Piet Retief

• Name — Piet Retief • Other Name — eMkhondo • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — South Africa • Subdivision Type1 — Province • Subdivision Name1 — Mpumalanga • Subdivision Type2 — District • Subdivision Name2 — Gert Sibande • Subdivision Type3 — Municipality • Subdivision Name3 — Mkhondo • Subdivision Type4 — Main Place • Established Title — Established • Established Date — 1882 • Leader Title — Councillor • Area Total Km2 — 66.00 • Elevation M — 1251 • Population Total — 57428 • Population As Of — 2011 • Population Density Km2 — auto • Demographics Type1 — Racial makeup (2011) • Demographics1 Title1 — Black African • Demographics1 Info1 — 88.2% • Demographics1 Title2 — Coloured • Demographics1 Info2 — 1.3% • Demographics1 Title3 — Indian/Asian • Demographics1 Info3 — 2.1% • Demographics1 Title4 — White • Demographics1 Info4 — 8.0% • Demographics1 Title5 — Other • Demographics1 Info5 — 0.4% • Demographics Type2 — First languages (2011) • Demographics2 Title1 — Zulu • Demographics2 Info1 — 82.8% • Demographics2 Title2 — Afrikaans • Demographics2 Info2 — 7.8% • Demographics2 Title3 — English • Demographics2 Info3 — 5.0% • Demographics2 Title5 — Other • Demographics2 Info5 — 4.4% • Timezone1 — SAST • Utc Offset1 — +2 • Postal Code Type — Postal code (street) • Postal Code — 2380 • Postal2 Code Type — PO box • Postal2 Code — 2380 • Area Code Type — Area code • Area Code — 017

The town was founded by the Voortrekkers in 1883 and named it after the Voortrekker leader, Piet Retief, who was killed by the Zulus under their King Dingane's orders, after a negotiation for land failed. In 1886, the inhabitants of the town declared the Klein Vrystaat (Little Free State), which contained a population of only 72. This republic existed until 1891, when it was incorporated into the South African Republic. The town became a municipality in 1932. Its main tourist attraction is the Dutch Reformed Church that was designed by the architect Gerard Moerdijk and built in 1921.

The area has an annual rainfall of 1000 mm. Its main economic activities are timber, paper and wattle bark production as well as mica, kaolin and iron mining.

On 2 February 2010, South African Arts and Culture minister Lulu Xingwana approved a state decision for Piet Retief to be renamed to eMkhondo. Like many other post-apartheid name changes in South Africa, the incident remains controversial. Most residents are uncertain what the new name means. Unlike some place names, such as Verwoerdburg, the name was never considered offensive. Prominent Afrikaner groups, including the Freedom Front Plus, wish to restore the original name.

• Jack Diamond, architect, born in Piet Retief • Heino Kuhn, South Africa national cricket team player • Sandra Laing, woman who was born to white parents but reclassified as coloured during the apartheid era in South Africa, born in Piet Retief • Jabulani Mbatha, lifetime Chief, died in Piet Retief in 1945 • Dumisani Msibi, footballer • Ntokozo "K.O" Mdluli, musician (rapper), Teargas member • Pretty Yende, opera soprano • Ntandoyenkosi Kunene, Miss SA 2016