Is the SA town where you grew up famous for anything?

Question

Or did anything famous happen in its history...or any famous person living there....?

Answer 1

I grew up in Worcester. Worcester is the capital of the Breede River valley.
We have a few famous people: Jean Welz, a famous artist (moved to New York in the 1980´s to be a director of some art museum). Then we have David Kramer, songwriter, entertainer, playwright, director and is famous for his musicals etc, Ferdinand Rabie, the first Big Brother winner, Andrew Murray, an Anglican preacher, C. Loius Leipoldt, a famous Afrikaans poet was born in Worcester, J.M. Coetzee lived in Worcester as a child and described his life there in his book "Boyhood".
Worcester also has the De La Bat School for the Blind, and the Pioneer School for the Deaf.
Worcester is situated between the Hex River mountains and Breede River. There are many wineries from the Breerivier, Nuy area, Aan de Doorns and Scherpenheuvel. The Worcester area is South Africa´s biggest producer of wine and brandy by volume. There is the KWV Brandy Distillery, the largest of its kind in the world. Worcester also has its own Wine Route including the Slanghoek area.
Worcester has the Karroo Desert National Botanical Garden, there is a casino, and the cultural village, Kleinplasie which is a working agricultural museum.
And for the youth, Worcester has the YWAM, the Youth with a mission, a Christian group.
There is also the Goudini Spa, a warm spring with self-catering accommodation, and congress centre.
And, the Worcester Golf Club, designed by Peter Matkovich in partnership with Gary Player.

*Edit* We also have the artist Pieter Hugo Naude, who lived and worked in Worcester. His studio and home have been preserved and is used as the Worceter Art Centre.

Answer 2

KT Tunstall (St. Andrews) - Singer/songwriter The Proclaimers (Auchtermuchty) - Band Jack Vettriano (Methil) - Famous painter Gordon Brown (Kirkcaldy) - Prime Minister Edith Bowman (Anstruther) - Radio/TV presenter St. Andrews Gold Course - Considered "The Home Of Golf" - thousands of people from around the world travel here to play golf.

Answer 3

Not me, but my dad grew up in Kimberley. It is famous for the 'Big Hole' and De Beers, the largest company to operate a diamond mine was owned by Cecil John Rhodes.
In 1882, Kimberley was the first town in the southern hemisphere to install street lighting.
SA's first school of mines was opened in 1896 and moved to Jhb becoming the hub of the University of Witwatersrand.
Kimberley also put forward a proposal for a stadium for the 2010 World Cup Soccer but was rejected.

Answer 4

Krugersdorp - aaah krugersfornia....

Krugersdorp was known to have the worlds largest mine dump, is the place where mrs ples was discovered, eugene terreblanche was caught pomping jani allen at the paardekraal national monument, was the fastest growing metropol in 2005 and 2006, was once mentioned in national geographic magazine as one of two places on earth that has the perfect climate (overall highest lowest temperatures over a year), fw de klerk went to high school there, bishop desmond tutu was born there, and his sister still stays in their birth home in munsieville.

Answer 5

I stay in Witbank moved here back in the early 1970's as a child. Sir Winston Churchill was captured and held prisoner in Witbank during the 2nd boar war. He escaped from Witbank and there is still a pub called the Clock pub in Witbank owing its name to the fact that Winston Churchill send 6 gold watches to the people that helped his escape. Oh yes and Witbank dam was the biggest municipal dam build in the southern hemisphere. (I am not sure if it still holds that record). Annilenne Kriel (MIss World) spend her school days in Witbank. Francois Pienaar attended high school in Witbank. We also have 7 power stations within 100km radius of Witbank. (i think its 7). Prime Circle comes from Wtbank.

Answer 6

I grew up in a little hole called Odendaalsrus. Apparently, the man with the biggest feet in the world lives there. Or so, I've been told. Come to think of it, I don't really care either way.

Answer 7

Grew up in London, famous for 'die baie Ingelse' there. And in Klerksdorp, like Sins. But to me Klerksdorp is famous for all the 'bokslagters' that live there. And for old Bietjie-bekruip, who could poep Jan Pierewiet in perfect tune.

*** Hey, Commodore, glad to see you are up and running after your accident. Welcome back.

Answer 8

Yes in Pretoria we have the Union Buildings, Voortrekker Monument and Church Square

Answer 9

Mike Waters, the DA mp who dared question Manto sits on the council of my hometown, Edenvale.

Also, quite a few musicians as well.

Answer 10

Richards Bay - We have the largest natural Harbour in the country!!