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History
of Warmbaths/ Bela-Bela
This Golden Sunshine town has an
interesting history.
Warmbaths / Bela-Bela - has strong
mineral springs that flows out of the Earth at a rate of 22 000
liters of water per hour with a temperature of 52°C this water gave
rise to the eventual establishment of the town of Warmbaths. The water
from these springs are rich in sodium chloride, calcium carbonate and
other salts that are highly beneficial to those suffering from rheumatic
ailments.
Originally the Voortrekker Carl Van Heerden established the first
farm in this area at the Mineral Springs and called it Het Bad, at this
time the area in and around the mineral springs was a marshland where
great numbers of wild animals were trapped and died in the mud. When the
marshes were eventually drained, the skeletons of numerous animals
including elephant were found.
In 1873 the Honorable President
Burger of the then South African Republic (ZAR) that first saw the
tourism and recreational opportunities that Het Bad had to offer. He
proposed the purchase of the farm to the ZAR. The ZAR at first refused
the proposal but when President Burger wanted to purchase Het Bad from
his own funds they accepted the proposal, and so Hartingsburg was
born.
During the Anglo-Boer war the British annexed the small hut that
still stood and called it Warm Baths. The British also erected a
blockhouse to protect the railway line to Pietersburg and it still
stands today.
Christina Pretorius, wife of the well known General Andries
Pretorius passed away after a bought of flu and was buried in
Warmbaths, she was brought to Warmbaths in the hope that the mineral
waters would restore her health.
Hartingsburg and Nylstroom would remain declared townships in the
district of Waterberg and that the magisterial headquarters would be
where the Government deemed it most necessary. This however fell to the
lot of Nylstroom, for although Erven were sold at Hartingsburg, hardly a
soul lived there. The fresh water supply was poor - the place was visited by
sick persons during 5 months of the year only and in addition Nylstroom
did everything to maintain itself. Although Hartingsburg was the
official name the place was commonly called "Warmbaths". In
1903 the British government changed the name of the Post Office to WARM
BATHS ( Tvl. Government Gazette. Vol. V111 - 1905, pp. 108-109).
A proclamation of April, 1905, proclaims the extension of the boundaries
of Warmbaths over the other portions of the farm Het Bad and since then
the name Hartingsburg disappeared.
In 1920 Warm Baths was reproclaimed a
township and it was not until the 1st July 1950, that it had a
magisterial district of its own.
In 1932 Warmbaths achieved village town
status and town council status in 1960.
Since then the township has made rapid
strides. New residential areas sprang up, modern business concerns were
erected and magnificent schools and hotels made their appearance.
In the year 2002 Warmbaths was officially
renamed Bela-Bela (which means the pot that boils) and the Northern
Province has been renamed the Limpopo Province.
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