Richtersveld Local Municipality: History
Richtersveld is part of Little Namaqualand, the part of Namaqualand south of the Orange River. The original inhabitants of Namaqualand were overwhelmingly Khoi Khoi, but also included some San people.
During the 19th century, other people started settling in Little Namaqualand. These included some white Trekboers, and also a number of so-called basters. Missionaries too started showing an interest in Little Namaqualand. The Rhenish Missionary Society established a mission station under the charge of Reverend Hein at Kuboes during the mid 19th century.
On 23 December 1847 the British Crown, through annexation, extended the northern boundary of the then Cape Province from the Buffels River up to the Orange River. From that date the whole of Little Namaqualand (including the Richtersveld) became subject to British rule.
In 1925 diamonds were discovered near Port Nolloth. In 1927 a particularly rich deposit was found at the mouth of the Orange River at Alexander Bay. Many people moved into the area. Throughout the 1960s to 1998, a Light Infantry Regiment of the SADF was garrisoned here along with 2 batteries of Self-Propelled Artillery