Senwes Scenario December 2017 - March 2018 | Page 10

••••
AREA F O C U S
Klerksdorp
[ 1837 – 2017 ]
a true gem with 180 year history
NO WONDER KLERKSDORP
IS ON THE TREASURE
ROUTE ON THE N12 -
THIS GEM OF A CITY OF
AGRICULTURE AND GOLD
CELEBRATES ITS 180TH
BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR.
AUBREY KRUGER
The impressive municipal office build-
ing was designed by Gerhard Moerdyk
who also designed the Voortrekker
Monument.
THE EARLY YEARS
Klerksdorp was founded in 1837
by 12 Voortrekker families who
came to live on the banks of the
Schoonspruit. It is the oldest
town north of the Vaal River
(Transvaal). The town was named
after the first magistrate of the
area, Jacob de Clerq. Gold was
discovered almost 50 years later,
in 1885-86, which resulted in
Klerksdorp becoming known as
the city of gold. However, few
The monument is in memory of the women
and children who died in the Klerksdorpse
Concentration Camp (1899-1902).
The Old
Church was
opened in
1898.
8
DEC 2017-MAR 2018 • SENWES Scenario
people know that diamonds were
also mined here.
WELL-KNOWN KLERKSDORP
INHABITANTS
Famous Klerksdorp inhabitants
number quite a few. Some of the
better known ones are Archbishop
and Nobel prize winner Desmond
Tutu, who was born here in
1931, as well as the 2012 Miss
South Africa, Marilyn Ramos.
Soccer supporters will remember
Philemon Masinga, the player
who scored the goal against the
Republic of the Congo, thereby
securing Bafana Bafana’s place
in their first soccer world cup in
France. Other well-known people
include a number of rugby and
cricket players. This writer expe­
rienced the rugby games of former
Springbok rugby player Piet van
Deventer and also attended his
funeral in 2013. Cricket player
Jacques Faul, former CEO of
Cricket SA and current CEO
of the Titans, is another one
of the city's export products.
Another cricket player is Marnus
Labuschagne (Australia), who is
well-known for his famous short-
leg catch which got rid of Varun
Aaron of India in 2015. Producers
will remember his video on social
media, where he is seen catching
a mealie. Former presenter of
Boer soek ’n Vrou, Elma Postma,
or otherwise known as Dezi of
7de Laan, is also from Klerksdorp,
as well as Jonathan from Radio
Raps, better known as Rikus de
Beer. Eben Dönges, a former
presi­dent, is also from Klerksdorp
- he was succeeded by BJ Vorster.