This section explores the political and economic history of Vryburg and context within which the early Jew immigrants found themselves. 

 

Located between German South-West Africa, the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) and the Kimberley Diamond Fields, it is not surprising that many of the early arrivals were from Germany and Holland. As South Africa increasingly attracted Jews from areas under the rule of the Russian Czar, the composition of the Jewish settlers changed. This section, therefore, seeks to give readers a sense of who the Jewish pioneers were and where these emigres came from.

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It seems hard to fathom, but in the early days Vryburg was an important town. An appreciation of its importance and economy helps to understand why people came here. And some of the Jewish arrivals played a prominent role in local politics and society. This engagement is also discussed in this section.