Ladysmith

Name

Ladysmith is named after the wife of Sir Harry Smith, Lady Juana Ponce De Leon Smith, and should not be confused with the town Ladismith in the Western Cape

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Ladysmith (population about 226'000) is on the N11 route (Ermelo, Middelburg, Mokopane), about 10Km east of the junction with the N3 route (Johannesburg - Durban), between Van Reenen and Estcourt. The Drakensberg Mountain Range is about 60Km to the west and southwest in a straight line, and can be seen from the town. In winter snow can be seen on the mountains.

The town is on the banks of the Klip River (Stone River).

Architecture

There is a large Muslim Sufi Mosque in town.

Siege Museum

The Siege Museum exhibits artefacts and history from the Battle of Ladysmith. The building in which the museum is housed was built as a marketplace in 1884. There are about 60,000 documents related to the Siege and Boer War in the museum.

There are several Anglo-Boer Battlefields in the area -- see below for details.

Castor and Pollux

In front of the Town Hall are 2 RML 6.3 inch Howitzer used by the British during the Siege of Ladymith.

Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve

The Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve is about 25Km west of Ladysmith.

Klip River Falls

The Klip River Falls is also known as the Little Niagara Falls, and are less than 30Km south east of Ladysmith.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Ladysmith is the hometown of Joseph Shabalala, who founded the group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

History

In 1847 a group of Boers (Dutch pioneers) bought land from the Zulu king Mpande kaSenzangakhona, who reigned 1840 - 1872 (see Zulu Kings). The Boers established the Republic of Kliprivier, under leadership of Andries Spies, but in the same year the British annexed the land.

On 20 June 1850 a township called Windsor was proclaimed at the present location. Less than 4 months later, the settlement was renamed after the wife of Sir Harry Smith Governor of the Cape of Good Hope (1847-1852), Lady Smith, or Juana Ponce De Leon Smith (1798- )

Juana Maria de Los Dolores de León (1798- )

In 1860 a fort was constructed at the town as protectin agains Zulu attacks.

After the discovery of diamonds at Kimberley, and gold in Barberton and later Johannesburg, Ladysmith served as a staging-post from the harbour in Durban to the interior.

The Siege of Ladysmith

During the 2nd Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), Ladysmith was besieged for 118 days by the Boer forces.

The British commander Lieutenant General Sir George White made Ladysmith his center of operations for the protection of Natal. The British army lost several skirmishes with the Boers and they retreated into the town. The town was sieged from 2 November 1899 to 28 February 1900, and about 3000 British soldiers died during the siege.

General Sir Redvers Buller tried to break the siege, but lost three battles at Colenso, Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz.

The Boer Commandant-General Piet Joubert decided to capture the town before more British troups could arrive, and launched attack on 6 January 1900. These battles were fought south of the town at Platrand and Wagon Hill. Joubert was unsuccessful.

The siege ended on 28 February 1900 when the troups of General Sir Redvers Buller defeated the Boers. Winston Churchill was present when Ladysmith was relieved, when he was still a young war correspondent for the The Morning Post (London).

Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)

Battle of Spion Kop

Spion Kop is about 30Km from Ladysmith. General Sir Redvers Buller's British forces were defeated at this battle.

On site are memorials to Boers and British soldiers who died in the battle. Memorials to the British include memorials to the British South Lancashire memorial and Imperial Light Infantry.

Mohandas Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869 – 1948)

The Indian ambulance Corp established by Ghandi served the British Army during the Siege of Ladysmith.

His statue can be seen at the Lord Vishnu Temple.

Floods

Due to its location on the banks of the Klip River, Ladysmith is regularly flooded.

The 110 year period between 1887 and 1997 saw 29 serious floods have occurred, with less serious floods every year.

Ladysmith was proclaimed in 1850 and became a municipality in 1899.

Climate

Today's Weather Report for Ladysmith

Economy

Farming: Corn, oats, soya beans, fruit, vegetables. Livestock: horse breeding.

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