SHORT HISTORY OF THE TOWNS

Douglas

The town was founded in 1848 as a mission station on the farm Backhouse. In 1867, Europeans from Griquatown established a town named after General Sir Percy Douglas, Lieutenant Governor of the Cape Colony.  Near the confluence of the Orange River and its main tributary, the Vaal River, Douglas is a thriving, fast-growing town surrounded by a wealth of agricultural and stock farming ventures fed by two of South Africa’s greatest rivers.

Griquatown

In 1803, the London Missionary Society extended its mission among a Chaguriqua tribe, ‘bastaards’ from Piketberg, and local  Koranna and Tswana. Their leaders were Adam Kok II and Andries Waterboer. In 1813, the ‘bastaards renamed themselves Griqua, and the place called Klaarwater became Griquatown. When diamonds were discovered the Griqua were the first to lay claim. The Keate arbitration awarded the area to Waterboer. This led to the colony of Griqualand West, later annexed to the Cape Colony. Griquatown is known for its semiprecious stones, tiger’s eye and jasper is a centre for stock breeding.

Campbell

This village, on the edge of the Ghaap Plateau, was one of the earliest centres of Christianity. Originally Grootfontein or Knoffelvallei, the town was renamed after Reverend John Campbell, a traveller and missionary. Renowned for its spectacular dolomite rock formations, many springs, Karee and Wild Olive trees, Campbell has a multifaceted history and has been home to San, Koranna and, later, Griqua settlers drawn by the springs.

The following provides a broad geographical, economical and statistical profile of Siyancuma Municipality:

Municipal Demarcation Code : NC078
Location of Head Office : Southeystreet no. 98, Douglas
District Municipality : Pixley ka Seme ( De Aar )
Municipal Area : approximately 1 002,80 sq km
Population : 54 263 (Statistics South Africa, Census 2001)

Towns and settlements within the municipal boundaries:-

• Douglas
• Griquatown
• Campbell
• Schmidtsdrift
• Bucklands
• Vaallus
• Plooysburg
• Salt Lake
• Heuningneskloof
• Witput