Watter ís die oudste dorp in Transvaal?

Abstract

• Opsomming: Die standpunt van prof. G.N. van den Bergh in Contree 18 (Julie 1985) dat Klerksdorp nie die oudste dorp in Transvaal is nie, word in hierdie artikel bevraagteken. Daar word aangevoer dat ofskoon Klerksdorp eers formeel op 12 September 1888 tot dorp verklaar is, daar reeds lank voor die tyd 'n dorp by Schoonspruit (Elandsheuwel) bestaan het; selfs in amptelike korrespondensie is hierdie "nedersetting" as sodanig erken. 'n Vergelyking tussen die pioniersjare van Klerksdorp, Potchefstroom en ander ou dorpe word getref. Voorts word aangetoon dat Ou Dorp en Nuwe Dorp inderdaad 'n eenheid gevorm het en dat Klerksdorp reeds in 1884 as die oudste dorp in Transvaal bestempel is.• Summary: Prof. G.N. van den Bergh's view in Contree 18 (July 1985) that Klerksdorp is not the oldest town in the Transvaal, is refuted in this article. It argues that although Klerksdorp was only officially declared a town on 12 September 1888, there was a town in existence at Schoonspruit (Elandheuwel) long before this date, a fact which has been acknowledged even in official correspondence. A comparison of the pioneering years of Klerksdorp, Potchefstroom and other old towns (dorps) is drawn. It is also shown that au Dorp and Nuwe Dorp in fact formed a unity and that Klerksdorp already in 1884 was regarded as the Transvaal's oldest town.