Mohokare Local Municipality sits in the far south of the Free State, in Xhariep District. The 2022 census counted 36,968 people across 8,776 km², up from 34,146 in 2011. Zastron is the seat.
Towns and Villages in Mohokare
Two towns anchor the municipality, both on the R701 corridor along the Lesotho border. The rest of Mohokare is commercial farmland, dotted with several hundred named farmsteads rather than villages.
| Place | Type | 2022 pop. |
|---|---|---|
| Zastron | Seat, admin town | 18,699 |
| Rouxville | Town | 8,759 |
| Smithfield | Town | 5,725 |
Beyond the three towns, GeoNames lists over 250 farm names in the municipality — Afrikaans/Dutch homestead names such as Excelsior, Groenfontein, Klipfontein and Nooitgedacht recur several times each, marking distinct farms rather than duplicate entries. A representative selection:
- Aanhou
- Aden
- Annex
- Antwerpen
- Avalon
- Avondkraal
- Avondrust
- Babel
- Bankfontein
- Bankkraal
- Bellvue
- Berlyn
- Bermuda
- Betjeskraal
- Biesiefontein
- Biesiesvlei
- Blanco
- Bloemhoek
- Bloomplaas
- Boesmanskop
- Bonnievale
- Bosrand
- Bothaskop
- Bothasrus
- Brakgrond
- Braklaagte
- Brakvlei
- Bultfontein
- Caledon
- Charlespost
- Colombo
- Constantia
- Copenhagen
- Cronjesrust
- Cyferfontein
- Cypress Grove
- Dankbaar
- De Draai
- De Hague
- De Ron
- De Schans
- Deelfontein
- Deelkraal
- Devlei
- Die Hoogte
- Diepkloof
- Donkerhoek
- Draaikloof
- Driefontein
- Dronkfontein
- Droogfontein
- Eben
- Eensaamkraal
- Elandsberg
- Elandshoek
- Elim
- Emmarentia
- Erasmus
- Erfdeel
- Erfhoek
- Excelsior
- Felicia
- Franshoek
- Galilea
- Geluk
- Gladdegrond
- Goedemoed
- Goedgegund
- Golden Valley
- Groenfontein
- Groenpoort
- Grootfontein
- Grootvlei
- Grysdal
- Hamilton
- Hartebeesfontein
- Helleton
- Henningsdale
- Hermanus
- Hermitage
- Hoekfontein
- Holmesdale
- Holstein
- Hoogstede
- Houtberg
- Hugenoot
- Illawarra
- Jaagbaan
- Jakkalsfontein
- Juta
- Kalkfontein
- Kapokfontein
- Klaarwater
- Kleindam
- Kleinfontein
- Klipdam
- Klipdrift
- Klipfontein
- Kliphuis
- Klipkuil
- Klopperspruit
- Kranskloof
- Kranskop
- Krugersdeel
- Krugersvlei
- Kruidfontein
- Kwartfontein
- La Rochelle
- Langverwag
- Leeuspruit
- Lemoenfontein
- Manilla
- Manitoba
- Merino
- Middelkroon
- Middelvlei
- Middelwater
- Misgunst
- Moedhou
- Montagu
- Mooihoek
- Mooiplaas
- Morgenzon
- Nooitgedacht
- Norway
- Nuwevlei
- Olyvenfontein
- Ongegund
- Oostenryk
- Overschot
- Poortjie
- Retreat
- Rietfontein
- Rietkuil
- Roodebult
- Rooidam
- Rooikop
- Rooikuil
- Rusplass
- Rust en Vrede
- Rustfontein
- Sanddrif
- Skaapkraal
- Smaldeel
- Soetfontein
- Soetvlei
- Solferino
- Sonneblom
- Sonop
- Sterkfontein
- Sterkstroom
- Sterkwater
- Strydfontein
- Strydpoort
- Sunnydale
- Swartfontein
- Sweetfontein
- The Willows
- Tierhoek
- Tweefout
- Tweevlei
- Twyfelfontein
- Uitzicht
- Union
- Vaalkraal
- Vaalspruit
- Van Wyksrus
- Venterskroon
- Verdun
- Vergaderrand
- Vermont
- Vinkelfontein
- Visgat
- Vlakfontein
- Vleispruit
- Voorharts
- Vrede
- Vryheid
- Waaipoort
- Wasbank
- Waterford
- Waterval
- Weltevrede
- Welverdiend
- Wildebeesfontein
- Windpoort
- Woltemede
- Wolwepan
- Zeekoegat
- Zuurspruit
Geography
Mohokare occupies the southeastern corner of Xhariep district, wedged between the Caledon and Orange rivers with Lesotho along its eastern border. The land is open highveld grassland at around 1,400–1,600 metres elevation, running into low sandstone ridges near Zastron. Rainfall is modest, mostly falling as summer thunderstorms between November and March, which limits farming to sheep, cattle and dryland grain rather than irrigated crops. To the west it borders Kopanong; to the south and southeast it meets Eastern Cape municipalities across the Orange River, and the Caledon River marks much of the Lesotho boundary to the east.
Demographics
The population grew from 34,146 in the 2011 census to 36,968 in 2022, an increase of about 8%. Sesotho and Afrikaans are the main home languages, reflecting the farming communities on both sides of the language line, with smaller numbers of isiXhosa speakers near the Eastern Cape border. Most residents live in or near the three towns rather than on the farms; Zastron, the seat, is the largest with just under half the municipality’s population within its boundaries.
Economy and Local Life
Sheep and cattle farming carry the local economy, with wool and mohair among the district’s staple exports and Merino flocks common across the grazing land. Maize and sorghum are grown on the better soils near the rivers. Zastron and Smithfield serve as trading and service centres for the surrounding farms, with grain co-operatives, agricultural suppliers and small retail forming the bulk of formal employment. Rouxville sits closest to the Lesotho border crossing at Makhalaneng and sees some cross-border trade, while municipal and provincial government offices are the main non-farm employers in Zastron itself.
Getting There
The N6 runs through Zastron and Smithfield, linking Mohokare north to Bloemfontein (about 140 km) and south to Aliwal North and the Eastern Cape. The R701 connects Zastron east to Lesotho via Sterkspruit, and gravel district roads reach the outlying farms. Bloemfontein’s Bram Fischer International Airport, roughly two hours’ drive north, is the nearest airport with scheduled flights.
FAQ
What is the seat of Mohokare Local Municipality?
Zastron.
What towns are in Mohokare?
Zastron, Rouxville and Smithfield, plus several hundred named farms.
What is the population of Mohokare?
36,968 people (2022 census), up from 34,146 in 2011.
Which district is Mohokare part of?
Xhariep District Municipality, Free State.
Which country borders Mohokare?
Lesotho, along its eastern edge, across the Caledon River.
How far is Zastron from Bloemfontein?
About 140 km north via the N6.
What is the main economic activity in Mohokare?
Sheep and cattle farming, with wool and mohair as the principal exports.