Ga-Segonyana Municipality - Residential Areas

• Kuruman
• Bankhara-Bodulong
• Galotolo
• Gamopedi
• Gantatelang
• Gasebolao
• Gasehubane
• Kagung
• Lokaleng
• Magojaneng
• Maruping
• Mothibistad
• Nchweng
• Pietbos
• Seven Miles
• Thamoyanche
• Vergenoeg
• Wrenchville

Other residential areas that form part of the jurisdiction of Ga-Segonyana Municipality are:
-Batlharos
-Ditshoswaneng
-Garuele
-Gasehoeba
-Geelboom
-Mapoteng
-Mokalamosesane
-Sedibeng
-Seoding
-Grootfontein School
-Farm Struggle (Dippenaarshoop and Sunnyside)
-Hakbos (Khoisi, Luathla and Kono)

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Kuruman
(No 15 on map)
Kuruman, because of its abundant supply of spring water, is known as the ‘Oasis of the Kalahari’. Enclosed in a valley, this verdant garden town is very removed from the arid surrounds of the semi-desert. Kuruman is the principal town of the Kalahari and is blessed with a permanent source of water.

This fountain, commonly known as The Eye, delivers 20 million litres of crystal clear water daily. In spite of intensive research, the origin and meaning of the name Kuruman cannot be explained without doubt. The most acceptable explanation is that it was derived from the name of an eighteenth century San leader, Kudumane, who was killed by the Tlapin Tswana tribe.

Robert Moffat, the Scottish missionary, lived here for fifty years (1820-1879) and built the world famous Moffat Church (completed in 1838). This church still exists and regular services are conducted. Moffat, with the help of local communities around Kuruman, was also the first person to translate the Bible into Setswana and to print it. The surrounding mining and agricultural activities (cattle, sheep, goats and game) support the town’s economy. Various minerals are mined in the area, eg iron ore, manganese ore and tiger’s-eye.

The region has also established itself as one of the major hunting areas in South Africa. Kuruman is situated 1340 metres above sea level on the Ghaap Plateau. Due to its location on the brim of the Kalahari, the area is renowned for extreme temperatures during summer and winter. Frost generally occurs during the winter months. Humid north and northeast bearing winds result in thunderstorms from December to April. The average rainfall for the area is 420 millimetres per annum.

Kuruman is situated on the main route between Gauteng and Namibia and Cape Town via Upington. It is also at the start of Roaring Kalahari Route (ask the information office for more information or go to www.roaringkalahari.co.za). These routes are growing in popularity because of the unspoilt nature and the wide variety of unusual tourist attractions found on the route. The town, with its dramatic contrasts, is always a pleasant surprise to the tourist and a source of pride to its residents.

Bankhara-Bodulong
(No 17 on map)
Bankhara-Bodulong is a rural residential area, approximately 13km from Kuruman on the road to Hotazel. Bankhara-Bodulong is situated on the farm Rondepis, which was used for horse races and for grazing by the Seoding, Dikhing and Ga-Segonyana communities. The community who used to reside in the area between Kuruman and Wrenchville was removed to the farm Rondepis and they then changed the name to Bankhara. Bodulong is the area that was used by the community of Dikhing for ploughing and grazing. The first person to allocate stands to his people was the late King Matsholobe of Seoding.

Galotolo
(No 4 on map)
This village started in 1942 with a small group of farmers. The number of people increased after the exploration of asbestos mines around this village in the west of Gamopedi. The area has a natural beauty as it is surrounded by hills and mountains.

Gamopedi
(No 1 on map)
The name Gamopedi (Bapedi place) derives from the Bapedi Tribal Community, who inhabited the area in 1897. Upon the arrival of the Batswana Tribe from Ditloung (Olifantshoek) in 1885, a war broke out between the Batswana and the Bapedi. A number of the Bapedi were killed and many fled the area. The place was then renamed Gamopedi in memory of the Bapedi that were buried there after the war.

