now only a ghost town…

70 km East from Kenhardt, on the railway line from De Aar to Windhoek (via Upington), is the Ghost Town of Putsonderwater.
How did the village get its name? From the mid 19th century, many migrating farmers (trekboers) moved around in these areas while searching for food and water for their livestock. David Ockhuis and his two sons dug a well at this spot on his farm in the early 1880’s and found a good supply of fresh water. He knew that this finding should be kept a secret to prevent beeing driven of his farm by the trekboers. His answer on if he had a well was….yes sir, I do have a well but it is a well without water…
It is also quoted, that the name of the village was the title of a play written by Bartho Smit in 1962. (the religious crises of the Western man)