CHOL – Community History On-Line

Jewish Life in the South African Country Communities

The South African Friends of the Museum of the Jewish Diaspora (Beit Hatefutsoth) was established in 1983. Ten years later in 1993 they began research into Jewish life in the hundreds of small towns and villages all over South Africa, filling in the gaps in the Museum's holdings that only covered the bigger towns.

With support from members and institutions of the South African Jewish community, the project was managed by Phyllis Jowell, Rose Norwich and Adrienne Kollenberg, with help from many others, including David Saks, Yvonne Jawitz and Joy Kropman.

The first of six volumes of their meticulous research was published in 2002. They divided the country into regions and have published five more long and heavy tomes. In 2026 they hope to publish their seventh and final volume.

Sadly, none of their material has been digitised, nor is it available online. Indexes are only available volume by volume. To help a reader or researcher find the material they need in the seven volumes, in 2026, CHOL has made the alphabetical list below of all the main towns and villages covered, with their current names and the names of the provinces where they are situated together with the volume in which they are listed.

Town / city (old name)	Current official name	Province (pre-1990)	Current province	Volume
Aberdeen	Aberdeen	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Adelaide	Adelaide	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Albertinia	Albertinia	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Alberton	Alberton	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Alexandria	Alexandria	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Alice	Alice	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Alicedale	Alicedale	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Aliwal North	Maletswai	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Amanzimtoti	Amanzimtoti	Natal	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 4
Amersfoort	Amersfoort	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Balfour	Balfour	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Barberton	Barberton	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Barkly East	Barkly East	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Barkly West	Barkly West	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Beaufort West	Beaufort West	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Bedford	Bedford	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Belfast	eMakhazeni	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Benoni	Benoni	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Bethal	Bethal	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Bethlehem	Bethlehem	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Bethulie	Bethulie	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Bloemhof	Bloemhof	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Boksburg	Boksburg	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Bonnievale	Bonnievale	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Boshof	Boshof	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Bothaville	Bothaville	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Brakpan	Brakpan	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Brandfort	Winie Mandela	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Brandvlei	Brandvlei	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Bredasdorp	Bredasdorp	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Breyten	Breyten	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Brits	Brits	Transvaal	North West	Vol 1
Britstown	Britstown	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Bronkhorstspruit	Bronkhorstspruit	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 1
Bultfontein	Bultfontein	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Burgersdorp	Burgersdorp	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Butterworth	Gcuwa	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Caledon	Caledon	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Calitzdorp	Calitzdorp	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Calvinia	Calvinia	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Carletonville	Carletonville	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 7
Carnarvon	Carnarvon	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Carolina	Carolina	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Cathcart	Cathcart	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Centurion	Centurion	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Ceres	Ceres	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Christiana	Christiana	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Clanwilliam	Clanwilliam	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Clocolan	Clocolan	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Colesberg	Colesberg	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Coligny	Coligny	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Cookhouse	Cookhouse	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Cradock	Cradock	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Cullinan	Cullinan	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 1
Dannhauser	Dannhauser	Natal	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 4
Darling	Darling	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
De Aar	De Aar	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Dealesville	Dealesville	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Delareyville	Delareyville	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Delmas	Delmas	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Devon	Devon	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Dewetsdorp	Dewetsdorp	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Dordrecht	Dordrecht	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Douglas	Douglas	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Duiwelskloof	Modjadjiskloof	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Dullstroom	eNotshwezi	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Dundee	Dundee	Natal	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 4
Edenburg	Edenburg	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Edenvale	Edenvale	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Elliot	Khowa	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Empangeni	Empangeni	Natal	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 4
Ermelo	Ermelo	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Excelsior	Excelsior	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Fauresmith	Fauresmith	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Ficksburg	Ficksburg	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Florida	Florida	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 7
Fochville	Fochville	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 7
Fort Beaufort	KwaBhimbi	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Fouriesburg	Fouriesburg	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Frankfort	Frankfort	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Franschoek	Franschhoek	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Fraserburg	Fraserburg	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Garies	Garies	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
George	George	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Germiston	Germiston	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Gouda	Gouda	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Graaff-Reinet	Graaff-Reinet	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Grabouw	Grabouw	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Grahamstown	Makhanda	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Graskop	Graskop	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Gravelotte	Gravelotte	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Greylingstad	Greylingstad	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Griquatown	Griekwastad	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Groblersdal	Groblersdal	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Groot Marico	Groot Marico	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Hammanskraal	Hammanskraal	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 1
