NOORD-KAAP. – Die karoodorpie Middelpos, wat sowat 103 hektaar beslaan, kom eersdaags onder die hamer, wanneer dit deur middel van ‘n aanlyn veiling verkoop word. Dit is nie elke dag wat so ‘n gebeurtenis hom voordoen nie en belangstellendes wat die unieke geleentheid wil aangryp, kan die eiendom op afspraak besigtig.
Home & Hectare sê die bodproses begin op 21 Mei 2026 om 12:00 en sluit die volgende dag op dieselfde tyd. Middelpos is tussen Sutherland en Calvinia langs die R354 in die Bo-Karoo geleë en word as een van die min oorblywende egte Karoo-dorpies beskou. Die dorpie het ‘n historiese karakter wat grootliks onaangeraak gebly het deur moderne ontwikkeling. Die volgende eienaar van die eiendom kan uitsien na die moontlikheid van ontwikkeling. Die dorpie spog met ‘n hotel met 10 kamers en is ’n gewilde stopplek vir reisigers en boere in die omgewing en is ook naby aan die Tankwa Karoo Nasionale Park, wat gereelde besoekers lok.
Daar is egter nie net ‘n hotel op die dorpie nie, maar ook ‘n winkel, fabriekgebou, saal, ‘n ou poskantoor en drie huise in ‘n goeie toestand. Daar is ‘n bestaande boorgat en ongeveer 4,75 hektaar grond wat besproei kan word. Volgens die bemarkers bied die dorpie ’n seldsame kans om ’n stuk Karoo-erfenis te bekom met potensiaal vir verdere ontwikkeling.
South African Researcher – Family History & Heritage vertel meer oor dié unieke Karoo-dorpie se ryk geskiedenis:
Middelpos was built on a trading store established by Daniel TOMLINSON after buying part of the farm Stinkkuil from Jan NEL in 1860. By 1871 there was a trading store with three rooms. After his death in 1877, property changed hands a few times. During the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902), Joel SHER, a Lithuanian Jewish smous, horse, and mule speculator, followed the Boer commandos, supplying riding and packing animals. In 1902, the Boers gave NIGHTINGALE, the owner of the Middelpos Trading Store, 24 hours to clear out. Joel bought his business. Leon HELFET, a Ukranian refugee, and Herman WEINRICH, Joel’s brother-in-law, became partners in the shop and hotel. Leon sold out in 1908, but the business continued as Weinrich & Sher until 1975.
Joel, Leon and Herman extended the Middelpos store and developed the village into a thriving centre serving the surrounding areas as part of the Jewish smouse, supplying isolated communities. After his death in 1951, Joel’s sons Mickey, Mannie (Emmanuel) and Arthur took over. In 1954 they built a new store and turned the original store into a hotel. Joel was the grandfather of Sir Anthony SHER KBE (1949-2021), the South African-born playwright who left South Africa in 1968 and wrote a book, Middelpos, about the experiences of Lithuanian Jews in South Africa. After the Sher family, a series of owners took over. The property was later rented out.
In 1975, Barend GELDENHUYS, a school principal, and Casper STEENKAMP, a farmer, bought the property. In 1980, Colin and Matie WRIGHT of Laingsburg bought the property and revived the village. After Colin’s death, his wife and children managed the village. His daughter, Helena, and her husband Koos VAN DER WESTHUIZEN are the current owners. Koos’ family has been in the village for 46 years.
According to the Boer commando, Jaap VAN DEVENTER, he heard that the English were moving through the area with supply wagons. On the night of 05 February 1902, he ambushed them with a surprise attack. Wagons were set alight, animals driven off and shots fired blindly into the darkness. The next morning Deventer also launched a surprise attack on an occupied English koppie near the camp attacked the previous night. With this strategic vantage point, the Boers could go unnoticed to loot livestock from the defeated British camp. Three Boers were killed during the battle. On the British side, three officers, one sergeant and seven soldiers of the 11th Imperial Yeomanry were killed. After this battle, the English withdrew from the area and moved southwards. After the war, a memorial stone and cross were sent to Middelpos with the request that all the fallen British soldiers’ final resting place be in the mass grave. The memorial is behind the Middelpos Hotel.
© 2026 South African Researcher – Family History & Heritage
