| dc.description.abstract | The settlement of the first Voortrekkers on the banks of the
Schoonspruit at more or less 1838 laid the foundation for
the establishment of the Elandsheuwel settlement (the later
Klerksdorp). The unpredictable rainfall and the often limited
flow of the Schoonspruit contributed to the fact that new
arrivals moved upstream where they had already established
in large numbers in the vicinity of the present Ventersdorp
in the middle of the nineteenth century.
Hence the spruit was practically divided into two units: a
group of settlers who occupied the higher reaches of the spruit
(Ventersdorp) and a group along the lower reaches (Klerksdorp
region) . The favourable location of the Ventersdorp inhabitants
at the origin of the Schoonspruit contributed to the
fact that they had fewer water problems during the dry seasons,
hence they could withdraw freely their normal quota of water
out of the spruit. Later in the nineteenth century the authorities
were determined to protect the proposed water rights
of the inhabitants of the lower reaches.
With ever increasing settlement of settlers in Ventersdorp
during the fifties there farm owners paid scant attention to
the regulations which Jacob de Klerk applied in 1840: each
farm was allowed only one dam and irrigation ditch. The independant
attitude of the Ventersdorp settlers was further
reflected in their attempt, under the leadership of J.H. Venter,
to found a town on the farm Elandskuil in 1859.
The fact that Klerksdorp and Ventersdorp experienced similar
problems in respect of water and similar requirements in respect
of water supply, didn't enhance their co-operation.
Since 1859 there came to the fore along the banks of the Schoonspruit
two self-interested groups. Klerksdorp and Ventersdorp
each wanted to handle and promote their own interests.
The scanty documentation of the water regulations, property
transactions and servitudes in the earlier history of Klerksdorp
and Ventersdorp largely contributed to the clashes and
discord that developed among the inhabitants. The non-confirmation
of regulations by the "Volksraad" in 1861 resulted
in the Klerksdorp Ventersdorp controversy.
Adriaan Roscher who settled in Ventersdorp in 1874 ultimately
became the founder of Ventersdorp and the architect of the
water regulations for Ventersdorp and the Schoonspruit.
The "Regulasies voor die plaatsen aan Schoonspruit e~ instructie
voor den Waterfiscaal" of 1887 can be recognised as an
unique turning point in the history of the water of the Schoonspruit.
By this the governm~nt confirmed its position as the
official controller of wa~er: The success of these water regulations
largely centered around the effective control and
administration by the chief water-bailiff as official government
servant.
The water regulations that were applied by M.W. Pretorius in
1861 and later in 1887 in the Schoonspruit area, were exclusively
composed with the aim to determine the division of water
between farms along the spruit. In this process no attention
was given to the entrenchment of the water supply of
Ventersdorp and Klerksdorp.
In Ventersdorp a serious water crisis developed in 1896 as a
result of the fact that W.P. Taylor as foreigner, placed a
limit on the withdrawal of water out of the main water ditch
of the farm, "Oog van Schoonspruit".
After the discovery of gold in 1885 in the vicinity of Klerksdorp
the water of the Schoonspruit became the stream of life
for the future existance and development of this town. The
increasing demands, that the mining industry and the increasing
population imposed on the available water of the spruit, in178
evitably threatened the hygienic position of the inhabitants.
In 1887 the ~overnment gave concession to the ''Anglo Transvaal
and Land Company'' to supply water for the town, but they
had very little sympathy with this company when they could not
raise foreign capital timeously to launch this hydro project.
The drawn out feud between Klerksdorp and Elandsheuwel during
the period 1898 to 1899 also wrecked the water scheme of
A.P.J. Cronje.
Water that played a very important historical role in the origin
and development of societies resulted in a principle relating
to water rights, namely that water was either in private or
communal possession. In spite of moral condemnation existing
since the colonization of the Cape in respect of regulations,
acts and limitations were not part and parcel of the normal
history of water in the nineteenth century. | en_US |
