A brief synopsis of Lichtenburg:
Lichtenburg is sometimes called 'Wilgedorp' because of the willow trees along the furrows lining the streets. The town was established on the farms Middelbosch and Doornfontein which were presented for this purpose to the Transvaal Republic by Commandant Hendrik Greeff in 1866.
The town was the focus of diamond fever between 1925 and 1930 and, while it lasted, there were some 50 000 diggers and 100 000 labourers active in the district. After an estimated £ 15 million worth of diamonds had been found, the source waned and only a few diggers remained to pursue their dreams of fortune.
The backbone of Lichtenburg's economy is now agricultural and the maize produced in the district is handled by one of the biggest cooperative companies in the country. Other grains are also produced and cattle ranching are another major agricultural occupation. The climate of Lichtenburg is healthy and moderate. Frost occurs in winter but the days are pleasantly sunny. As a result of natural water resources and wide-open spaces it has a natural charm and it a true oasis in an otherwise slightly arid North Western region.
- The Museum
- Lafarge
Quick Navigation
or Click on Thumbnail to make the Full Image Stay
Antique Piano in Art Museum
Memorial stone of war 1899-1902
Ampie Bosman Museum
Cash Register
Memorabilia
The Museum:
In 1926 a diamond was found on the farm Elandsputte resulting in a diamond rush with more than 100'000 diggers streaming to the town. In March 1927 25,000 runners took part to peg their claims in one of the biggest diamond rushes in history.
The biggest pure red diamond ("pigeon blood red") in the world was found here. By 1935 the rush was over after 7 million carats of diamonds were discovered. Lichtenburg Diggings Museum has exhibits of the alluvial diamant diggings of 925-1935.
The Ampie Bosman Cultural History Museum gives an introduction to the interesting & colourful history of Lichtenburg. Exhibits cover the founding & development of the town, discovery of the local diamond fields, the siege of Lichtenburg during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) and much more.
Back to top
Lafarge
In a bid to meet the rapidly growing cement demand in South Africa, France-based multinational building materials giant Lafarge has committed itself to a number of short- and medium-term infrastructure investments to increase its local production capacity.
The largest of these investments, explains newly-appointed Lafarge South Africa CEO Albert Corcos, is the R1, 2-billion projects to increase cement capacity by one-million tons a year at its Lichtenburg cement works in the North West province. The Lichtenburg cement works is, currently, the largest and most technically advanced cement clinker production facility in the country.
Corcos explains that groundwork has started on this project and tenders for the construction of the new plant will be placed before the end of the year. In addition to the construction of this new plant, the project will also involve the installation of a new kiln at the Lichtenburg facility to expand the clinker production line by 800 000 t/y.
This project is expected to be finalized and commissioned by the end of 2008. Corcos continues that in con- junction with the Lichtenburg project, the development of another one-million-ton-a-year Greenfield grinding plant at Randfontein, west of Johannesburg, is also under way.