Vryburg

Vryburg means Liberty Town.

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

The town Vryburg was laid out on the banks of the Huhudi River, which means running water in seTswana.

Ruins of the old jail can be seen. Swartfontein Recreational Resort lies 6Km from town and offers camping.

Annual cattle auction

The annual cattle auction in Vryburg is claimed to be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. More than a quarter of a million cattle are auctioned every year.

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History

In the 1880s there were disturbances between the Koranna (led by David Massouw) and the Tlapin (led by Chief Mankwrane) tribes. Both tribes recruited European mercenaries with promises of payment of grant farms and shares of the loot. Peace was established in 1882 after the small-scale war, and 416 farms were given to the mercenaries.

On 20 September 1882 a town was established, and named Endvogelfontein, but on 15 November 1882 changed to Vryburg, which means Liberty Town.

On 16 August 1883 these mercenary farmers established their own republic, called Stellaland (stella means star) because of a comet that was spotted during the skirmishes. The first (and last) president was GJ Van Niekerk.

The Republic of Stellaland had its own national flag as well as postal service, including its own stamp series.

This republic lasted only a few months as the Transvaal Republic under President Paul Kruger annexed it in the same year. Soon, February 1884, the area was again annexed away from the Transvaal Republic, this time by the British, and regarded as a British protectorate.

In 1904 the London Missionary Society established the Tiger Kloof Educational Institute. Today the stone church is a national monument.

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Climate

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Economy

Farming: cattle, beef, butter, milk-powder, maize, peanuts.
Industry: meat canning.

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