Zoutpansberg
Encyclopedia
Zoutpansberg was the north-eastern division of the Transvaal
, South Africa
. This was the district to which Louis Tregardt
and Jan van Rensburg, the forerunners of the Great Trek
, journeyed in 1835. In 1845 Hendrik Potgieter, a prominent leader of the Voortrekkers
, moved there. The Zoutpansberg Boers formed a semi-independent community, and in 1857 Stephanus Schoeman
, their commandant-general, sided against Marthinus Pretorius and Paul Kruger
when they invaded the Orange Free State
. It was not until 1864 that Zoutpansberg was definitely incorporated in the South African Republic
.
Trichard and his companions had been shown gold
workings by the natives, and it was in this district in 1867-70, and in the neighbouring region of Lydenburg
, that gold mines were first worked by Europeans south of the Limpopo
. The white settlers in Zoutpansberg had for many years a reputation for lawlessness, and were later regarded as typical "back velt Boers". Zoutpansberg contained a larger native population than any other region of the Transvaal.
It is a highly mineralized area; next to gold, copper
, found near the Limpopo River
(where the Messina mine is located) is also extracted here. The chief towns are Pietersburg and Leydsdorp
.
South African Republic
The South African Republic , often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Not to be confused with the present-day Republic of South Africa, it occupied the area later known as the South African...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. This was the district to which Louis Tregardt
Louis Tregardt
Louis Johannes Tregardt was a farmer from the Cape Colony's eastern frontier, who became an early voortrekker leader. Shunning colonial authority, he emigrated in 1834 to live among the Xhosa, before he crossed the Orange River into neutral territory. His northward trek, along with fellow trekker...
and Jan van Rensburg, the forerunners of the Great Trek
Great Trek
The Great Trek was an eastward and north-eastward migration away from British control in the Cape Colony during the 1830s and 1840s by Boers . The migrants were descended from settlers from western mainland Europe, most notably from the Netherlands, northwest Germany and French Huguenots...
, journeyed in 1835. In 1845 Hendrik Potgieter, a prominent leader of the Voortrekkers
Voortrekkers
The Voortrekkers were emigrants during the 1830s and 1840s who left the Cape Colony moving into the interior of what is now South Africa...
, moved there. The Zoutpansberg Boers formed a semi-independent community, and in 1857 Stephanus Schoeman
Stephanus Schoeman
Commandant-General Stephanus Schoeman was State President of the South African Republic , from 6 December, 1860 until 17 April 1862....
, their commandant-general, sided against Marthinus Pretorius and Paul Kruger
Paul Kruger
Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger , better known as Paul Kruger and affectionately known as Uncle Paul was State President of the South African Republic...
when they invaded the Orange Free State
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
. It was not until 1864 that Zoutpansberg was definitely incorporated in the South African Republic
South African Republic
The South African Republic , often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Not to be confused with the present-day Republic of South Africa, it occupied the area later known as the South African...
.
Trichard and his companions had been shown gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
workings by the natives, and it was in this district in 1867-70, and in the neighbouring region of Lydenburg
Lydenburg
Lydenburg is a town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The town is slated to be renamed Mashishing, according to an announcement made on June 30, 2006 by the South African Minister of Arts and Culture, Pallo Jordan. Lydenburg is situated on the Sterkspruit/Dorps River tributary of the Olifants River at...
, that gold mines were first worked by Europeans south of the Limpopo
Limpopo River
The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. It is around long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 170 m³/s at its mouth...
. The white settlers in Zoutpansberg had for many years a reputation for lawlessness, and were later regarded as typical "back velt Boers". Zoutpansberg contained a larger native population than any other region of the Transvaal.
It is a highly mineralized area; next to gold, copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, found near the Limpopo River
Limpopo River
The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. It is around long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 170 m³/s at its mouth...
(where the Messina mine is located) is also extracted here. The chief towns are Pietersburg and Leydsdorp
Leydsdorp
Leydsdorp is a former gold rush town situated in the Limpopo province of South Africa....
.
See also
- Vhembe DistrictVhembe District MunicipalityVhembe is one of the 5 districts of Limpopo province of South Africa. It is the northernmost district of the country and shares its northern border with Beitbridge district in Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. The seat of Vhembe is Thohoyandou. The majority of its 1 199 856 people speak Venda...
, overlapping with this region - LimpopoLimpopoLimpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal...
, the current province containing the region