Breyten

Breyten
SAR Class 19 no. 1369, plinthed in Breyten
Breyten Breyten
Coordinates: 26°18′S 29°59′E
Country	South Africa
Province	Mpumalanga
District	Gert Sibande
Municipality	Msukaligwa
Area
• Total	4.52 km2 (1.75 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	14,347
• Density	3,200/km2 (8,200/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	94.4%
• Coloured	0.8%
• Indian/Asian	0.6%
• White	4.0%
• Other	0.2%
First languages (2011)
• Zulu	81.4%
• Swazi	4.5%
• Afrikaans	4.3%
• English	2.9%
• Other	6.8%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	2330
PO box	2330
Area code	017

Breyten is a small farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa and is situated at the foot of Klipstapel, the highest point on the watershed between the westward flowing Vaal River system and the eastward flowing Olifants and Komati River systems. The original farm, Bothasrus on which the town is built was given to Lukas Potgieter as compensation for losing a leg during the first Boer War. He later sold the farm to field-cornet Nicolaas Breytenbach, who formed the village in his own name.

Tselentis, Spitzkop and other mines in the area employ the majority of the people of Breyten. There is also a leather factory in Breyten called JCB Leather Works. Breyten has also a college called Xtensive ICT Academy, a private entity that deals with information technology training and private classes.

The main spoken languages are iSiSwati, Zulu and Ndebele.

Breyten was once a vibrant and well established rail stop. Passenger and freight trains departed and or connected in Breyten to Johannesburg, Nelspruit, Witbank, Pretoria and other areas of South Africa. Common freight transported was agricultural produce, livestock and most predominantly coal from the local coal mines. To this day, coal is still the most transported good. Due to changing economic times, the town has become depressed with high unemployment.

Breyten is a stopover for tourists en route to various holidays destination in the lowveld and the highveld. There is a Hotel and a few guest houses.

Lake Chrissie is 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of Breyten.

The nearest towns are Ermelo,from the N17, Hendrina from the Middelburg/Witbank N12/N4 and Carolina on the N11 or R36.

The most popular and well known celebrities from Breyten are Pax Mbana, Snugger Malinga, Silas Mhlongo, Doctor Magazi, the late Jwa Ngwenya and the late Mkota also known as "Cowboy". Both Pax and Snugger played for the local soccer teams and scored countless own goals. Pax is rumoured to be the first person to buy a car in Breyten which he nicknamed "uMahambema". On the arts and music entertainment side, the late Butana from eSbovini section was a likeable socialite. Nsizwa Aaron Mnisi was a rapper in the same dance group with Sbusiso "Madorofiya" Magnificent Zwane. Zayne Mqhamuki Nkosi is a well known soccer scout recognized for developing young soccer players like Pinkies Dludlu, Mkhari Sibande and Taurus all from Skapruz section. Kele is a well known heavyweight boxing champion who took the 1996 amature title from Qiniswayo from eZansi esection. Lucky Nhleko is known for his tenor voice and often sings Jazz at the empty local tavern every Thursday evening. Sipho Sphola is a former conductor of the Breyten choir that used to perform at the "Star" tavern. All these heroes live at the local township called KwaZanele. Breyten has a popular lounge called Lovers Rock. But there are no lovers there except for people waiting outside the door asking for ten cents. The last few years has seen the local mines building a community clinic which serves a great purpose to the community. Breyten has still more to offer. It was once a stronghold of the ANC but recently the EFF has gained ground and gave voices to the youth who are painstakingly championing change.