Oranjemund (German for "Mouth of Orange") is a diamond mining town of 4,000 inhabitants situated in the ǁKaras Region of the extreme southwest of Namibia, on the northern bank of the Orange River mouth at the border to South Africa.
The entire area along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean was proclaimed restricted (the Sperrgebiet) in 1908 due to the occurrence of alluvial diamonds. Since then the public was forbidden to enter it. In 1927 diamonds were found south of the Orange River in South Africa. Hans Merensky and other prospectors assumed that the northern shore on South West African territory would also have diamonds. A year later they conducted an expedition from Lüderitz 300 kilometres (190 mi) to the mouth of the Orange. They found rich deposits on the north bank of the Orange River and the adjacent northern coastline and established a tent camp from which Oranjemund developed.[2]
Due to the Great Depression, diamond mining was not taken up until 1935, and a year later workers' houses were erected.[2] Oranjemund as a formal settlement was thus established in 1936.[3] Production of mainly gem-quality diamonds has remained in the region of 2 million carats (400 kg) per year since inception of the mine, mainly through improvements in technology.[citation needed]
Until 2017 the town was run by Namdeb (formerly Consolidated Diamond Mines), now a subsidiary of De Beers. Access to, and settlement in Oranjemund was restricted to employees and their relatives. Its infrastructure is superior to that of other towns in Namibia's South, due to it not being dependent on cost recovery from its inhabitants. In the second half of the 20th century, Oranjemund featured a large recreational complex with swimming pool, cinema, restaurants and bars.[4] Water is still provided free of charge, and until 2016 so was electricity.[5]
There is a border post to South Africa at the south end of the Ernest Oppenheimer Bridge. Until the town was opened in 2017, only persons with pre-application of 1 month were allowed to cross the border.
Oranjemund is connected to Rosh Pinah via a tarred road along the Namibian shore of the Orange River. This road was inaugurated at the time of the town proclamation in 2011.[6]
Oranjemund has a desert climate (BWk, according to the Köppen climate classification), with pleasant temperatures throughout the year. The average annual precipitation is 50 mm (2 in).
Politics
Oranjemund was privately owned by De Beers until 2017, and thus governed by the diamond mining company's administration. In 2011 the political administration was handed over to government which proclaimed it a town. It is now governed by a town council that has seven seats.[7]
The first election run in Oranjemund was a by-election of the 2010 local authority election, 2,221 registered voters elected local authority councillors for the first time on 16 March 2012. SWAPO won the elections, and since 23 March 2012 Henry Edward Coetzee is the town's mayor.
SWAPO also won the 2020 local authority election but lost majority control over the town council. SWAPO obtained 935 votes and gained three seats. Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), an opposition party formed in August 2020, gained 737 votes and also three seats. The remaining seat went to the Landless People's Movement (LPM, a new party registered in 2018) with 158 votes.[8]
References
^"Table 4.2.2 Urban population by Census years (2001 and 2011)" (PDF). Namibia 2011 - Population and Housing Census Main Report. Namibia Statistics Agency. p. 39. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
^ abWeidlich, Brigitte (20 October 2017). "Oranjemund opens its doors to the world". Gondwana Collection Namibia.
^Hartman, Adam (May 2019). "Evolution of Namibia's mining towns". Mining Journal supplement to The Namibian. pp. 26–33.
^Alexander, Mike. "THE REC CLUB!". oranjemundonline.com. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
^Alexander, Mike. "Paying for Power!". oranjemundonline.com. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
^ abCloete, Luqman (3 August 2011). "Oranjemund proclaimed as town after long battle". The Namibian. p. 1.
^"Know Your Local Authority". Election Watch. No. 3. Institute for Public Policy Research. 2015. p. 4.
^"2020 Local Authority Elections Results and Allocation of Seats" (PDF). Electoral Commission of Namibia. 29 November 2020. p. 7. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
External links
Oranjemund Town Council, official website
Oranjemund Online, unofficial website with historic pictures
Oranjemund weather conditions
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Oranjemund.
