Kathu is located in the Kalahari region of the Northern Cape of South Africa. The picturesque little town owes its existence to one of the largest open-cast iron ore mining operations in the world, being the Sishen mine.
The name Kathu means "town under the trees" which is derived from the Camel Thorn forest in which Kathu is situated. The Camel Thorn forest is one of only two, the other being between Mariental and Rehoboth in Namibia. Its uniqueness was recognized in the early 1920's when it was declared a State Forest. In 1995 it was registered as a Natural Heritage Site.
The phrase "the town under the trees" was coined by an engineer working in the town in the early 1990's as part of a tourist marketing drive. It was intended to be a marketing slogan. The meaning of the word "Kathu" has anecdotally been attributed to a porridge brewed by the local population from the powder found in the pods of the Camel Thorn trees.
The Sishen Mine opened in 1947 and is Kumba's flagship operation and one of the largest open-pit mines in the world. All mining is done by open-cast methods, with ore transported to the beneficiation plant where it is crushed, screened and beneficiated. Kumba is the only haematite ore producer in the world to fully beneficiate its product, made possible through dense medium separation (DMS) and jig technology. The longest and heaviest train carried ore from Sishen mine to Saldanha, a 7,5 km train of 660 wagons carried 68 640 tonnes of ore. Normally, trains to Saldanha comprise 342 wagons transporting 100 tonnes each.
Residents and visitors to Kathu can also enjoy a game of golf at what is considered by many to be one of the most scenic golf courses in the country. Currently ranked in the top 30 Golf courses in South Africa, the course winds its way through a 500 hectare Camelthorn forest on the edge of the Kalahari Desert.
Kathu has numerous spacious residential stands, older houses (initially built and funded by the mine for its employees) as well as newly built and modern houses to meet every need. Adjacent to Kathu are numerous well-established sheep, cattle and game farms and the area is exceptionally suited for game, particularly Springbok, Blesbok and Kudu.
Seeff Kathu can assist you with all your property needs, from residential properties such as vacant stands, family homes to commercial properties. We offer unique local area insight and our team of real estate agents can assist with sales, rentals as well as investments.
