Whenever these scribes and photographers pass the derelict Northern Cape settlement of Putsonderwater, they stop at the station, straddle the rails, adopt a surfer’s pose and have their photo taken.
Why? You might ask.
They probably do that because for many years few people – except for those who live around here – really believed Putsonderwater actually existed. Like Timbuktu or Brigadoon, it has always been a term bandied about to indicate a far-off, never-never place. Narnia in the scrub desert, if you will.
Putsonderwater is also part of the grand Afrikaans tradition of hardship names for towns and farms. The celebrated writer Etienne van Heerden says it best in his book Kikoejoe, when he lists “Soebatsfontein … Moordenaarskaroo … Allesverloor … Genadebrood … Wurgdroogte … Godverlaat … Moedverloor … Knersberg … Verneukpan … Putsonderwater … Genadeloosrand … Pynlikheid … Perdvreklaagte … Allesverby.”
You roll those words slowly around on your tongue, conjure up the images they speak of and it’s all flat, bleak and generally in dire need of 30mm of hard rain, a plate of koeksusters and a raucous mampoer party on the stoep.
The back story of Putsonderwater is that a man called David Ockhuis and his two sons found water here and dug a well. And when a trekboer and his vast, thirsty herds came to look for a drink, they would say:
“Ja meneer, ek het ‘n put, maar dit is ‘n put sonder water.” (Yes, sir, I have a well, but it is a well without water.) So the place became Putzonderwater. In later years, the ‘z’ was dropped in favour of the modern spelling.
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It would actually seem that “puts” or “putz” is Nederlands for “bucket!” Seems someone once dropped a full bucket directly over the water, which bucket hasn’t been seen since!
Brian, that’s interesting. I have a story which goes along the lines that it was in fact a successful well that once dug, the water came flowing up and over-flowed. Thus, Die “Put’ (i)s onder water.
Using either of these, the farmer could not be caught out in a lie.
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How many people still staying in Putsonder water?
Who is the owners of the farm?
Absolutely no one stays there any more, the buildings are all abandoned and slowly being reclaimed by Nature. A train to or from Uppington still passes by on the mainline every few days but never stops, the sidings are overgrown and no longer maintained
Can anybody tell me who Putsonderwater belongs to, and who can I speak if I want to purchase a stand there?
Hi Eugene,
if you manage to find out who to speak to in connection with putsonderwater
please let me know as i would love to buy one of the old buildings & revamp it back to its original state.
regards
Peter
Hi any news on this town, I am also interested, a person can make it so beautiful with a lot of love.
Good Day Peter Jordaan / Eugene
Have you manage to find any information on Putsonderwater?
Regards Lizahne
I may be looking to go in there and do something … Maybe drop me an email on nurosyncpro@gmail.com
Make the subject “Putsonderwater”
I’m also interested but can’t find anyone to talk to
Hi there. I also whant to know to whom does Putsonderwater belongs too ?
Same as what Eugene asked..
Can i puchase a stand there ?
Willem ons moet dalk kyk onder watse munisipaliteit hy val en van daar af werk?
Hi Lizahne,
No, have not yet managed to get any further information on Putsonderwater ,but have just bought a house in Victoria West; will be moving there at the end of May.
Once settled we will be making a trip to that area and will chat to locals in the surrounding area and towns.
regards Peter
Hi
Ek stel ook belang om een van die ou geboue te koop en te restoureer.Ek sal ook self probeer om uit tevind aan wie dit behoort
Groete Gert
Hi
Ek sal ook n ou gebou daar koop as iemand informasie kan kry.
Weet iemand of daar water is
Kan iemand vir my ook laat weet waar om te soek vir koop van ou geboue putsonderwater asb
Hi I’m also interested in property …to build it up again. There is so many places that’s been abandoned and there is people that love to rebuild it ….why should it be abandoned ? Why ….please if anyone has a contact number
Good day guys. I’m following this post and would like to see if you would at all be interested in a joint effort to restore this beautiful town. Anyone keen feel free to mail me at befcal@gmail.com