Hankey	Hankey	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Hanover	Hanover	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Harrismith	Harrismith	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Hartebeesfontein	Hartebeesfontein	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Hazyview	Hazyview	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Heidelberg	Heidelberg	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Heidelberg	Heidelberg	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Heilbron	Heilbron	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Hendrina	Hendrina	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Hennenman	Hennenman	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Hermanus	Hermanus	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Hoedspruit	Hoedspruit	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Hofmeyr	Hofmeyr	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Hoopstad	Hoopstad	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Hopefield	Hopefield	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Hopetown	Hopetown	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Humansdorp	Humansdorp	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Indwe	Indwe	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Irene	Irene	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Jacobsdal	Jacobsdal	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Jagersfontein	Jagersfontein	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Jamestown	Jamestown	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Jan Kempdorp	Jan Kempdorp	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Jansenville	Jansenville	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Joubertina	Joubertina	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Kareedouw	Kareedouw	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Kempton Park	Kempton Park	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Kenhardt	Kenhardt	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Kestell	Kestell	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
King William's Town	Qonce	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Kinross	Kinross	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Kirkwood	Kirkwood	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Klawer	Klawer	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Klerksdorp	Klerksdorp	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Knysna	Knysna	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Koffiefontein	Koffiefontein	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Kokstad	Kokstad	Cape Province	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 3
Komatipoort	Komatipoort	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Komga	Komga	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Koppies	Koppies	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Koster	Koster	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Kroonstad	Kroonstad	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Krugersdorp/Mogale City	Krugersdorp / Mogale City	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 7
Kuruman	Kuruman	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Ladismith	Ladismith	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Lady Grey	Lady Grey	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Ladybrand	Ladybrand	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Ladysmith	Ladysmith	Natal	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 4
Laingsburg	Laingsburg	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Lambert's Bay	Lambertsbaai	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Lawley	Lawley	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 7
Leandra/Leslie	Leandra / Leslie	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Leeudoringstad	Leeudoringstad	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Lichtenburg	Lichtenburg	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Lindley	Lindley	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Loeriesfontein	Loeriesfontein	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Louis Trichardt	Makhado	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Lydenburg	Mashishing	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Machadodorp	eNtokozweni	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Maclear	Nqanqarhu	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Mafikeng	Mahikeng	Cape Province	North West	Vol 2
Magaliesburg	Magaliesburg	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 7
Makwassie	Makwassie	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Malmesbury	Malmesbury	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Maraisburg	Maraisburg	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 7
Marble Hall	Marble Hall	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Margate	Margate	Natal	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 4
Marquard	Marquard	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Messina	Musina	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Meyerton	Meyerton	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 7
Middelburg	Middelburg	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Middelburg	Middelburg	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 2
Midrand	Midrand	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Modderrivier	Modderrivier	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Molteno	Molteno	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Montagu	Montagu	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Mooreesburg	Moorreesburg	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Morgenzon	Morgenzon	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Mossel Bay	Mossel Bay	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Murraysburg	Murraysburg	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Naboomspruit	Mookgophong	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Napier	Napier	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Nelspruit	Mbombela	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Newcastle	Newcastle	Natal	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 4
Nieu-Bethesda	Nieu-Bethesda	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Niewoudtville	Nieuwoudtville	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Nigel	Nigel	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Noupoort	Noupoort	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Nylstroom	Modimolle	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Odendaalsrus	Odendaalsrus	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Ogies	Ogies	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Olifantsfontein	Olifantsfontein	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Ottosdal	Ottosdal	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Paarl	Paarl	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Parys	Parys	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Paul Roux	Paul Roux	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Paulpietersburg	Paulpietersburg	Natal	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 4
