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Much of the history and recreational facilities of the agricultural and manufacturing town of Lichtenburg lie in ruin, and their preservation has deteriorated alongside the town’s service delivery.
Lichtenburg, meaning “Town of Light,” is part of the Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West province.
Established in 1873, a diamond discovery in 1926 sparked a decade-long rush, dramatically transforming the town.
After the rush, Lichtenburg became an agricultural hub specializing in maize, sunflower, and meat production.
Nearby Dudfield also contributes to the local economy with significant cement production by companies like Afrimat and AfriSam.
Historically, it is known as the resting place of General Koos de la Rey, whose statue still graces the town square.
The once bustling and productive town has been plagued by a collapse in basic services, political instability, corruption, and financial mismanagement.
The situation became so dire that it had to be placed under provincial administration several years ago.
Alongside this deterioration in basic services has been the collapse of preserving the town’s history and recreational facilities.
The Ampie Bosman Cultural History Museum in the town centre, also known as the Lichtenburg Museum, is a good example.
This museum showcased the founding and development of the town, the discovery of diamonds, the life of General de la Rey, and the siege of Lichtenburg during the Anglo-Boer War.
Visitors could see diverse exhibits, including artefacts, photographs, and interactive displays that vividly illustrate the stories of the people who have lived and thrived in this region.
It was officially opened in June 1985 and served as a repository of history and a cultural hub that hosted events and workshops and promoted local arts and crafts.
A fire destroyed the Lichtenburg museum
A fire gutted the Lichtenburg Museum on 24 October 2023. The loss of the museum, which preserved the area’s rich history and identity, was a significant blow to the community.
It highlighted the need for comprehensive fire safety measures and shared responsibility for preserving cultural landmarks.
“The fact that private companies had to deploy their fire engines to the scene because the authorities’ fire engines arrived without water speaks volumes,” Ernst Kleynhans from the FF Plus said.
The Ditsobotla municipal spokesperson at the time, Pius Batsile, admitted that private companies assisted district firefighters due to low water pressure in their hydrant fleet.
This is unsurprising, as dire water problems have plagued Lichtenburg for years. Water-shedding is commonplace in the town.
Despite calls by local and national governments for authorities to address the matter swiftly, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The building and its contents remain destroyed, with metal components stripped and no signs of life returning to the structure. The investigation into the fire is ongoing.
The fall of recreational facilities
Although Lichtenburg is a small town, it has a rich cultural and artistic history, much of which is in ruins. This is also the case for sports, except for privately maintained amenities.
It once offered state-of-the-art amenities like recreational centres, tennis courts, multi-purpose stadiums, and cricket pitches, which were used by numerous teams for many sporting events.
However, these facilities have suffered significant neglect over the years, making most unusable.
Darius Venter, who coached and chaired the Lichtenburg Rugby Club, told the SABC they had to end the deal with the Ditsobotla local municipality.
The municipality allegedly breached the contract by allowing other sports teams to use the facility without maintenance assistance.
“We felt that if we had to give up our agreement and we don’t have charge of the club, then the municipality and the soccer teams had to assist us in the maintenance of the stadium,” said Venter.
“None of them wanted to assist. They just wanted to use the facility, but they don’t want to assist to maintain the facility.”
When BusinessTech visited the Lichtenburg Rugby Club in January 2025, it looked like a destroyed ghost town.
The clubhouse’s roof collapsed, there were broken glass bottles everywhere, and various parts were stripped bare. This happened despite being used regularly by the local community for football.
These sports grounds, once a hub for rugby, football, cricket and more, are now in disrepair. On the same property, a tennis club was burned down and never repaired.
The Ditsobotla municipality has said that its financial woes have contributed to facilities being in poor condition.
Thabo Nkashe, the former Mayor of Ditsobotla, said that “the reason for the dilapidation is lack of security.”
“The Ditsobotla Local Municipality is in a dire financial situation. We didn’t manage to pay our security personnel, so our security personnel decided to vacate the place,” he said.
“The solution is that we are appealing to the business people to come on board and give support to protecting our facilities. He is welcome to do so.”
Lichtenburg Rugby Club video
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