Schweizer-Reneke, North West
Encyclopedia
Schweizer-Reneke, sometimes referred to as "Schweizer" is a town with a population of 73,300 in the North West Province of South Africa
. It is the administrative centre of Mamusa Local Municipality
.
. Founded on October 1, 1888, the town is situated on the banks of the Harts River
, with six regional roads exiting the town. The town is named after Captain C.A. Schweizer and Field Cornet C.N. Reneke. Both men distinguished themselves and were among the ten soldiers killed while storming the stronghold of the Khoi Koi Koranna Khoe and their chief David Massouw on the nearby Mamusa Hill on December 2, 1885 during an action to put an end to cattle rustling in the area. The remains of the stone fortifications of Chief David Massouw can still be seen on Mamusa Hill.
Mamusa means: place of the black rock kopjes or little hills. Also refers to a type of thorn tree.
, sorghum
, groundnuts and sunflower seeds. In addition, cattle
and sheep farming is practiced in the region on a relatively large scale on the grasslands where the soil is unsuitable for cultivation
. Schweizer-Reneke is rich in diamond
deposits. This led to large scale private diamond mining in the area.
Wenzel Dam, just north of the town on the Harts River
, has been developed into a holiday resort.
, hosting some 180 students.
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...
. It is the administrative centre of Mamusa Local Municipality
Mamusa Local Municipality
Mamusa Local Municipality is a local municipality in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, North West Province, South Africa. The Seat of localmunicipality is Schweizer-Reneke.-2009 General Election:...
.
History
Schweizer-Reneke was formerly part of the old Transvaal provinceTransvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
. Founded on October 1, 1888, the town is situated on the banks of the Harts River
Harts River
The Harts River is a northern tributary of the Vaal River, which in turn is the largest tributary of the Orange River ....
, with six regional roads exiting the town. The town is named after Captain C.A. Schweizer and Field Cornet C.N. Reneke. Both men distinguished themselves and were among the ten soldiers killed while storming the stronghold of the Khoi Koi Koranna Khoe and their chief David Massouw on the nearby Mamusa Hill on December 2, 1885 during an action to put an end to cattle rustling in the area. The remains of the stone fortifications of Chief David Massouw can still be seen on Mamusa Hill.
Mamusa means: place of the black rock kopjes or little hills. Also refers to a type of thorn tree.
Economy
The principal crops of the region around Schweizer-Reneke are mainly maizeMaize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, groundnuts and sunflower seeds. In addition, cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
and sheep farming is practiced in the region on a relatively large scale on the grasslands where the soil is unsuitable for cultivation
Tillage
Tillage is the agricultural preparation of the soil by mechanical agitation of various types, such as digging, stirring, and overturning. Examples of human-powered tilling methods using hand tools include shovelling, picking, mattock work, hoeing, and raking...
. Schweizer-Reneke is rich in diamond
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
deposits. This led to large scale private diamond mining in the area.
Wenzel Dam, just north of the town on the Harts River
Harts River
The Harts River is a northern tributary of the Vaal River, which in turn is the largest tributary of the Orange River ....
, has been developed into a holiday resort.
Education
The town has a public secondary school, Hoërskool Schweizer RenekeHoërskool Schweizer Reneke
Hoërskool Schweizer-Reneke is a secondary school in South Africa with only around 280 students.-Location:Hoërskool Schweizer-Reneke is located in the North West province of South Africa.-See also:...
, hosting some 180 students.
Famous people
- Stefan de Beer - Well renowned rave DJ in Pretoria from 2000 and had a major influence in the Hard House Club & underground dance culture, lived in Schweizer-Reneke fromfrom 1986 to 1998
- Wynand Claassen, former SpringbokSouth Africa national rugby union teamThe South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
rugbyRugby footballRugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
captain was born there. - Elisabeth EybersElisabeth EybersElisabeth Françoise Eybers , was a South African poet. Her poetry was mainly in Afrikaans, although she has translated some of her own work into English....
- Poet - Irma SternIrma SternIrma Stern was a major South African artist who achieved national and international recognition in her lifetime.-Life:...
- Artist - Jannes Labuschagne, National rugby union player, born and raised on a farm just outside of Schweizer-Reneke.
- Essop PahadEssop PahadEssop Goolam Pahad is a South African politician. He was Minister in the Presidency from 1999 to September 2008.-Early life:...
, Politician - Themba Maruping, well known table tennis player, studied transport economics at University of North west. studied at Ipelegeng secondary school.