Pearston	Pearston	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Peddie	Peddie	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Petrus Steyn	Petrus Steyn	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Petrusburg	Petrusburg	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Petrusville	Petrusville	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Phalaborwa	Phalaborwa	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Philippolis	Philippolis	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Philipstown	Philipstown	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Piet Retief	eMkhondo	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Pietermaritzburg	Pietermaritzburg	Natal	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 4
Pietersburg	Polokwane	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Piketberg	Piketberg	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Pilgrim's Rest	Pilgrim's Rest	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Pinetown	Pinetown	Natal	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 4
Plettenberg Bay	Plettenberg Bay	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Port Alfred	Port Alfred	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Port Nolloth	Port Nolloth	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Porterville	Porterville	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Potchefstroom	Potchefstroom	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Potgietersrus	Mokopane	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Prieska	Prieska	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Prince Albert	Prince Albert	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Prince Alfred Hamlet	Prince Alfred Hamlet	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Queenstown	Komani	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Randfontein	Randfontein	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 7
Reddersburg	Reddersburg	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Reitz	Reitz	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Richmond	Richmond	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Riebeek-Kasteel	Riebeek-Kasteel	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Rietfontein	Rietfontein	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Riversdale	Riversdale	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Robertson	Robertson	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Roedtan	Roedtan	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Roodepoort	Roodepoort	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 7
Rouxville	Rouxville	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Rustenburg	Rustenburg	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Sabie	Sabie	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Sannieshof	Sannieshof	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Sasolburg-Coalbrook	Sasolburg / Coalbrook	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Schweizer-Reneke	Schweizer-Reneke	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Senekal	Senekal	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Settlers	Settlers	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Smithfield	Smithfield	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Soekmekaar	Morebeng	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Somerset East	KwaNojoli	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Somerset West	Somerset West	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Springbok	Springbok	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Springfontein	Springfontein	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Springs	Springs	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Standerton	Standerton	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Stellenbosch	Stellenbosch	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Sterkstroom	Sterkstroom	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Steynsburg	Steynsburg	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Steynsrus	Steynsrus	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Steytlerville	Steytlerville	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Strand	Strand	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Strydenburg	Strydenburg	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Stutterheim	Stutterheim	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Sutherland	Sutherland	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Swartruggens	Swartruggens	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Swellendam	Swellendam	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Tarkastad	Tarkastad	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Taung	Taung	Cape Province	North West	Vol 2
Thaba Nchu	Thaba Nchu	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Thabazimbi	Thabazimbi	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Theunissen	Theunissen	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Tierpoort	Tierpoort	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Touwsriver	Touwsrivier	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Trichardt	Trichardt	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Trompsburg	Trompsburg	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Tulbach	Tulbagh	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Tweespruit	Tweespruit	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Tzaneen	Tzaneen	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Uitenhage	Kariega	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Umhlanga Rocks	Umhlanga Rocks	Natal	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 4
Umtata	Mthatha	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Uniondale	Uniondale	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Upington	Upington	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Utrecht	Utrecht	Natal	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 4
Van Wyksvlei	Van Wyksvlei	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Vanderbijlpark	Vanderbijlpark	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 7
Vanrhynsdorp	Vanrhynsdorp	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Ventersburg	Ventersburg	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Ventersdorp	Ventersdorp	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Venterstad	Venterstad	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Vereeniging	Vereeniging	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 7
Victoria West	Victoria West	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Viljoensdrif	Viljoensdrif	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Villiersdorp	Villiersdorp	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 3
Volksrust	Volksrust	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Voortrekkerhoogte	Thaba Tshwane	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 6
Vosburg	Vosburg	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Vredenburg	Vredenburg	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Vredendal	Vredendal	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Vryburg	Vryburg	Cape Province	North West	Vol 2
Vryheid	Vryheid	Natal	KwaZulu-Natal	Vol 4
Wakkerstroom	Wakkerstroom	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 6
Warmbaths	Bela-Bela	Transvaal	Limpopo	Vol 1
Warrenton	Warrenton	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Waterval-Boven	eGwatshane	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Wellington	Wellington	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Westonaria	Westonaria	Transvaal	Gauteng	Vol 7
White River	White River	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Williston	Williston	Cape Province	Northern Cape	Vol 2
Willowmore	Willowmore	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Winburg	Winburg	OFS	Free State	Vol 5
Witbank	eMalahleni	Transvaal	Mpumalanga	Vol 1
Wolmaransstad	Wolmaransstad	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7
Wolseley	Wolseley	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Wolwefontein	Wolwefontein	Cape Province	Eastern Cape	Vol 3
Worcester	Worcester	Cape Province	Western Cape	Vol 2
Zeerust	Zeerust	Transvaal	North West	Vol 7