January 20, 2023
oranjemund, german, mouth, orange, diamond, mining, town, inhabitants, situated, ǁkaras, region, extreme, southwest, namibia, northern, bank, orange, river, mouth, border, south, africa, townflagnickname, mundmotto, excellence, integrity, teamwork, diversitylo. Oranjemund German for Mouth of Orange is a diamond mining town of 4 000 inhabitants situated in the ǁKaras Region of the extreme southwest of Namibia on the northern bank of the Orange River mouth at the border to South Africa OranjemundTownFlagNickname O MundMotto Excellence Integrity Teamwork DiversityOranjemundLocation in NamibiaCoordinates 28 33 6 S 16 25 35 E 28 55167 S 16 42639 E 28 55167 16 42639 Coordinates 28 33 6 S 16 25 35 E 28 55167 S 16 42639 E 28 55167 16 42639Country NamibiaRegionǁKaras RegionConstituencyOranjemund ConstituencySettled1936Government MayorHenry Edward Coetzee SWAPO Elevation39 ft 12 m Population 2011 1 Total3 908Time zoneUTC 2 South African Standard Time ClimateBWk Contents 1 History 1 1 Transportation 2 Geography 2 1 Climate 3 Politics 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe entire area along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean was proclaimed restricted the Sperrgebiet in 1908 due to the occurrence of alluvial diamonds Since then the public was forbidden to enter it In 1927 diamonds were found south of the Orange River in South Africa Hans Merensky and other prospectors assumed that the northern shore on South West African territory would also have diamonds A year later they conducted an expedition from Luderitz 300 kilometres 190 mi to the mouth of the Orange They found rich deposits on the north bank of the Orange River and the adjacent northern coastline and established a tent camp from which Oranjemund developed 2 Due to the Great Depression diamond mining was not taken up until 1935 and a year later workers houses were erected 2 Oranjemund as a formal settlement was thus established in 1936 3 Production of mainly gem quality diamonds has remained in the region of 2 million carats 400 kg per year since inception of the mine mainly through improvements in technology citation needed Until 2017 the town was run by Namdeb formerly Consolidated Diamond Mines now a subsidiary of De Beers Access to and settlement in Oranjemund was restricted to employees and their relatives Its infrastructure is superior to that of other towns in Namibia s South due to it not being dependent on cost recovery from its inhabitants In the second half of the 20th century Oranjemund featured a large recreational complex with swimming pool cinema restaurants and bars 4 Water is still provided free of charge and until 2016 so was electricity 5 Oranjemund was proclaimed a town in 2011 6 Transportation Edit There is a border post to South Africa at the south end of the Ernest Oppenheimer Bridge Until the town was opened in 2017 only persons with pre application of 1 month were allowed to cross the border Oranjemund is connected to Rosh Pinah via a tarred road along the Namibian shore of the Orange River This road was inaugurated at the time of the town proclamation in 2011 6 Geography EditOranjemundClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 1 24 15 3 23 15 4 24 14 3 23 13 7 23 11 7 21 10 6 20 9 7 20 9 4 20 10 4 21 11 2 22 13 2 23 14Average max and min temperatures in CPrecipitation totals in mmSource World Climate GuideImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 75 59 0 1 73 59 0 2 75 57 0 1 73 55 0 3 73 52 0 3 70 50 0 2 68 48 0 3 68 48 0 2 68 50 0 2 70 52 0 1 72 55 0 1 73 57Average max and min temperatures in FPrecipitation totals in inchesClimate Edit Oranjemund has a desert climate BWk according to the Koppen climate classification with pleasant temperatures throughout the year The average annual precipitation is 50 mm 2 in Politics EditOranjemund was privately owned by De Beers until 2017 and thus governed by the diamond mining company s administration In 2011 the political administration was handed over to government which proclaimed it a town It is now governed by a town council that has seven seats 7 The first election run in Oranjemund was a by election of the 2010 local authority election 2 221 registered voters elected local authority councillors for the first time on 16 March 2012 SWAPO won the elections and since 23 March 2012 Henry Edward Coetzee is the town s mayor SWAPO also won the 2020 local authority election but lost majority control over the town council SWAPO obtained 935 votes and gained three seats Independent Patriots for Change IPC an opposition party formed in August 2020 gained 737 votes and also three seats The remaining seat went to the Landless People s Movement LPM a new party registered in 2018 with 158 votes 8 References Edit Table 4 2 2 Urban population by Census years 2001 and 2011 PDF Namibia 2011 Population and Housing Census Main Report Namibia Statistics Agency p 39 Retrieved 24 August 2016 a b Weidlich Brigitte 20 October 2017 Oranjemund opens its doors to the world Gondwana Collection Namibia Hartman Adam May 2019 Evolution of Namibia s mining towns Mining Journal supplement to The Namibian pp 26 33 Alexander Mike THE REC CLUB oranjemundonline com Retrieved 16 March 2011 Alexander Mike Paying for Power oranjemundonline com Retrieved 16 March 2011 a b Cloete Luqman 3 August 2011 Oranjemund proclaimed as town after long battle The Namibian p 1 Know Your Local Authority Election Watch No 3 Institute for Public Policy Research 2015 p 4 2020 Local Authority Elections Results and Allocation of Seats PDF Electoral Commission of Namibia 29 November 2020 p 7 Retrieved 24 December 2020 External links EditOranjemund Town Council official website Oranjemund Online unofficial website with historic pictures Oranjemund weather conditions Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Oranjemund Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oranjemund amp oldid 1116218562, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
