Van Zylsrus is a settlement in John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.

Van Zylsrus
Van Zylsrus
Van Zylsrus
Van Zylsrus is located in Northern Cape
Van Zylsrus
Van Zylsrus
Van Zylsrus is located in South Africa
Van Zylsrus
Van Zylsrus
Coordinates: 26°52′01″S 22°03′00″E / 26.867°S 22.050°E / -26.867; 22.050
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceNorthern Cape
DistrictJohn Taolo Gaetsewe
MunicipalityJoe Morolong
Area
 • Total0.90 km2 (0.35 sq mi)
Population
 (2001)[1]
 • Total848
 • Density940/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2001)
 • Black African86.6%
 • Coloured9.2%
 • White4.2%
First languages (2001)
 • Tswana52.5%
 • Afrikaans45.3%
 • Southern Ndebele1.1%
 • Sotho1.1%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
PO box
8467
Area code053

It is also the nearest settlement to The Kalahari Meerkat Project, the filming of nature TV shows such as Meerkat Manor.

The settlement was founded by 6 Trekboer families in 1832, led by the former Heemrad of Calvinia, Petrus van Zyl.[citation needed]

Between 1971 and 2001 it was the location of a Ballistic Missile Battery of the SADF, colocated with an Infantry Company plus a Heavy Mortar Platoon, an Armoured Squadron less one troop, and an advance Radar and Signals Squadron of the SAAF. The settlement also had its own Commando platoon of 21 Riflemen reinforced by the local SAP helicopter flight and Askari detachment. On October 24, 2020, a maximum temperature of 43.3 °C (109.9 °F) was registered.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Van Zylsrus". Census 2001.
  2. ^ "68006: 68329: Van Zylsrus". ogimet.com. OGIMET. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.