Prieska

Prieska is a town on the south bank of the Orange River, in the province of the Northern Cape, in western South Africa. It is located on the southern bank of the Orange River, 130 km north-west of Britstown and 75 km south-east of Marydale.

Prieska
Prieska
Prieska Show map of Northern Cape Prieska Show map of South Africa Prieska Show map of Africa
Coordinates: 29°40′6″S 22°44′38″E
Country	South Africa
Province	Northern Cape
District	Pixley ka Seme
Municipality	Siyathemba
Area [1]
• Total	195.52 km2 (75.49 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	14,246
• Density	72.862/km2 (188.71/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	23.6%
• Coloured	67.4%
• Indian/Asian	0.5%
• White	8.0%
• Other	0.4%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Afrikaans	92.6%
• Xhosa	4.4%
• English	1.0%
• Other	2.0%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	8940
PO box	8940
Area code	053

History

It developed from a place to which farmers migrated when the pans were full, after rains. It was originally named Prieschap, the name is derived from Korana and means ‘place of the lost she-goat’.^[2][3]: 41 An 1874 resolution of the Beaufort West presbytery of Dutch Reformed Church to establish a congregation in Prieska, came to fruition on 11 Mar 1878.^[4] Prieska was administered by a village management board from 1882 and attained municipal status in 1892. In 2011 the town had a population of 14,246.

The 1878 murders

In October 1878 at Luisdraai near Koegas a group of Korana and San indigenous people were savagely attacked by a 'military patrol' and 46 were killed. It later came to light that the indigenous people were killed in cold blood, after being disarmed and taken prisoner, eleven of the slain were women and children. The perpetrators were mounted militia, consisting of several white and Griqua farmers.

Koegas Asbestos Mine

Many residents, historically, worked at the nearby Koegas mine which extracted and processed blue asbestos.^[5]

The town is 240 km south of Kimberley and lies on the R357 road.

Notable natives and residents

• Gert Thys - marathon runner
• Dricky Beukes - writer