Local municipality · Thabo Mofutsanyane District # Phumelela Phumelela is a local municipality of South Africa in Thabo Mofutsanyane District, Free State Province. It had an estimated 42,142 people in 2020 on 8,196 km² (about 5.1 per km²). 25 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 86 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 42,142 people (2020) - 8,196 km² - 86 mapped services - 1,679 m typical elevation ## How many people live in Phumelela? Phumelela had an estimated 42,142 people in 2020 — 6.4% of Thabo Mofutsanyane District, 158th of 190 local municipalities. There are 1,035 women for every 1,000 men (below the Thabo Mofutsanyane District figure of 1,126). Spread over 8,196 km², that is about 5.1 people per km², 161st of 190 local municipalities. 30.9% of people are children under 15 and 7.0% are 65 or older; the median age is about 27 years (it is 26 across Thabo Mofutsanyane District). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 61 children and older people. - 0–4 3,985 - 5–9 4,678 - 10–14 4,359 - 15–19 3,535 - 20–24 3,290 - 25–29 3,172 - 30–34 3,563 - 35–39 3,013 - 40–44 2,454 - 45–49 2,065 - 50–54 1,885 - 55–59 1,727 - 60–64 1,480 - 65–69 1,138 - 70–74 845 - 75–79 561 - 80+ 392 Source: Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO). ## Where is Phumelela? Phumelela lies in Thabo Mofutsanyane District, Free State Province, South Africa. It borders 9 other local municipalities: Alfred Duma, Dannhauser, Dihlabeng, Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme, Lekwa, Mafube, Maluti a Phofung, Newcastle and Nketoana. By area it is the 38th largest of 213 local municipalities in South Africa. It covers 25.0% of Thabo Mofutsanyane District. The centre of Phumelela is about 234 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 107 km from Phuthaditjhaba, the main town of Thabo Mofutsanyane District. The centre point is at 27.6349° S, 29.2229° E. Local names: FS195. Source: South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO). ## Things to see in and around Phumelela OpenStreetMap lists 5 named sights in Phumelela: 4 nature reserves; 1 zoo. - Eeram Protected Environment · nature reserve - Ingula Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Potberg Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Sneeuwberg Protected Environment · nature reserve - White Lions · zoo Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements. Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed. ## Know before you go: Phumelela - Time zone UTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg - Currency Rand (ZAR) - Country calling code +27 - Languages Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana - Plug types Type C, D · 230 V - Driving side Left - Postcode format 4 digits (####) ### Nearest airports - O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) · Johannesburg 192 km - Lanseria International Airport (HLA) · Johannesburg 228 km ### Nearest railway station Vrede (Phumelela), about 23 km from the centre. ### Daylight Days are longest in Dec (about 13.9 hours, sunrise around 05:02) and shortest in Jun (about 10.4 hours, sunrise around 06:51, sunset around 17:15). Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain). Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling. ## Villages and localities in Phumelela Open gazetteers list 25 villages, towns and localities in Phumelela. The largest with a recorded population: Vrede (21,193), Warden (13,152) and Memel (8,556). Settlements here lie between about 1,532 m and 2,004 m above sea level (median 1,679 m). - Arcadia - Droogebult - Gruisplaats - Kafferstad - Kalkfontein - Kalwevlei - Kromhof - Langhoek - Memel - Meulrivier - Mooidraai - Mooifontein - Moreson - Oosterbeek - Roadside - Rouw - Sweet Valley - Verkykerskop - Vrede - Warden - Waterbult - Wilgevlei - Zamani - Zanddraai - Zenzeleni Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements. ## Landscape and landmarks of Phumelela Named natural and historic features inside Phumelela, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 37 rivers and streams. - Blinkwater - Cornelisrivier - Doringdamrivier - Dwarsspruit - Elandsrivier - Gansvleispruit - Grootspruit - Hol - Holspruit - Houthoekspruit - Klein-Kommandospruit - Klein-Wilgerivier - Klipspruit - Klipspruit - Leeuspruit - Madden Spruit - Meulrivier - Modderspruit - Molen - Pampoenspruit - Pleasant Gift River - Poortjiespruit - Prinsloospruit - Rietspruit …and 13 more. ### Hills and mountains 33 mountains; 32 hills; 4 mountain passes; 1 peak. - Skeurklip · 2,305 m - Aasvoëlkop · 2,277 m - Herklaaskop · 2,271 m - Mont Pelaan · 2,267 m - Spitskop · 2,198 m - Aasvoëlkop · 2,147 m - Tafelkop · 2,145 m - Waterkop · 2,133 m - Spitskop · 2,118 m - Jakkalsrant · 2,102 m - Vaalkop · 2,089 m - Gemsbokberg · 2,085 m - Perdekop · 2,085 m - Loskop · 2,042 m - Witkoppies · 2,039 m - Wolwegate · 2,030 m - Kwaggakop · 2,025 m - Bothasberg · 2,024 m - Ndanyane Hill · 2,020 m - Rooikop · 2,020 m - Metsana · 2,015 m - Muisiebakenkop · 2,012 m - Rondehoekberg · 2,006 m - Bobbejaankerk · 2,004 m …and 46 more. ### Getting around 9 airfields; 3 railway stations. - Ascent - Beyers - Davidsvlei - Kadiesdrif - Kleinfontein - Magpela - Parkhurst - Tygerfontein - Vrede - Vrede - Warden - Warden Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features. Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate. ## Weather in Phumelela and the best time to visit Using the climate of Thabo Mofutsanyane District, the warmest month is Jan (average 21 °C) and the coolest is Jul (7 °C). About 596 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Dec (100 mm) and the driest Jul (7 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are August to May. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec | Month | Average °C | Rain mm | | Jan | 21 | 99 | | Feb | 20 | 78 | | Mar | 18 | 71 | | Apr | 14 | 40 | | May | 11 | 11 | | Jun | 7 | 14 | | Jul | 7 | 7 | | Aug | 10 | 16 | | Sep | 14 | 17 | | Oct | 17 | 58 | | Nov | 19 | 85 | | Dec | 20 | 100 | Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29. ## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Phumelela | Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | | | Hospital | Phumelela District Hospital · Phumelela | 23 km | Map | | Bank | Standard Bank · Phumelela | 24 km | Map | | ATM | Capitec Bank ATM · Phumelela | 24 km | Map | | Petrol pump | Mahem Motors · Phumelela | 24 km | Map | | Hotel | Isabella's Guesthouse · Phumelela | 23 km | Map | | School | Hoërskool Vrede · Phumelela | 23 km | Map | | Police station | Vrede SAPS · Phumelela | 24 km | Map | Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km. ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Phumelela Places mapped inside Phumelela in open map data, by type. - Hospitals 2 - Banks 6 - ATMs 4 - Petrol pumps 9 - Hotels 8 - Schools 43 - Restaurants 12 - Police stations 2 Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown. ## Other local municipalities in Thabo Mofutsanyane District - Dihlabeng - Maluti a Phofung - Mantsopa - Nketoana - Setsoto ## Quick answers - Where is Phumelela? In Thabo Mofutsanyane District, Free State Province, South Africa - What is the population of Phumelela? 42,142 (2020 estimate) - What is the median age in Phumelela? About 27 years (2020 estimate) - What is the population density of Phumelela? About 5.1 people per km² - What borders Phumelela? Alfred Duma, Dannhauser, Dihlabeng, Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme, Lekwa, Mafube, Maluti a Phofung, Newcastle and Nketoana - What is there to see in Phumelela? Eeram Protected Environment, Ingula Nature Reserve, Potberg Nature Reserve, Sneeuwberg Protected Environment - What time zone is Phumelela in? UTC+2 - What currency is used in Phumelela? Rand (ZAR) - What language is spoken in Phumelela? Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally) - How many villages are in Phumelela? 25 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap) - What is the elevation of Phumelela? Settlements lie between 1,532 m and 2,004 m - What is the highest point in Phumelela? Skeurklip (2,305 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Phumelela? August to May - Where is the nearest hospital to Phumelela? Phumelela District Hospital, about 23 km from the centre - Where is the nearest bank to Phumelela? Standard Bank, about 24 km from the centre - Where is the nearest ATM to Phumelela? Capitec Bank ATM, about 24 km from the centre - Where is the nearest petrol pump to Phumelela? Mahem Motors, about 24 km from the centre - How many hospitals are in Phumelela? 2 mapped - How many banks are in Phumelela? 6 mapped - How many ATMs are in Phumelela? 4 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Phumelela? 9 mapped - What is the P-code of Phumelela? ZA4195 (OCHA common operational dataset) At a glance - Type: Local municipality - Area: 8,196.0 km² - P-code: ZA4195 - District: Thabo Mofutsanyane District - Main town: Vrede --- Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/free-state/thabo-mofutsanyane/phumelela/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.