Gideon Joubert Park
Touwsrivier
While in Touwsrivier we had the privilege of visiting the Gideon Joubert Park.
This lovely little park perfectly depicts the locals love of their town and history. With its lush green grass, tall trees and beautiful rose bushes, the park is the perfect spot for a picnic, Christmas market or trip down memory lane.
Inside the park, which lies next to the local swimming pool, lie 4 important monuments.
1. ALET – a little steam train
In 1977 when Touwsrivier hosted it’s centenary festival, Alet was part of a float in the parade. Exhibited outside of the Railway club and the Spoornet building she was eventually moved to the park to be restored.
2. Mini Afrikaans Taal monument
In 1976 the Matric students of Touwsrivier entered and won a competition to build a replica of the Afrikaans Taal monument in Paarl. There are 21 mining replicas around South Africa. Touwsrivier has one.
3. Madiba Mandela Monument Stone
The Touwsrivier Heritage and Conservation Society unveiled a Memorial Stone on the 13 July 2019, in the Gideon Joubert Memorial Park,in honour of the personal sacrifices of the Mandela Family and to commemorate the 50th anniversary since the passing away of Thembekile Mandela and others who died in a car accident just outside Touwsrivier on 13 July 1969.
Thembekile Mandela was the eldest son of the late president Nelson Mandela and he sadly passed away while Madiba was imprisoned on Robben Island.
4. Class 23 Locomotive
There are two Class 23 Locomotives left in South Africa – one is in Touwsrivier. Touwsriver’s train, an infamous icon of the town,was handed over to the community by the town’s chief manager of the Railway on Saturday, 24 September 1977, during the celebration of its 100th year commemoration of the first steam train journey to Touwsriver.
When next in Touwsrivier visit these little gems !
Touwsrivier Tourism Association