Gantatelang
(No 12 on map)
The name of the town originates from a man called Ntatelang who had a farm and herds of cattle. Next to this farm was a piece of land where he planted vegetables. He originated from Seoding and when the people visited him, they normally said that they were going to Gantatelang. The village was later named after him. In March 1993 the residents were relocated from Dikgweng to Gantatelang and the village was called Dikgweng, allthough it is commonly known as Gantatelang. Chief Galeboe Setlhodi headed this village during that time.

Gasebolao
(No 6 on map)
The name Gasebolao derived from an African man, Sebolao, who stayed on grazing land in the area. He used to visit neighbouring villages such as Gasehubane and Maheane and the community of Gasebolao then also started visiting him. Currently there are two churches. The community has good agricultural land but there is no access to utilise the land.

Gasehubane
(No 9 on map)
Years ago the residents of Gasehubane lived on the outskirts of the Kuruman River. The houses were scattered along the riverbank. The South African Government realised that it would be a problem to bring infrastructures to the village, as there were no stands. During 1963 the people were moved to an area near Batlharos. They were given two names to choose from, namely Gaselepe and Gasehubane. The majority voted for the name Gasehubane. There is no clear indication of what the name means. Mr Gaolaolwe Leserwane became the first headman of
this village.

Kagung
(No 18 on map)
Kagung is a residential area of Ga-Segonyana situated 13 kilometres from Kuruman on the N14 towards Vryburg. A population of about 200 households was removed from Kagung to West-Derby and Hardward. On 18 October 1966 the residents renamed their new locality Kagung, as it is commonly known today. The residents also renamed the existing school Vlakfontein as a memory from where they came. The first cemetery in the middle of West-Derby has 11 graves. One is that of the Headman Soul Keuosi of the Batlhaping Baga Phoduhutswana’s tribe. Unfortunately the others have no tombstones. Historical caves can also be found on both sides of the main road.

Lokaleng
Lokaleng is a residential area situated 40km east of Batlharos, surrounded by manganese mines. The first people resided there around 1859. The families each occupied a piece of land named after the head of the family, such as Morapebane, Ga-Mosepele, Ga-Motsamai, Ga-Mabilo, Tlading and Lokala Lwa Ga-Mothupi. During 1902 white farmers began to occupy the land and the people started to group together after being chased from the greener-pastures. Chief Monga le Modukanele started allocating stands in a new area named Lokaleng. Jack Monbiale followed him in 1962 whereafter April Dithae took over in 1969. Mr Private Mongale now leads the community. Lokaleng is a traditional Tswana village known for its animal and crop farming. Houses are built of wood and stones and filled with animal manure.

Magojaneng
(No 13 on map)
The community was relocated in 1966 from Seoding to Magojaneng, also known as Magobe, by the then government. They started the village with approximately 60 families and decided that they should have their own headman. Thereafter they met with Chief Borara and Mr Tuelo Galeboe from Seoding. He appointed Mr Seosenyeng Paul Kurite to become the chief of Magojaneng. Currently about 500 people live there and the area is divided into five blocks. There are 15 tuck shops, two shops, one school and a variety of churches.

Maruping
(No 8 on map)
Maruping is situated to the north of Kuruman and is one of the villages of Ga-Molehe with approximately 15000 residents. The first white priests arrived there from Dithakong, with the son of Chief Molefabangwe, Prince Mothibi, and the village was named ‘New Littakoo’ meaning the new Dithakong. From there the priests relocated to Seodin, whereafter the village was renamed as Maruping. Although this was the first area to welcome priests to stay with them, it was not the first community to accept Christianity. Maruping and Matlhwaring received educational facilities long after the other villages. The first school was established in 1926. Before then, the evangelist priest was sent to preach God’s message and to teach the children.

Maruping and Matlhwaring were the villages in the Kudumane region where the original Setswanas were rooted. Before the government could build schools for them the residents from Maruping decided to build schools for themselves. Regardless of the fact that the community received education at such a late stage, the residents were hard workers in the agricultural sector. The river bank next to their village, lined with fruit trees, as in the past, is today still proof of that. Most residents have their own fruit trees, but they do not sell the fruit, as in the past. The first white farmers to settle in the area farmed with fur and sheep, but were not agricultural farmers. The village has expanded over the years and to date Maruping has four schools, four shops, butchery, two bottle stores, eleven churches and four fountains.

