Belfast / eMakhazeni

#Belfast (a.k.a. eMakhazeni) Belfast (a.k.a. eMakhazeni) is situated on the Mpumalanga Highveld. The climate varies from moderate summers to very cold winters. Belfast is one of the highest towns in South Africa. It is surrounded by a number of collieries - it falls within the Mpumalanga “coal belt”. The district produces maize, potatoes and timber. Apart from coal, black granite is also mined here.

Belfast is especially renowned for excellent trout fishing. Another claim to fame is that Belfast exports tulip bulbs to Holland. This is because of the cold winters. The flowers are discarded and about 6 million bulbs are exported to Holland each year.

During the South African War (Anglo-Boer war) a number of battles and some skirmishes took place in this vicinity. Among them were the battles of Leliefontein and Monument Hill. In the second phase of the war, the British realised that the Boer women, who kept on farming and providing the Boers with victuals and intelligence, played a vital role. They resorted to the 'scorched earth' policy (burnt down farms and homesteads) and put the women and children in concentration camps, one of which was erected at Belfast.