The Diamond Fields, or Diamantveld, is the historical name for the diamond-mining region around Kimberley in Northern Cape — not a municipality in its own right. Its area is covered today by the Frances Baard District Municipality, home to 434,342 people at the 2022 census.
Frances Baard District was itself called Diamantveld District Municipality until its 2001 renaming for anti-apartheid activist Frances Baard.
Municipalities Covering the Diamond Fields
| Municipality | Seat |
|---|---|
| Sol Plaatje | Kimberley |
| Phokwane | Hartswater |
| Dikgatlong | Barkly West |
| Magareng | Warrenton |
Main Towns
- Kimberley (Sol Plaatje) — original diamond-rush city
- Barkly West (Dikgatlong) — early alluvial diggings
- Hartswater (Phokwane)
- Jan Kempdorp (Phokwane)
- Warrenton (Magareng)
- Ritchie (Sol Plaatje)
- Delportshoop (Dikgatlong)
Geography
The Diamond Fields sit on the Ghaap Plateau where the Vaal and Harts rivers converge, roughly 480 km southwest of Johannesburg. Kimberley’s Big Hole and surrounding pipe mines mark the historic centre of the region; alluvial diggings once ran along the Vaal River through Barkly West and Delportshoop.
Economy and Local Life
Kimberley’s diamond mines built the modern De Beers company from the 1870s and still shape the city’s economy and identity today, even though large-scale mining has wound down since the main pipes were worked out. Vaal-Harts irrigation farming around Hartswater and river-valley agriculture around Barkly West and Warrenton now carry more of the district’s economy than mining, alongside Kimberley’s role as the Northern Cape’s provincial capital and administrative centre.
Small-scale alluvial diamond digging still continues informally along the Vaal River near Barkly West, a direct continuation of the digging that began there alongside the bigger Kimberley rush in the 1870s.
History
Diamonds discovered on the farm De Beers in 1871 triggered one of history’s fastest boom towns, drawing prospectors from across the world within months. The open-pit “Big Hole,” hand-dug to depths over 200 metres before shaft mining took over, remains Kimberley’s defining landmark and a major heritage tourism site. The district’s Diamantveld name reflected this legacy directly until it was renamed for Frances Baard in 2001.
Getting There
The N12 and N8 both pass through Kimberley, the region’s hub, connecting it to Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Upington. Kimberley Airport handles daily flights, and the main Johannesburg–Cape Town rail line runs through the city, making Kimberley a convenient stop for travellers crossing the province by road or rail.
FAQ
Is the Diamond Fields a municipality?
No. It is a historical region name, now covered by the Frances Baard District Municipality.
What was Frances Baard District called before?
Diamantveld District Municipality, renamed in 2001.
What is the main town of the Diamond Fields?
Kimberley, seat of Sol Plaatje Local Municipality.
What is the region known for?
The Kimberley Big Hole and the 1870s diamond rush that founded the modern De Beers company.