October 28, 2010 – 10:24 am | No Comment

OK, I get it, the President isn’t the only one in charge. The ANC believes in "collective responsibility" (So that nobody has to get blamed when things get screwed up), so I address this to …

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A history of Okiep
October 20, 2010 – 1:17 pm | No Comment

Okiep is the oldest mining town in South Africa where copper was first discovered and mined in 1855. Phillips and King was the first mining company to actually start mining in Namaqualand although many so called mining companies were formed during the 1850’s copper mining rush from Cape Town. In the 1860’s Phillips and King were taken over by a London based company known as “The Cape Copper Company” and they continued mining in Namaqualand until the 1919 and continued exploration until 1927 when they were liquidated. In 1927 Newmont Mining / American Metal Company, two American mining houses purchased the Namaqualand Copper Fields from the defunct Cape Copper Company and the Okiep Copper Company was formed in 1937 and started mining in 1928. In 1988 Newmont sold the Okiep Copper Company to Goldfields of SA, who in turn sold to Metorex in 1998 and they are still mining in Namaqualand today.

Okiep was for many years the centre of the Namaqualand copper fileds which was known at the turn of the century as the richest copper mining area in the world. This in turn made Okiep famous during the last phase of the Anglo Boer War when Okiep was besieged by Boer Commandos under the command of General Jan Smuts for a period of two months (April / May 1902). When General Smuts invaded the Cape Colony in September 1901 the Boer Commandos made their way to Namaqualand via Calvinia with the idea of capturing the rich copper fields and therefore forcing the British to send their troops to Okiep. This would have left Cape Town open for attack by the Boer Commandos. Unfortunately for the Boers this did not happen as in late April 1902 General Smuts was called back to Pretoria from Namaqualand for the signing of the Peace of Vereeniging in June 1902.

Okiep therefore has a very rich history and the Hotel has on its doorstep two national monuments, namely a Smoke Stack (1880) which acted as a ventilation shaft and Cornish Pump House (1882). The Cornish Pump House is in fact a steam pump engine which is fully intact and is the only remaining pump house of its sort in the Southern Hemisphere. Many of these pump houses remain in Cornwall, England. Much of the old mining works still remain in Okiep, especially the remains of the old Cornish miners’ workings and stone masonry in the surrounding areas.

The earth works of the old railway line between Okiep and Port Nolloth (91.5 miles) still remain as a reminder the old mule train. The railway line was built under the supervision of Thomas Hall, a Cornish Railway Engineer and was built from 1866 and

completed in 1873. From 1873 to 1894 the only form of power on the railway line were mules and the Namaqualand Mule Train was world famous in its time. In the 1894 steam was introduced (Clara, the steam engine and some carriages are on static display at the mine museum at Nababeep) and the whole railway line was dismantled in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s by the Americans.

We have on our doorstep some unique geological formations, namely the Orbicule Hill (koppie) which is only found in Namaqualand and Scandinavia, Narap Meccabreccia and the “Klondike” steep structure. Other unique geological formations are also found in the area together with beautiful unsploit scenery.

Goegap Nature Reserve
August 14, 2010 – 1:27 am | No Comment
Goegap Nature Reserve

Goegap Nature Reserve lies 15km south-east of Springbok in Namakwaland and covers about 15000ha. The name Goegap is derived from the Nama word for waterhole.

The reserve encompasses the typical granite koppies and sandy plains of Namakwaland. It …

Koos die Eskimo
August 7, 2010 – 10:17 pm | No Comment
Koos die Eskimo

Koos was gatvol vir Suid-Afrika;  die misdaad;  sy werk in die polisie;  die verkeer in Johannesburg;  al die mense net waar jy kyk.
Hy bedank sy werk en emigreer na Kanada.
Die noorde van Kanada, daar waar …

Seven Kinds Of Sex
July 25, 2010 – 11:36 pm | No Comment
Seven Kinds Of Sex

The 1st kind of sex is called … Smurf Sex.
This kind of sex happens when you first meet someone and you both have sex until you are blue in the face.
The 2nd kind of sex is called …

Two Cowboys
July 25, 2010 – 11:31 pm | No Comment
Two Cowboys

A successful rancher died and left everything to his  devoted  wife.
She   was a  very good-looking woman and determined to keep the ranch, but knew very little about ranching, so she decided to place   an ad in the newspaper …

Haai Wysheid
July 25, 2010 – 11:26 pm | No Comment
Haai Wysheid

Twee groot wit haaie swem in die see en sien ‘n skip wat sink.
“Volg my, seun” sê pappa haai vir sy seun en hulle swem tot by die skip.
“Eers  swem  ons  om  die mense in …

Lipstick in School – teach them well
July 12, 2010 – 10:35 am | No Comment
Lipstick in School – teach them well

Lipstick in School (You’ve got to love this principal)
According to a news report, a certain private school in Brisbane was
recently faced with a unique problem. A number of 12-year-old girls were
beginning to use lipstick …

40 South Africanisms you should know
June 27, 2010 – 11:52 pm | No Comment
40 South Africanisms you should know

BABBELAS (BUBBLE-US): Hangover. Usage: “Jeez, I had too many dops last night. I’ve got a hectic babbelas.”
BAKKIE (BUCKY): What Americans would term a “pick-up”. A two-seater light vehicle with an open rear cargo area. The rear is …

VERY Brave Man Jokes…
June 27, 2010 – 11:41 pm | No Comment
VERY Brave Man Jokes…

How do you turn a fox into an elephant?
Marry her!
What is the difference between a battery and a woman?
A battery has a positive side.
What are the three fastest means of communication?
1) Television
2) Telephone
3) Telawoman
What should …

Hoe Om Jou Huis Te Beveilig As Jy Te "Broke" Is Vir 'N Security Alarm…
June 27, 2010 – 11:29 pm | No Comment
Hoe Om Jou Huis Te Beveilig As Jy Te "Broke" Is Vir 'N Security Alarm…

1. Gaan na jou naaste tweede handse klere winkel en koop n gebruikte stel ”Steel Point Boots” verkieslik size 14-16.
2. Plaas dit op jou stoep langs ‘n paar lee bier blikke gepaart met ‘n …

Rear Windscreen Sticker! Special!!!
June 18, 2010 – 9:18 am | No Comment
Rear Windscreen Sticker! Special!!!

We were in slow-moving traffic the other day and the car in front of us had a President Zuma rear windscreen on it. It read: “Pray for Our President Zuma Psalm 109:8″.
My husband’s Bible was lying on …