Amsterdam, South Africa

Template:Infobox South African town 2011 Amsterdam is a small town which consists of a below average working class population located in Mkhondo circuit in Mpumalanga South Africa and encompasses a large swati population as a result of the Swaziland border which is relatively close to this area.There are large plantations of gum, pine and wattle trees in the area. The town also boast of a peaceful community with rich culture and heritage.

The Town is located some 77 km east of Ermelo. Part of a Scottish settlement established by Alexander McCorkindale in 1868, it was proclaimed a town in June 1881. At first called Roburnia, in honour of Scottish Poet Robert Burns, the name was changed on 5 July 1882 to Amsterdam, after the Dutch city where the State Secretary, Eduard Bok, was born, and out of gratitude for Dutch sympathy during the First Anglo-Boer War (1880-1881).

This was the home of Oom Tjaart who was a local farmer and well known Boer in the town. He was tall, had a black beard and he wore short brown trousers 'wif a beld' as well as a pair of brown 'boer' farming shoes that were used to stomp the 'bleddy rats'. Oom Tjaart was feared by the local community as well as visitors from other small towns. He was made famous in the community by his phrase: "I will knock you off your birth certificate". The political landscape in the 21st century is characterized by the accumulative force in the region which is the single dominant party the ANC and there is little to no opposition nor are any coalitions present throughout the whole province therefore one could not expect the town to have a political party hegemony. The local governance is flawed by the lack of accountability of the MMC's this is of course due to the lack of checks and balances in place as the MMC's are bestowed with legislative and executive powers upon election into office.

References

Philani Benedict Mavuso.

Carleton Jones High School year book 1992