Phumelela Local Municipality

Phumelela, “to succeed” in isiZulu, is a local municipality in the Thabo Mofutsanyane district, Free State. The main towns are Memel, Vrede and Warden. Phumelela is home to around five per cent of the district’s people. Vrede, the seat of local government, is an agricultural hub for the area and produces maize, wheat, wool, dairy products and livestock, while Memel’s greatest industrial asset is a knitting factory. The Seekoeivlei wetlands bird sanctuary in Memel helps attract tourists to the area.