Vaalharts Valley
The Vaalharts Valley is situated in the north-east corner of the Northern Cape bordering the North-West Province. [1] It gets its name because it is located between two rivers, the Vaal and the Harts, near the little town of Warrenton [2]. Due to its advantageous position between the two rivers, an irrigation scheme was built in the Vaalharts Valley in the 1930s.
History
The Vaalharts Valley was formed millions of years ago by a giant glacier, resulting in fertile arable land. [3] The la Vaalharts Valley was originally ruled by Chief Galeshewe, who repeatedly clashed with the Cape Colonial Government [4]. Galeshewe lead an uprising in 1897 and was consequently arrested. Because of his activism, his land was later confiscated by the government. [4]. The Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme was built on Chief Galeshewe’s land in the Vaalharts Valley.
In 1886, before the construction of the irrigation scheme, Cecil John Rhodes wanted to divert the water from the Harts River to the diamond fields at Kimberley. [5] He was granted land for this venture but could not raise the money and the Government was not willing to spend money on the project.
The valley is naturally arable and fertile due to its lose location to two large sources of water, the Vaal and Harts Rivers. The irrigation scheme located in the valley was constructed to combat the effects of the Depression, the Anglo Boer War the Rinderpest, and the drought of the 1920s (6). The Vaalharts irrigation scheme was intended to provide employment and a means of sustainable living to impoverished whites who had been left destitute. Rhodes was the first to suggest that the irrigation scheme could alleviate the poverty of whites who sustained major losses through the Rinderpest epidemic – he argued that most whites did not want to work on the diamond fields but preferred to farm [5]
The idea was to re-direct water from the Vaal and Harts rivers into a series of canals and breathe life into the notoriously dry landscape. Development of the valley only started in 1934 with the damming of the Vaal River in 1938 by the Department of Water Affairs and 80 farmers were originally moved into the area [6]
The valley was dug manually and medical care was free and clothing and other necessities were subsidized by the government[5]. Recreational activities were provided that included a reading room and workers received schooling after work in a school building. Cultural and sport activities involved a debate and drama societies and a movie theatre. Provision was made for playing rugby, tennis, golf and there was a swimming pool. There were sport competitions, boxing and wrestling. Field hospitals catered for basic treatments. There was also a small church.
Geology
The geology is largely sedimentary rock of similar age to the Karoo but some rock also appears to be igneous dating back to the pre-Cambrian age.[7]. Natural drainage is poor in the region and this is attributed to the flat topographical gradient and typical soil profiles found in the area [7]
Fauna and Flora
Guineafowl, Swainson's spurfowl and Orange River francolin, the Namaqua sandgrouse and a variety of pigeons, doves and small birds are common in the area. Because of the irrigation canals and dams, many waterbirds are to be seen, including migrants from far off places like the Kafue Flats in Zambia and the marshes of the Okavango Delta. The main reason for the diversity of plant and birdlife is because the region is at a junction between the Kalahari thornveld, the grasslands of the Highveld and the Karoo 1. [6].
The area is classified as open savannah Kalahari thornveld with characteristic camelthorn trees in abundance. Shrubs and trees indigenous to the area include acacia species with names like “Katdoring”, “Haak-en-Steek” and “Trassiebos”. Tarchonanthus camphoratus (vaalbos), acacia tortilis and grewia (raisin bush) are typical semi-desert flora found throughout the region [6].
Farming
Today, the system of concrete canals irrigates 1280 farms and it is a popular fishing and boating destination and has braai and picnic facilities [4] The Vaalharts Valley is probably the largest irrigation scheme in the Southern Hemisphere. Produce grown in the area includes olives, pecan nuts, peanuts, citrus, wine, cotton and various stone fruit [8]. The first olive trees were planted in 1995 and at present there are over 30 000 trees of over 60 varieties. Wheat, maize and grain are also grown in the area [3]
Several towns are dispersed along the valley including, amongst others, Christiana, Jan Kempdorp, Warrenton, Hartswater, Taung, Windsorton, Barkly West and Delportshoop.
The area is very rich in Cultural Heritage Resources associated with the canal building and the agricultural development. These include architecture of houses, outbuildings, workshops, office buildings etc. There is also a totally neglected Museum and two important cemeteries.
Vaalharts Museum
Located in Jan Kempdorp, this museum houses a vintage car collection as well as agricultural equipment tracing the history of farming in the area, from ancient ox-driven ploughs to Ford and John Deere tractors dating back half a century [6] The museum is neglected
See Also
External Links
References
- ^ The Vaalharts River Valley. SA Places. Online. Accessed 17 October.
- ^ Musekwa, Rudzani Floyd. “Vaalharts Valley – a Garden of Eden in the Desert”. The New Age. 2014. Accessed 27 October.
- ^ a b Fick, David. “Africa: Continent of Economic Opportunity”. Real African publishers. 2007. Online. Accessed 17 October.
- ^ a b c “Home of the diamond fields” Frances Baard Tourism Brochure. Accessed 17 October.
- ^ a b c Kusel, Udo. “Cultural Resources Impact Report”. 2015. Accessed 17 October.
- ^ a b c d McIver, Alan. “Vaalharts Valley, Karoo, Northern Cape”. 2014. Accessed 17 October.
- ^ a b [ https://books.google.co.za/books?id=PC96AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA61&dq=%22vaalharts+valley%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjVjpbZkvfWAhXILMAKHaumBPgQ6AEIJTAA#v=onepage&q=%22vaalharts%20valley%22&f=false D. Stephenson, E.M. Shemang, T.R. Chaoka. “Water Resources of Arid Areas: Proceedings of the International Conference on Water Resources of Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of Africa, Gaborone, Botswana, 3-6 August 2004” 2004. Accessed 17 October.]
- ^ “The Vaalharts Valley”. Accessed 17 October.