By Matshidiso Selebeleng
On Friday, 22 May, the highest bidder will become the new owner of Middelpos, a quiet Karoo village in the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape that is home to around 300 residents.
Real estate agency Home and Hector has invited interested buyers to bid on the 103,260-hectare town, which will be sold as a single property through an online auction. The auction window opens on 21 May.
According to the agency, Middelpos is one of the few remaining authentic Karoo towns in South Africa, retaining its original character and charm, largely untouched by modern mass tourism.
The successful bidder will acquire a fully functional town complete with infrastructure and amenities, including a hotel, post office, factory building, hall, three dwellings, a borehole, and a supermarket.
Situated between Sutherland and Calvinia along the R354 within the Northern Cape’s Hantam Municipality, Middelpos is also located near the Tankwa Karoo National Park, a factor that enhances its tourism appeal.
The agency says the property presents strong development potential across several sectors, including business, residential, manufacturing, tourism, and mixed-use projects. Its proximity to the national park has already made it a popular stop for day visitors and overnight tourists, with the town offering the necessary facilities to accommodate them.
A notable feature of the town is “Die Winkel,” also known as The Shop, described as a hub for retail and community activity, encircled by a wide gravel road.
Home and Hector further highlights Middelpos’s rich history, which dates back to 1860 when Daniel Tomlinson established a trading store after acquiring part of the farm Stinkkuil. Following his death, the Sher family purchased the town and developed it into a thriving centre serving the surrounding farming community.
Among the family’s most prominent members is Sir Anthony Sher, a Cape Town-born, internationally acclaimed Shakespearean actor and member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, who also authored a book inspired by Middelpos.
Behind the Middelpos Hotel stands a well-maintained memorial honouring 11 officers and men of the 11th Imperial Yeomanry who lost their lives during the Anglo-Boer War on 5 and 6 February 1902.
