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Ottosdal and Letsopa

The Town of Ottosdal, was established as a Dutch Reformed Church on the Farm 'Korannafontein'. This occurred in 1913 and was named after its owner, GP Otto. The main routes to and from Gauteng (Pretoria, Johannesburg, Vereeniging), the Economic Centre of South Africa, passes through the Town to the neighbouring Countries of Namibia and Botswana. Ottosdal is the only place in South Africa where the unique “wonder stone” or Pyrophyllite, is found and mined.

The annual Agricultural show in Ottosdal is one of the oldest in the Province. There is also: a  British Fort; ancient War Trenches and cemeteries; a Garden of Remembrance for the soldiers killed during the Anglo-Boer War; the Old Water Mill built in 1860 that is a National Monument; Khoisan Rock Engravings on local Farms and an Old Farm Guest House, that is one of few surviving Boer Farmhouses, this mansions was built in 1907. Today, it is mainly a farming community with a couple of supermarkets and coffee shops. (Aside from the obvious Historical value your break here will obtain!) There is also a Golf Club and, the opportunity to run in the Town's Night marathon or Half Marathon, stay on local Farms and Game Reserves, like Madikwe Game Reserve and Mafikeng Game Reserve, and a chance to visit Bloemhof Dam, just South of Ottosdal. (it is also considered one of the best fresh water fishing Dams in the Country, all links provided in further reading!) Letsopa is a small Township, situated just slightly, to the West of Ottosdal. Pyrophyllite is a metamorphosed clay (a recrystallisation of rocks that already exist because of changes in either physical or chemical conditions), created by volcanic ash. It was initially used to make tombstones and building stone but today is used in a wide variety of products including: electrical insulation; refractory bricks and sculpting blocks.

Geolocation
-26° 48' 46.932", 26° 9' 24.624"
References
https://www.sa-auto.co.za/portal/town/681/Ottosdal https://www.tourismnorthwest.co.za/ottosdal https://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsnwp/ottosdal.php https://www.miningweekly.com/article/new-horizons-for-wonderstone-2004-12-03 https://mapcarta.com/N1371015207

St. Andrews College, Grahamstown now Makhanda

St Andrew’s College is a School, situated in Makhanda (Grahamstown), in the heart of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. This independent Anglican boarding school, caters for 470 pupils from across the World. The school motto is: 'Nec Aspera Terrent'- (Difficulties do not dismay us). St Andrew’s College was founded in 1855 by the Right Reverend John Armstrong. (The first Anglican Bishop of Grahamstown.) Bishop Armstrong’s choice of school motto for St Andrew’s College; "Nec Aspera Terrent" (Difficulties do not dismay us). This apt is very relevant given the History of the Eastern Cape. The original school building, now Upper House, is reputed to have been designed by Mrs. Armstrong being assisted by Bishop Armstrong, who had a great interest in and knowledge of architecture. Together they consulted with Captain C Hervey of the Royal Engineers and Lieutenant Sutton regarding the construction of the Building. The St Andrew’s College Chapel was designed in the Romanesque style by Sir Herbert Baker and executed by Franklin Kendall. It was dedicated in 1914 to the Old Andreans: who died in various conflicts in the first 50 years of the school’s History. The St Andrew’s College clock tower was designed as a memorial to those: Old Andreans who had died in the first World War. The foundation stone was laid in 1921 and the tower was dedicated on St Andrew’s Day in 1923. St Andrew’s College is an innovative independent School regarded as one of the leading Schools in the Country. St Andrew’s College model is based on that of a “house system”, a traditional feature of English boarding schools whereby each student is allocated to a house at the moment of enrolment. St Andrew’s College enjoys a unique co-ordinate relationship with its neighboring sister school, The Diocesan School for Girls (DSG). This relationship is practically expressed in that students from Grades 10 to Grades 12 share classes. The Boy in You- ‘I hope you will always be true to the boy in you.’ With these words Jan Hofmeyr, one of South Africa’s most gifted political leaders, summed up his address at St Andrew’s College Speech Day in 1929 and identified the theme that has run like an unbroken thread through the life of the school during the century and a half of its existence. Be true to yourself and remember that who you are springs from the boy within you. ~ Dr Marguerite Poland, Author of “The Boy in You: A Biography of St Andrew’s College, 1855 – 2005” (further reading- has the link to this book)
Geolocation
-33° 18' 30.6238", 26° 31' 8.0939"
References
https://www.sacschool.com/ https://www.sacschool.com/history/ https://www.facebook.com/oldandreans/
Further Reading
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Private-School/St-Andrews-College-609798399148817/ https://www.sacschool.com/ https://books.google.co.za/books/about/The_Boy_in_You.html?id=CbYsygAACAAJ&redir_esc=y https://www.sacschool.com/newsletters/ https://twitter.com/standrews1855/status/1453997589242732546 https://www.facebook.com/oldandreans/ https://nationaltoday.com/st-andrews-day/ https://southafrica.co.za/history-grahamstown.html