Laingsburg, Western Cape

Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Coordinates: 33°11′42″S 20°51′33″E
Country	South Africa
Provinces	Western Cape
District municipality	Central Karoo
Local municipality	Laingsburg
Area
• Total	2.4 km2 (0.9 sq mi)
Population (2001)
• Total	4,386
• Density	1,827.5/km2 (4,733.2/sq mi)
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)
Postal code	6900
Area code	023

Laingsburg is a town located in the Western Cape province in South Africa.

History

Train approaching Laingsburg station across the Buffels River bridge

Flowering Karoo near Laingsburg

Flowering Karoo bear Laingsburg

Laingsburg was first established in the 1870s by Stephanus Greeff. He bought the farm Vischkuil-aan-de-Buffelsrivier (fishing pond on the Buffalo River). The town only started developing when the railway line to it was completed. It was first named Buffelsrivier but this was later changed first to Nassau and finally to Laingsburg, after John Laing who was Commissioner of Crown Lands at the time.

The town was laid out in 1881 and became a municipality in 1904. The Laingsburg Local Municipality has since been expanded to include Bergsig, Goldnerville and Matjiesfontein.

Laingsburg flood

The Buffels River had already overflowed its banks at around 8:00 on the morning of Sunday 25th January 1981. Just north of the railway bridge at Laingsburg, two rivers - the Baviaans and the Wilgerhout, flow into the Buffels. The level of the water started to rise in town at about 12:00, and at 14:00, the Laingsburg CBD was almost fully covered. The water rose by the second, and there was no time for those still at home to take any belongings with them. Most of the residents were used to water level rising up to their doorsteps from time to time, particularly those located next to the Buffels River.

Those trapped in their houses fled to their roofs for safety, but eventually the roofs collapsed. The speed and volume of water was higher and stronger in the southern part of the town because of the obstruction of the river by the road and railway bridges. Houses were rapidly swept away along with the people.

As a result of the flood, about 104 people from Laingsburg lost their lives. About 12 people were washed downstream and eventually rescued at the Floriskraal Dam about 21 kilometres (13 mi) from the town. Many bodies were unidentified or never found.

Today the flood level can still be seen on some buildings in Laingsburg. It is also indicated in town by means of a signboard. Flood experts believe that this was the biggest flood that Laingsburg had experienced in many years.

Geography

Laingsburg is situated along the N1 route, at Lat: -33.20, Long: 20.85, in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

The town is situated in the Great Karoo, a semi-desert region of South-Africa. The town's total rainfall is about 150mm per year. The main water supply is the Buffels River. Summers are extremely hot and dry, with temperatures usually exceeding 30°C. Winters are crisp to sometimes very cold, with snow occasionally occurring in the surrounding region.

Economy

Laingsburg's economy is mainly based on farming of goats, sheep, lucerne (Alfalfa) fruit and vegetables.

External links

• Laingsburg Local Municipality
• Laingsburg Tourism
  • Laingsburg Flood