Mothibistad
(No 14 on map)
The town Mothibistad is based in the western tip of the North West Province with a population of about 6000. The town was established in 1960 when black people were forcefully removed from Kuruman under the old apartheid laws. The name Mothibistad emanates from Chief Mothibi who was a leader of the community. Mothibistad did not escape apartheid’s divide and rule tactics of the past. When Bophuthatswana was established in 1977, Mothibistad was separated from Kuruman thereby distancing it from its tax base. Soft boundaries emerged between Kuruman and Mothibistad as a result of this set-up.

Instead of developing Mothibistad towards a full Municipality, the then administration used its influence and Mothibistad became an urban council of the Local Government Department under Mmabatho. The South African Government governed it as an urban reserve until 1994. The process of transition and the democratic local elections of 1995 brought back the vision of Government with the election of six councillors who governed Mothibistad until the elections on 5 December 2000. The area then became part of the new Ga-Segonyana Municipality.

Nchweng
(No 3 on map)
Nchweng was first known as ‘Lefatshe la Batlhaping’ (the place of the Batlhaping), for they were the first people to stay there. In 1801 the Paramount Chief, Kgosi-Kgolo Molehabangwe recruited Batlhaping from Dithakong to the area to meet with the Batlhaping ba ga Mothibi staying there. After arriving, they were renamed Batlhaping ba ga Molehe. Some years later a traditional doctor from the Mopedi tribe in Bopedi moved to the mountain around the village. The community used to visit him and called the mountain where this ‘Mopedi’ lived, Ga-Mopedi, which means the place of the Mopedi. Thereafter they called the village Ga-Mopedi kwa lentsweng (Ga-Mopedi at the mountain), which was then shortened to Nchweng as it is known today.

Pietbos
(No 2 on map)
The name Pietbos is derived from a coloured man, Piet, who stayed at Gamopedi. A fight started between the ‘Boers’ and Chief Toto at Majeamokgothu. The community of Gamopedi decided to help Chief Toto and his people and called a meeting to discuss this. This coloured man, Piet, stayed amongst them, but the community believed that a coloured couldn’t keep a secret and tried to hide the meeting from him. He found out of the meeting and they decided to let him join them for he had stayed with them for years. After the discussion Piet went to the ‘Boers’ and told them the aims of the community. The ‘Boers’ came and hid in the bush and killed many people. The village was thereafter called Pietbos.

Seven Miles
(No 10 on map)
Before 1900 this was an area with about 10 houses, no clinic, shops or butchery. Missionaries came and preached here and the village was then named Mamoratwa. The name was later changed to Seven Miles. Currently there are ten churches, two schools and one shop. The village has electricity and water and is under the leadership of Chief Mogorosi.

Thamoyanche
(No 11 on map)
The community of Thamoyanche originates from Kono. They moved to Thamoyanche in July 1959 under the leadership of Chief Asa. On arrival they found only a farm belonging to Piet Blom. This farmhouse was then used as a school. In 1980 the community built a primary school with five classrooms, starting from grade 1 to grade 8 and named it Badihile Primary School. In 1984 the government extended this to nine classrooms. Badihile is still the only school in Thamoyanche. Chief Goabilwe followed Chief Asa, and thereafter Chief Samuel Petrus started his leadership on 26 October 1983.

Vergenoeg
(No 5 on map)
Vergenoeg is a residential area situated 20km from Kuruman, with about 1500 residents. It is an undeveloped village with one shop, one preschool and one primary school. There are 14 churches but only one has a formal infrastructure. The residents from Vergenoeg are originally from Maheane, 5km from Vergenoeg. The village is called Vergenoeg because the community decided that they have moved far enough and refused to go any further.

Wrenchville
(No 16 on map)
Wrenchville was established in 1916 after Adam Brink requested the local authority, on behalf of the coloured community, to set aside a separate piece of land. He wanted it as far as possible from the identified site for the black village, for the resettlement of the coloureds. An area four kilometres east of Kuruman was identified for their use. This new residential area where coloureds were allowed to obtain property rights was for years known as the Coloured Settlement. This process was finalised by Henry Wrench, a lawyer after whom the town was named during the sixties.