Leeudoringstad (Afrikaans for Lion thorn city) is a small farming town situated on the main Cape Town - Johannesburg railway line in North West Province of South Africa.

Leeudoringstad
Leeudoringstad is located in North West (South African province)
Leeudoringstad
Leeudoringstad
Leeudoringstad is located in South Africa
Leeudoringstad
Leeudoringstad
Coordinates: 27°14′S 26°14′E / 27.233°S 26.233°E / -27.233; 26.233
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceNorth West
DistrictDr Kenneth Kaunda
MunicipalityMaquassi Hills
Area
 • Total5.63 km2 (2.17 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total5,054
 • Density900/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African77.4%
 • Coloured1.3%
 • Indian/Asian0.8%
 • White20.1%
 • Other0.4%
First languages (2011)
 • Tswana57.0%
 • Afrikaans21.8%
 • Sotho10.4%
 • Xhosa4.1%
 • Other6.6%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
2640
PO box
2640
Area code018 581

Origin

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Leeudoringstad was established in 1920 and named after the Lion-thorn, the African Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens).

Dynamite Disaster

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The town hit the headlines on 17 July 1932 when a train carrying 320 to 330 tons (previously incorrectly stated as 1,200 tons) of dynamite from the De Beers factory at Somerset West to the Witwatersrand exploded and flattened the town. Five people were killed.

According to the: A.P.Cartwright "The Dynamite Company", a goods train delivering explosives from the Cape Explosives Factory to the Rand, with thirty-one trucks was loaded with 10685 cases. Just outside the station, about 1 km down the track, the driver noticed a cloud of smoke coming from one of the trucks in the middle of the train. He immediately stopped the train and was about to get down from the foot plate when a series of explosions occurred. The driver and his fireman escaped unharmed and managed to uncouple the engine and take it into the station to warn the people there that there could possibly be more explosions. [2]

A nearby farm house received the full blast and four people in there were killed instantly as well as most of the livestock.[3]

The board of inquiry found that the initial fire was due to the trailing axle of the first dynamite truck had become hot and ignited the grease and oil in the axle box. What saved the driver and fireman was that by regulation there had to be three empty trucks between the engine and the first explosives truck.

The paper, "The Star" of July 18, 1932 carried extensive articles.

Agriculture

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Today, Leeudoringstad hosts the headquarters of Suidwes Landbou, one of the largest agricultural companies in South Africa.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Leeudoringstad". Census 2011.
  2. ^ "Leeudoringstad, 17 July 1932. Remains of 30 trucks after dynamite accident. Train loaded with debris of explosion. - Atom site for DRISA".
  3. ^ "Leeudoringstad en die Trein van Onheil". 30 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Suidwes". Retrieved 26 February 2015.