Van Zylsrus Explained

Van Zylsrus
Pushpin Map:South Africa Northern Cape#South Africa
Coordinates:-26.867°N 22.05°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:South Africa
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Northern Cape
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:John Taolo Gaetsewe
Subdivision Type3:Municipality
Subdivision Name3:Joe Morolong
Subdivision Type4:Main Place
Established Title:Established
Leader Title:Councillor
Area Total Km2:0.90
Population Total:848
Population As Of:2001
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Racial makeup (2001)
Demographics1 Title1:Black African
Demographics1 Info1:86.6%
Demographics1 Title2:Coloured
Demographics1 Info2:9.2%
Demographics1 Title3:Indian/Asian
Demographics1 Title4:White
Demographics1 Info4:4.2%
Demographics1 Title5:Other
Demographics Type2:First languages (2001)
Demographics2 Title1:Tswana
Demographics2 Info1:52.5%
Demographics2 Title2:Afrikaans
Demographics2 Info2:45.3%
Demographics2 Title3:Southern Ndebele
Demographics2 Info3:1.1%
Demographics2 Title4:Sotho
Demographics2 Info4:1.1%
Demographics2 Title5:Other
Timezone1:SAST
Utc Offset1:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code (street)
Postal2 Code Type:PO box
Postal2 Code:8467
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:053

Van Zylsrus is a settlement in John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.

It is also the nearest settlement to The Kalahari Meerkat Project, the filming of nature TV shows such as Meerkat Manor.

The settlement was founded by 6 Trekboer families in 1832, led by the former Heemrad of Calvinia, Petrus van Zyl.

Between 1971 and 2001 it was the location of a Ballistic Missile Battery of the SADF, colocated with an Infantry Company plus a Heavy Mortar Platoon, an Armoured Squadron less one troop, and an advance Radar and Signals Squadron of the SAAF. The settlement also had its own Commando platoon of 21 Riflemen reinforced by the local SAP helicopter flight and Askari detachment. On October 24, 2020, a maximum temperature of 43.3C was registered.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 68006: 68329: Van Zylsrus . . 24 October 2020 . ogimet.com . OGIMET. 24 October 2020 .