Postmasburg is a town in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, situated at the intersection of the R325, R385, and R309 Regional Routes.
Postmasburg falls within the Tsantsabane Local Municipality and the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality. Postmasburg is the main town and administrative centre/seat of the Tsantsabane Local Municipality.
Postmasburg is located approximately 212 km east of Upington by road, 37.4 km west of Owendale, 61 km south-west of Daniëlskuil, 61.2 km north-west of Lime Acres, and 69.5 km north of Griekwastad.
Postmasburg is surrounded by beautiful green foliage fed by a dam and several shimmering fountains.
The Hungry Lions, a football team playing in the National First Division, are based in Postmasburg.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has a training area at Lohatla, which is home to the SA Army Combat Training Centre.
Postmasburg is home to Kolomela Mine, which is owned by Anglo American. The Iron Ore mine officially opened in June 2012 and provides job opportunities for the local communities.
Postmasburg is also home to the Nchwaning, Wessels, Gloria, and Mamatwan mines within the Postmasburg Manganese Field.
History
Originally a station of the London Missionary Society called Sibiling, it became a Griqua village known as Blinkklip.
It was proclaimed a town on 6 June 1892 and named after the Reverend Dirk Postma (1818–1890), a founding member of the Dutch Reformed Churches in South Africa.
The town achieved municipal status in 1936.
A little diamond rush
Postmasburg even had its own diamond rush.
On the east side of Postmasburg are two old diamond mines – Postmas Mine and West End Mine.
In 1918, a Mr Casper Venter and his assistant Plaatjie, discovered a Kimberlite geological “pipe” on the townlands of Postmasburg. One of Casper Venter’s fellow diamond-hunters was James West, after whom the suburb West End was named.
The following year T.L.H. Shone discovered a second Kimberlite pipe which became the Postmas Diamond Mine.
Hundreds of fortune-seekers arrived in Postmasburg in 1920, but the West End Diamonds Ltd had already purchased all the claims – and the aspirant diamond diggers drifted away.
Shone Street in Postmasburg was named after Capt TLH Shone, who was also the first person to mine manganese.
Following the discovery of diamonds in the area, an open-cast mine grew. The mine was permanently flooded in 1935, and as a result, just like Kimberley, Postmasburg could also boast its very own “Big Hole”. This hole is over 45 m deep and filled with fish. It’s a beautiful sight visited by many.
Although diamonds are still mined here, the most important mineral is manganese.