Lichtenburg, South Africa
Lichtenburg | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: 26°09′S 26°10′E / 26.150°S 26.167°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | North West |
| District | Central |
| Municipality | Ditsobotla |
| Established | 1873 |
| Area | |
• Total | 108.90 km2 (42.05 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,459 m (4,787 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 26,338 |
| • Density | 240/km2 (630/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 59.5% |
| • Coloured | 7.9% |
| • Indian/Asian | 1.9% |
| • White | 30.3% |
| • Other | 0.3% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Tswana | 52.5% |
| • Afrikaans | 38.1% |
| • English | 4.1% |
| • Sotho | 1.1% |
| • Other | 4.2% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 2740 |
| PO box | 2740 |
| Area code | 018 |
Lichtenburg (Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈləχtənˌbœrəχ]) is a town situated in North West Province, South Africa. It is the administrative centre of Ditsobotla Local Municipality.
The town was established in 1873 and was named by Transvaal President Thomas François Burgers as Lichtenburg (Town of Light). On the 13 March 1926, Jacobus Voorendyk, discovered a diamond on his family farm and within 12 months there were 108,000 fortune seekers on the scene. The resulting diamond rush lasted ten years.
The main economic activity is the production of maize (corn) and meat. Lichtenburg lies in the heart of the maize triangle, which is the main maize growing area in South Africa. Another major economic activity is the production of cement. Within an 80-kilometre (50 mi) radius of Lichtenburg there are four major cement producers, which creates opportunities for long-distance transport and related businesses.