Bitterfontein

History of Bitterfontein

Province: Western Cape
West Coast
Coordinates:31°02′10″S 18°15′58″E
Area: 39.90 km2
Municipality: Matzikama
:
This small town is at the railhead of a line from Cape Town used to transport copper ore from mines in Okiep. Bitterfontein got its name from the bitter brackish water from the spring in town. Today, the town’s water comes from a desalination plant that treats the water using reverse osmosis. In 1931 just a few years after the railway line reached the area there was a famous diamond heist where the entire month’s production from Kleinzee was stolen from the postmaster’s office where it was awaiting transportation to Cape Town. The crime was never solved.

The postcode for Bitterfontein is 8200 (Boxes only)