Griekwastad was founded in 1802 as the mission station Klaarwater of the London Missionary Society. It was renamed Griquatown in 1813 by the Reverend John Campbell (1766-1840), missionary of the London Missionary Society. It was named after the Griqua, and the name Griekwastad is used for official purposes. (GPS coordinates: 28.8498 S, 23.2435 E). Located on the N8 that starts at Groblershoop in the Northern Cape, at a junction with the N10 from Upington. It runs east through Griquatown to Kimberley.

Griekwastad is a country town in South Africa. It is sometimes still called Griquatown, a name which is now considered historical. The town is in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa 170 km’s west from the city of Kimberley. It was the first town to be established in the country north of the Orange River.

Their leaders were Adam Kok II and Andries Waterboer. In 1813, at the instigation of Rev John Campbell, the ‘bastaards’ renamed themselves Griqua, and the place called Klaarwater became Griquatown.

Disputes between the two leaders led to the Kok faction leaving Griquatown for Philippolis and Kokstad. When diamonds were discovered the Griqua were one of the parties claiming that the Diamond Fields lay within their territory.

The Keate arbitration awarded the area to Waterboer, who immediately sought Crown protection. This led to the colony of Griqualand West, which was later to be annexed to the Cape Colony. The first council chamber of the Griqua, and the execution tree where Waterboer hanged criminals, can be seen in Water Street. Griquatown is known for its semiprecious stones, tiger’s eye and jasper. The town is a centre for stockbreeding.

Griekwastad is part of the Siyancuma Local Municipality which is situated within the Pixley Ka Seme District of the Northern Cape Province. It is bordered by the ZF Mgcawu and Frances Baard Districts in the north, Siyathemba and Thembelihle in the south, the Free State Province in the east, and the ZF Mgcawu District in the west. It is one of the eight municipalities that make up the district, accounting for 16% of its geographical area.

Griquatown is known for its semiprecious stones, tiger’s eye and jasper is a centre for stock breeding. Main Economic Sectors: Agriculture, mining.

Cities/Towns in the same area are Campbell, Douglas, Riet River, and Schmidtsdrif.

Return to Northern cape Towns/Cities.