Historic Wupperthal in the Cederberg to be rebuilt after tragic fire

Posted by David Henning on 19 November 2021

More than 50 homes were destroyed when the historical mission village of Wupperthal burnt town on 30 December 2018. Wupperthal’s residents were moved into prefab huts on the rugby field but thankfully, R20 million has been provided for the reconstruction and preservation of the historic town.

Wupperthal as an idylic Cederberg village before the fire. Picture: Flickr Commons

Among the 52 buildings that were destroyed in the fire, significant historical buildings include what locals call ‘Die Werf’, a communal area comprising the community hall, the school hostel, Lekkerbekkie restaurant, the butchery, ‘the’ guesthouse, a rooibos cosmetics shop, the C Louis Leipoldt museum and the church minister’s parsonage.

The fire in Wupperthal destroyed 52 buildings in December 2018. Picture: SABC

Wupperthal was established as a Moravian mission station in 1865, where two German missionaries arrived in the cape in 1829 to spread the Moravian interpretation of the gospel. The two missionaries settled amongst seven Khoikhoi families in the valley.

Picture: SABC

Today, the charm of the town is attributed to its continuation of traditions passed down since the arrival of missionaries, such as its agricultural productivity, religious devotion and its mix of historical buildings, as well as the towns local industries of rooibos and the veldskoen factory.

The R20 million to rebuild the homes and historic buildings was provided by the Rupert Foundation, who are hopeful that the towns reconstruction will be mostly complete when the spring flower season comes round in August 2022.

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