The Namaqua West Coast doesn’t get much rain, but it is among one of South Africa’s thriving agricultural regions thanks to an incredible network of canals, hundreds of kilometres in length. The construction represents a historic and engineering feat known as the Olifants River Irrigation Scheme and is the country’s oldest. The scheme’s open concrete canals transport water throughout the region. They start at the Bulshoek and Clanwilliam dams. The scheme was formally established in 1911, but has a history that goes back to the middle of the 19th century. Initially comprising hand-dug trenches, the canals were later solidified with concrete - a job that Italian POWs were engaged in during World War 2. Amazingly, there is not a single pump along the entire course of the canals. Like the Roman aqueducts, water flows from its source to dams spread across the region, by gravitation only.
The canal is the life-blood of an agricultural and industrial sector that creates thousands of jobs and is a substantial tax contributor to the South African economy.
The irrigation scheme visible across the Namaqua West Coast is 321km in length and comprises a central canal of 261 km with 11 branches. It supplies 26 000m³ of water per hour, for irrigation to 680 farmers, municipal drinking water to towns, and industrial processes to major companies.
Clanwilliam, formerly known as Jan Disselsvlei, formed part of the district of Stellenbosch until 1808 when it was annexed to the newly established district of Tulbagh. It then also became a sub-drosdy. The assistant magistrate's seat of office was on the loan farm Jan Disselsvlei, specially bought for this purpose. This sub-drosdy was renamed Clanwilliam in January 1814. On 1 January 1828 a resident magistrate was appointed to the Clanwilliam district.
The magistrate's office was burnt down during the Anglo-Boer War and most of the records prior to 1902 were destroyed.
The magistrate held periodical courts at Citrusdal, Lamberts Bay, Van Puttensvlei and Vanrhynsdorp.
The Divisional Council of Clanwilliam was established on 6 August 1855 in terms of Act No 5 of 1855 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette dated 10 August 1855).
On 1 January 1980 the Divisional Council of Clanwilliam was reconstituted together with the Divisional Council of Vanrhynsdorp to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Cederberg (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 4061 of 20 July 1979, Proclamation No 174 of 18 July 1979).
The Municipality of Clanwilliam was constituted on 12 March 1900 under provision of Government Notice No 187, 1900 in terms of the Municipal Act of 1882 (The Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 8215, 16 March 1900).
In terms of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act 209 of 1993) the Municipality of Clanwilliam was dissolved with effect from 1 January 1995 and the Clanwilliam Transitional Local Council established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette No 4916, 30 December 1994, Proclamation No 128, 28 December 1994).
In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) the existing Clanwilliam Transitional Local Council together with the Clanwilliam Transitional Representative Council, Citrusdal Transitional Local Council, Graafwater Municipality, Lamberts Bay Municipality, Piketberg Transitional Representative Council and the Vanrhynsdorp Transitional Representative Council was disestablished and the Cederberg Local Municipality established (Province of Western Cape Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No 5589, 22 September 2000, Provincial Notice No 482, 22 September 2000). The Cederberg Local Municipality forms part of the larger West Coast District Municipality.
According to a declaration signed by the Town Clerk, Clanwilliam in 1987, Council archives prior to 1955 that are missing from the various series in this inventory could not be traced.
