Western Transvaal was an arid and sparsely populated province, which included the towns of Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp, and Welkom. It covered the area west of Johannesburg, to the border with Botswana in the north the northern Cape in the west, and the Orange Free State to the south. The inhabitants were mostly mielie farmers, which is reflected in their choice of provincial blazer badge. Due to the sparse population, towns were far apart and children mostly attended boarding schools.