Vierfontein stands for 4 Fountains. This town, just outside of Viljoenskroon, was once built & owned by an electric company to create housing for it’s employees at the nearby coal mine. There seem to be quite a number of mines around here - mainly coal and gold. I thought I was seeing small plateaus while driving along, as they look like the buttes of the Dakotas. They add a lot of interest in the landscape.
I was told this area was flat and full of mealie (corn) farms and so I expected an Illinois of sorts. Instead, it’s probably more of a Texas. The highly anticipated “first rains” have yet to come and so the farmers leave a stubble of bush grass to keep the fine red dust from blowing too too much, The air is hazy with the combined dust of the mines and the dirt and takes on a smoggy appearance, almost. Not to say it’s unattractive, because it makes the distance trees layer upon one another in the atmosphere.
Vierfontein is a hollow of a town, quite literally, in that’s all alone, appearing quite pointless. Since the min is no longer in commission, the town has been sold and now exists as a private municipality. So it remains a safe oasis in the midst of dangerous South Africa. Mostly pensioners (retirees) reside there now as there isn’t any work to be had. The tennis courts are over run , though there is a post office, a hairdresser and a corner store. Quite an abysmal place, I must say. Tomorrow, I relocate to a farm and my main hosts’ house and I look forward to the different surroundings (not to mention being able to unpack finally!).
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