Klerksdorp
Province
Klerksdorp is a city in the North-West Province of South Africa and belongs together with Orkney, Stilfontein, Tigane and Hartebeesfontein to the municipality Matlosana. The Greater Klerksdorp has about 350,000 inhabitants and is one of the most industrialized and economically the most important part of the North-West Province. The city itself has 186,515 inhabitants ( 2011).
History
The origins of the town are the Voortrekker movement. In 1837 they settled on the banks of Schoonspruit which flows through the city. One of them, CM du Plooy, claimed a 160 km ² large farm in the area, of which he gave away to other parts, out of gratitude that she had helped him in the construction of irrigation systems and a dam. In honor of the first local magistrate, Jacob de Clercq, the area " Klerksdorp " was called.
In August 1886, found on the farm Rietkuil gold. Since at the same time gold was also found in the Witwatersrand, thousands of gold diggers came in the course of the next gold rush to Klerksdorp, which thereby became a city which even had its own stock exchange.
During the Second Boer War, there was heavy fighting in the area. A British concentration camp was located in the area. On March 11, 1902 found here between Lord Kitchener and the Boer General Koos de la Rey negotiations take place, which ultimately made the Peace of Vereeniging possible, thus ending the Boer War.
Attractions
The Old Stock Exchange in the city center was built shortly after the first gold in the area had been found. Today a museum is housed in it, which is the life in the region in the late 19th century.
The Klerksdorp Museum shows since 1973 archaeological, geological, cultural and historical exhibits. It uses the premises of the former prison built in 1891. Among other attractions are located in Klerksdorp Klerksdorp Museum spheres that were found in the Wonder Stone mine in South Africa and their age is estimated at 2.8 billion years.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Theophilus E. Donges (1898-1968), former President of South Africa
- Desmond Tutu ( born 1931 ), Nobel Peace Prize winner and Anglican Archbishop
- Philemon " Phil" Masinga (born 1969 ), football player