Lichtenburg, South Africa
Lichtenburg is a small town situated in North West Province, South Africa. It is the administrative centre of Ditsobotla Local Municipality.
The town was established in 1873 and was named by Transvaal President Thomas François Burgers as Lichtenburg. On the 13 March 1926, Jacobus Voorendyk, discovered a diamond on his family farm and within 12 months there were 108,000 fortune seekers on the scene. The resulting diamond rush lasted ten years.
The main economic activity is the production of maize and meat. Lichtenburg lies in the heart of the maize triangle, which is the main maize growing area in South Africa. Another major economic activity is the production of cement. Within an radius of Lichtenburg there are four major cement producers, which creates opportunities for long-distance transport and related businesses.
General information
Lichtenburg is situated approximately west of Johannesburg on the main route to Mmabatho. It lies above sea level. The climate is healthy and moderate. Frost occurs in winter but the days are pleasantly sunny. As a result of natural water resources and wide-open spaces it has a natural charm and is a true oasis in an otherwise slightly arid North West Province.Climate
Lichtenburg has a steppe climate.History
Lichtenburg was established in 1873 by Commandant H.A. Greeff. The history of the town is closely associated with the life of General De la Rey, who, apart from being the town's representative in the House of Assembly, was also Assistant Commandant General of the Boer forces. After Unification he also became Senator. He was buried in Lichtenburg after a fatal shooting incident at Langlaagte. More and more farmers settled in the area during the mid to late 1800s.In 2000, the town's Jewish cemetery was the target of anti-semitic vandalism. 60 graves were targeted, breaking over thirty tombstones and pushing over the remainder.
The town was the scene of large scale violent protests on the 25 April 2017 when protests for more public housing turned violent and led to significant property damage and looting of local businesses.
Boer War
The First Anglo-Boer War, was a rebellion of Boers against British rule in the Transvaal that re-established their independence. The conflict occurred against the backdrop of the Pretoria government becoming increasingly ineffective at dealing with growing claims on South African land from rival interests within the country. The Second War, by contrast, was a lengthy war—involving large numbers of troops from many British possessions, which ended with the conversion of the Boer republics into British colonies. These colonies later formed part of the Union of South Africa. The British fought directly against the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, eventually defeating their forces through the use of the "Scorched Earth" policy. Lord Kitchener had enacted this brutal and inhumane policy after a long and bitter guerrilla campaign waged by the Boers which led the British to incur high losses due to both disease and the unconventional combat tactics used by the Boers. This war saw so many nationalities fighting against each other, and was at the same time a civil war involving Afrikaner against Afrikaner, and South African English-speakers, as well as many black combatants, fighting and dying on both sides.Rudyard Kipling's poem "" relates the story of one Australian combatant and his journey towards death in a foreign land. Trooper Aberline's sacrifice influenced the Boers and his legacy went far beyond his rusting cross in the Lichtenburg cemetery which lies close to that of Edith Mathews.
Like many British sources, Kipling spelt Lichtenburg incorrectly. There have never been groves of wattle near Lichtenburg. Quite probably, however, Kipling was referring to the scent of wild acacia in bloom, which would have reminded the Australian soldier of the wattle back home. The scents, and indeed the small yellow flowers, are quite similar. Just one more connection between the two continents that the poet is alluding to.
In May 1900 the Siege of Mafeking ended and hostilities quickly engulfed the whole of the northern Cape and western Transvaal. Between June and November 1900, the Anglo-Boer War evolved into its guerrilla phase, and fighting see-sawed throughout the territory. During this period the strategically important town of Lichtenburg was occupied by both Boer and Briton for short spells. In November 1900, a large British force under Col. Robert Baden-Powell was transferred to Lichtenburg and secured the town, and much of the territory with it.
Five months later, on 3 March 1901, 400 Boers under the co-joint commands of Generals De la Rey, Smuts, Celliers, Vermaas and Lemmer launched a mounted attack on the town. In a fierce but inconclusive engagement lasting a full day and much of the night, fourteen Boers and eighteen British soldiers were killed, whilst 38 Boers and 24 British soldiers were wounded. As he rode away, De la Rey was heard to remark, "The enemy has received a good hiding and so did I".
Notable people
Persons of note born in Lichtenburg include Ferdi Hartzenberg who served as South Africa's Minister of Education from 1979 to 1982 and as the final leader of the Conservative Party of South Africa from 1993 to 2004.Economy
Industries
Several factories manufacturing, among other things, liquid fertilizer, animal feed and agricultural implements are established here. Two of the largest cement factories in the Southern Hemisphere, AfriSam Dudfield and Lafarge, are situated here, as well as the country's biggest cheese factory.Business
The central business area consists of approximately 150 retail undertakings, 20 financial institutions and many other service institutions. Shop and office accommodation is available as well as select business sites adjoining the central business area.Sport
Motor Sport
The Lichtenburg Sports Car Club is affiliated with the South African Motor Sports body and motor car and motor cycle races—both on the race track and offroad—represented here, attract well-known racing drivers.Peet Swart, a well known track athlete, is situated in Lichtenburg.
Places and Tourism
Lichtenburg Diggings Museum
The theme of the museum is the alluvial diamant diggings of this region from 1925 to 1935, then the richest public diggings in the world. The biggest pure red diamond in the world was found here in 1927. The stone was of. It was sold for 66 pounds and was later valued at $150,000. The stone would be worth more than $6 million today and is the purest red diamond in the world.The biggest diamond rush in history took place in March 1927 on the farm Grasfontein near Lichtenburg, when 25,000 runners took part to peg their claims.
The town accommodates a social-historical museum and an Agricultural museum with a big collection of antique tractors and many other objects, and the new Digging Museum.
The Museum is no more it was burned down in a senseless act. None of the above museums are present any more in the town all was destroyed or looted.
Bakerville
Approximately north of Lichtenburg lies the world-renowned diamond diggings over an area of more or less from east to west, known as "Bakerville". Bakerville is on the Zeerust Road.It was the richest public diggings ever mined—it was the Lichtenburg Diamond Rush of February 1926 and a population of 150,000 souls appeared as if by magic. Bakerville, or "Bakers" as it was known it the time, it is only one of several "Diggers Towns", developed in Wild West style. Bakerville was the biggest and most famous of the towns. Bigger than Cape Town at the time, the Lichtenburg district made many men rich but broke thousands of hearts.
By 1928 the rush was over. Today a smattering of "bitter-einders" remain, optimists all, still digging through tonnes of gravel heaps in the never-ending search for the 'Big One'.
Public Library
A modern public library and an art gallery which is one of the biggest in the country, housing a valuable collection of paintings by well-known South African artists are situated in a wing of the Civic centre. Paintings of Gregoire Boonzaier, Irmin Henkel, Irma Stern, Louis Steyn, Walter Battiss, Dirk Meerkotter, F. Claerhout, Bettie Cilliers-Barnard, Johannes Meintjes and the sculptor Hennie Potgieter form part of the collection. It is not currently OpenBurning Vlei
The vlei which separates Lichtenburg from its biggest suburb, Kieserville, is unique in as much as the thick layers of peat had for decades been burning subterraneously, creating a great hazard for man and beast. Very few such phenomena occur worldwide. Presently, due to the stemming of the flow of vlei water, the burning has ceased and water sport is being practised on the two resulting dams. During the 1984 drought the vlei again started burning in places.The Dauth-Roode and Centenary dams provide opportunity for water sport. A nine-hole golf course is kept in excellent condition and is quite a challenge for the keen golfer.