Wupperthal

For the city in Germany, see Wuppertal.

Template:Infobox South African town Wupperthal (sometimes also spelt Wuppertal) is a small town in the Cederberg mountains in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It was founded in 1830 by two German missionaries of the Rhenish Missionary Society (Rheinische Mission), Theobald von Wurmb and Johann Gottlieb Leipoldt, grandfather of C. Louis Leipoldt – some 100 years before the city of Wuppertal was formally established in Germany. In 1965, after the Rhenish Mission had gradually scaled down their activities in Southern Africa over a period of 40 years, a decision was taken that Wupperthal in future should become part of the Moravian Church, which by that stage had already made the transition from a mission to an autonomous church in South Africa. The town remains a Moravian mission station to this day.

Village life

The village remains isolated, and is accessible by a gravel road from Clanwilliam over the Pakhuis Pass. Community facilities include the Moravian Church, a shop, a tea room, a post office, a school with two hostels and a community hall.

Most families in the community are dependent on small-scale agriculture or livestock farming for their livelihood. The most important cash crop is rooibos tea. The mountainous areas surrounding the village provide grazing for goats.

In its heyday the shoe factory, founded by Johann Leipoldt himself, provided work for many skilled craftsmen. The Wupperthal handsewn veldskoen (traditional soft suede shoes) were for nearly a century famous across South Africa for their comfort and good craftsmanship. A tannery and a glove factory were also in operation for many years. The shoe factory is still in existence today, but operates on a much smaller scale.

Tourism is a growing industry for Wupperthal, particularly during the Namaqualand flower season in August and September, when the seemingly barren mountain slopes become covered in flowers for a few weeks. A community tourism project offers self-catering chalets and a camping site. Activities include hiking, 4x4 trails and donkey cart rides.

2018 Fire

On the 31st December 2018 a wildfire swept through the village and surrounding area causing widespread devastation. The fire destroyed a majority of the buildings in the town burning down 53 homes, a community hall, clinic, a restaurant and the historic Moravian Mission Station leaving only the town's church and a few other buildings remaining. Telecommunications infrastructure was also damaged in the fire causing difficulty in communication. The fire left 200 residents homeless.

There are reports that the Moravian Church has not and will not provide financial support, even those received from donors, to the homeless victims of the Wupperthal Fire. Speaking to residents of Wupperthal, a tone of disdain for the CEO of MCiSA, Sidney Stadler, is overwhelmingly widespread as suspicions of corruption, bribery, and theft are the top stories of the small village's rumour mill. Many who have lost their homes were promised that they'd receive temporary housing - a contract that The Moravian Church refuses to sign permitting the government and other sponsors to begin construction.

The town of Wupperthal was the scene of a devastating blaze in December and at least 53 houses and five businesses were razed. One woman was badly burnt in the fire and she has succumbed to her injuries.

Jackie Valentyn, aged 57, died at Tygerberg Hospital on Tuesday morning after spending about a month at the facility in severe pain due to her injuries.

References

Sketch of Wupperthal by the Norwegian missionary, Hans Christian Knudsen

External links

• Wupperthal
• Step Back in Time. The Vagabond Adventures visit Wupperthal - An interesting account of a visit to Wupperthal. Includes photos.