Sleepy ‘dorpie’ crowned South Africa’s Town of the Year 2025
This Town of the Year win proves South Africa’s small towns still hold the country’s biggest heart.
Every so often, a small town reminds us what South Africa is made of. This year, that town is Bloemhof, the quiet North West gem that beat eight other finalists to win the Kwêla Dorp van die Jaar 2025 title.
Nestled along the Vaal River, Bloemhof’s story isn’t one of wealth or luxury, but of heart, history, and homegrown pride.
The history of Bloemhof
Founded in 1864 during a diamond rush, Bloemhof, meaning “flower court”, began as a farming hub and still thrives on maize, cattle, and outdoor life.
Locals spend weekends fishing, hiking, and soaking up the calm around Bloemhof Dam. Yet despite its serenity, the town’s win has sparked excitement across the country, proving that success isn’t always measured in property prices or income levels.
Property analysts from Lightstone found Bloemhof near the bottom in value rankings, with most homes priced below R500 000. But numbers aren’t everything.
SA’s little slice of heaven
What Bloemhof lacks in market stats, it makes up for in community spirit, the kind that keeps small towns alive while others fade.
For South Africans, Bloemhof’s victory is more than a tourism headline. It’s a celebration of resilience, a reminder that our identity is woven through small places that carry big pride.
This win sets the stage for increased local tourism and investment, breathing new energy into towns across the map.
This win has restored faith in the beauty of the everyday, in places that bloom quietly, far from the spotlight.