In 1858, a number of Voortrekkers settled in the Bronkhorstspruit Creek, which was then called Kalkoenkransrivier. In June 1897, a town was approved, which was already named Bronkhorstspruit by the locals (after the Bronkhorstspruit River). The name Bronkhorst could have been derived from a local farmer - JG Bronkhorst, or the bronkors (watercress) plant. In 1880 an important event in the early days of the First Boer War played out in the town. The city lies on the border between the Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces, and has two townships called Zithobeni and Ekangala.