OKIEP

Smoke-Stack

8km north of Springbok, just east of the national route to Namibia, is another old copper mining center. Okiep gained its name from the Nama or Hottentot word U-gieb meaning 'the great brackish spring'. The mine in Okiep was for many years ranked as the richest copper mine in the world. Of particular interest to the visitor are reminder of the early boom years.

The Cornish Beam Pump (a national monument since 1978) in its stone building, is situated in the centre of Okiep. The steam-driven pump was erected in 1882 to pump water from the mine until 1929 when it was abandoned. It was restored in 1965, but as the boilers could not be restored, steam is not available to drive it. The pump can only be seen from the road as the area is inaccessible.

Next to the Cornish beam pump in the centre of Okiep is the Smoke-Stack. It was erected by the Cape Copper Company for the boilers that supplied steam for the Cornish beam pump in 1880. It was in use until 1929. In 1952 the smoke-stack was declared a monument in remembrance of the pioneer miners of Namaqualand.

Fort Shelton is situated outside Okiep approximately 100m west of the road between Okiep and Concordia. This was the main fortification of the Home Guard throughout the siege of Okiep (May 1902), during the Anglo-Boer War. It consists of a hillock with a flag staff and the remnants of stone walls.

An old Cemetery is immediately to the north of Okiep. There are graves dating back to the 19th century and the Anglo-Boer War.