula Marketing|access-date=14 December 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100110044104/http://www.accommodation-warmbaths.co.za/history.htm| archive-date= 10 January 2010 | url-status= live}} - formerly known as Warmbaths, Afrikaans: Warmbad{{cite web|url=http://www.artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/towndetframes.php?townid=244|title=Warmbaths|publisher=ArteFacts |access-date=14 December 2009}}- is a town in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Deriving its name from the geothermic hot springs around which the town was built.
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 {{convert|52|°C|°F|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url= http://www.warmbadinfo.com/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081230051426/http://www.warmbadinfo.com/ |url-status= usurped |archive-date= 30 December 2008 |title= Warmbad / Bela Bela Information and Accommodation |access-date= 31 October 2010 }}
The main hot springs holiday resort (previously run by state-owned company Aventura, formerly called Overvaal{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.gov.za/press-releases/committee-briefed-repeal-overvaal-resorts-limited-bill|title=Committee Briefed on Repeal of Overvaal Resorts Limited Bill - Parliament of South Africa}}){{Cite news|url=https://eprop.co.za/commercial-property-news/item/5402-Land-claims-put-brakes-on-sale-of-Aventura-resorts|title=Land claims put brakes on sale of Aventura resorts|website=eProperty News|first=Khulu |last=Phasiwe|date=2 June 2005|access-date=6 September 2024}} in the town is still branded Warmbaths.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foreverwarmbaths.co.za/|title=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|website=www.foreverwarmbaths.co.za}}
History
File:Waterslides at Warmbaths.JPG
When the Tswana tribes first moved into the region in the 1800s, they discovered hot springs in the area.{{cite web |url=http://www.southafrica.com/limpopo/bela-bela/ |title=Bela Bela, Limpopo {{!}} By South Africa Channel |access-date=31 October 2009}}
The Voortrekker Carl Van Heerden established the first Boer 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. 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.
In 1920 Warmbaths was proclaimed a township (in the legal, not racial sense) and the township was designed by architect John Abraham Moffat{{cite web|url=http://www.artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/archframes.php?archid=1103|title=Moffat, John Abraham|publisher=ArteFacts|access-date=14 December 2009}} 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.
Called Warmbaths in English, the Afrikaans name for the town was Warmbad.
On 14 June 2002{{cite web |url=http://sagns.dac.gov.za/Public/OldPlaceNames.aspx?Contains=W |title=OldPlaceNames |publisher=South African Geographical Names System |access-date=31 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208231613/http://sagns.dac.gov.za/Public/OldPlaceNames.aspx?Contains=W |archive-date=8 February 2010 }} the South African government officially renamed the town Bela-Bela (meaning "boiling boiling").{{cite web|url=http://www.belabelatourism.co.za/|title=Bela-Bela Tourism|publisher=Bela Bela Tourism|access-date=31 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330174747/http://www.belabelatourism.co.za/|archive-date=30 March 2009}}
Climate
{{Weather box
|location = Bela-Bela (1961–1990)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 40
|Feb record high C = 37
|Mar record high C = 37
|Apr record high C = 34
|May record high C = 32
|Jun record high C = 28
|Jul record high C = 28
|Aug record high C = 33
|Sep record high C = 37
|Oct record high C = 38
|Nov record high C = 38
|Dec record high C = 39
|year record high C = 40
|Jan high C = 30
|Feb high C = 29
|Mar high C = 28
|Apr high C = 26
|May high C = 24
|Jun high C = 21
|Jul high C = 21
|Aug high C = 24
|Sep high C = 28
|Oct high C = 29
|Nov high C = 29
|Dec high C = 30
|year high C = 27
|Jan low C = 17
|Feb low C = 17
|Mar low C = 15
|Apr low C = 12
|May low C = 7
|Jun low C = 3
|Jul low C = 3
|Aug low C = 6
|Sep low C = 10
|Oct low C = 14
|Nov low C = 15
|Dec low C = 16
|year low C = 11
|Jan record low C = 9
|Feb record low C = 10
|Mar record low C = 3
|Apr record low C = 2
|May record low C = -2
|Jun record low C = -8
|Jul record low C = -6
|Aug record low C = -6
|Sep record low C = -3
|Oct record low C = 3
|Nov record low C = 6
|Dec record low C = 7
|year record low C = -8
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 120
|Feb precipitation mm = 84
|Mar precipitation mm = 74
|Apr precipitation mm = 37
|May precipitation mm = 7
|Jun precipitation mm = 6
|Jul precipitation mm = 2
|Aug precipitation mm = 5
|Sep precipitation mm = 16
|Oct precipitation mm = 58
|Nov precipitation mm = 101
|Dec precipitation mm = 124
|year precipitation mm = 634
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 12
|Feb precipitation days = 9
|Mar precipitation days = 9
|Apr precipitation days = 6
|May precipitation days = 2
|Jun precipitation days = 1
|Jul precipitation days = 1
|Aug precipitation days = 1
|Sep precipitation days = 2
|Oct precipitation days = 8
|Nov precipitation days = 11
|Dec precipitation days = 13
|year precipitation days = 74
|source 1 = South African Weather Service{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110910111548/http://old.weathersa.co.za/Climat/Climstats/BelaBelaStats.jsp
| archive-date = 10 September 2011
| url = http://old.weathersa.co.za/Climat/Climstats/BelaBelaStats.jsp
| title = Climate data for Bela-Bela
| access-date = 19 November 2016
|publisher = South African Weather Service}}
}}
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
Jack Mithileni
Former Lecturer and inspector of schools who started his teaching career and education journey by being a teacher at Mphe-Mphe Primary School in the Waterberg District.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Waterberg District Municipality}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Populated places founded by Afrikaners
Category:Populated places established in 1873
Category:Populated places in the Bela-Bela Local Municipality