About the town » Bethal, Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Bethal is a farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The farms in the region produce maize, sunflower seeds, sorghum, rye and potatoes. The town, established in 1880, was named after the combined names of the wives of the owners of the farm Blesbokspruit, Elizabeth du Plooy and Alida Naude. Bethal is famous for its former potato industry, and the annual National Potato Festival was held there in early May, but discontinued in 2007. The Olifants River has its origin near Bethal.