- Stilfontein, North West
Stilfontein is a
gold miningtown situated betweenKlerksdorp andPotchefstroom inNorth West Province ofSouth Africa .Stilfontein "(quiet spring)" was established in
1949 as a residential centre for three large gold mines, the Hartebeesfontein, Buffelsfontein and Stilfontein mines.Stilfontein was struck by a mining-related earthquake in
9 March 2005 , which damaged buildings in the town, which was followed by the closure of the Hartebeesfontein and Buffelsfontein when the Stilfontein Gold Mining was handed over into liquidation. [http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/zones/sundaytimesNEW/business/business1115643437.aspx] The Simmer and Jack Mines took over the mines but disaster struck again on the23 March 2006 when a fire trapped 8 miners underground at the Buffelsfontein mine.According to the 2001 Census, the population of Stilfontein was 14,708. The racial distribution was as follows: 84.9% White, 14.2% Black, 0.8% Coloured and 0.1% Asian. The population density was 1,717 persons per km² (663 persons per mi²). [http://mapserver.statssa.gov.za/GeographyWebsite/AdvancedReporting/stats_index.html]
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