The history of our town - Early development

The idea of a series about the history of Bela-Bela in Kwêvoël was first mooted by Miriam Scheepers (U48) last year. Miriam (picture top left) also provided a brochure called Explore Bela-Bela, which was published in 2015 by Essential Marketing and Minit Print, a company presently located in the Bosveld Mall. Further sources of information (so far) include websites about the history of Bela-Bela.

Miriam Scheepers

An introductory article was posted in early January. Click HERE to access. Here follows the second instalment.

Archeological and anthropological evidence reveal that Australopithecus africanus hunters lived in the mountains in the vicinity of   Bela-Bela over 2,5 million years ago. Stone Age people followed and later came the early Iron Age migrants.

Australopithecus africanus

The San hunter-gatherers roamed the entire mountain area at this time leaving a record of their passage in exquisite rock art which continues to attract interested people.

San rock art

More recent inhabitants of the Waterberg include the Tswana tribe who first moved into the region in about the 1800s. They were intrigued by the strong mineral springs flowing from the earth. They named the springs Bela Bela, which means“the pot that boils”. The water from these springs are rich in sodium chloride, calcium carbonate and other salts that are highly beneficial to those suffering from rheumatic ailments. 

The first people of European origin arrived in the area in 1808, to be followed shortly thereafter by missionaries, hunters and traders. Then came the Voortrekker settlers, including Carel Van Heerden who established the first farm in the area. He called the farm Het Bad after the mineral springs. Van Heerden’s grave is in the Voortrekker Cemetery behind the Municipal Offices.

Van Heerden's grave

In 1873 the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek realised the tourism and recreational opportunities that Het Bad had to offer, purchased the farm and established the town of Hartingsburg.  During the Anglo-Boer War the British annexed Hartingsburg and called it Warm Baths. In 1920 Warmbaths was proclaimed a township (in the legal, not racial sense!). In that year the township was designed by architect John Abraham Moffat. In 1950, it became a magisterial district and acquired town council status in 1960. On 14 June 2002 the South African government officially renamed the town Bela-Bela.