In the vast tapestry of South African history and folklore, few names evoke a sense of enigmatic charm quite like Putsonderwater. This abandoned settlement, once a thriving stop along the railway between Cape Town and Windhoek, now stands as a spectral reminder of times past, its story intertwined with the lore of the land.
The name Putsonderwater, originally spelled Putzonderwater, translates to "well without water", a moniker that carries with it a tale as dry as the land it describes. The story dates back to the early 1880s, with a farmer named David Ockhuis at its heart. Ockhuis, along with his sons Hans and Gert, discovered water in this arid region and dug a well. However, the prosperity that water promised in such a dry landscape also brought fear.
Ockhuis, lacking formal rights to the land, feared that revealing the well's existence would attract nomadic graziers (trekboers) and endanger his claim. Thus, whenever a thirsty traveler inquired about the well, Ockhuis would respond, “Ja meneer, ek het 'n put, maar dit is 'n put sonder water.” This phrase, meaning “Yes, sir, I have a well, but it is a well without water,” gave birth to the settlement's name.
Putsonderwater's name resonates in the collective South African consciousness akin to the legendary places like Shangri-La, Xanadu, or Camelot. Its usage often signifies a far-off, almost mythical destination. Yet, unlike some of these fabled locations, Putsonderwater was once a living, bustling community.
Up until the early 1990s, the settlement thrived as an essential stop on the railway route from Cape Town to Windhoek. It boasted a general dealer, hotel, police station, post office, school, and an inter-denominational church. The community's vibrancy was evident in the late 1980s when it won the coveted Lady Duncan Trophy for the best country railway station in South Africa, celebrated for its beautiful gardens under the stewardship of station-master Ken Magson.
However, like many remote settlements, Putsonderwater couldn't withstand the tides of change. The latter part of the 20th century saw its gradual decline, leading to its current status as an abandoned relic. Today, it stands as a ghostly echo of its former self, a poignant symbol of the transient nature of human settlements and the enduring power of stories in shaping our perception of places.
In conclusion, Putsonderwater, a name that once signified deception to preserve a precious resource, now serves as a metaphor for unreachable, mythical places. Its history, wrapped in the dusty winds of the South African landscape, continues to capture the imagination, reminding us that some places, though no longer physically bustling, remain alive in the stories we tell and the legends we pass down.