Swartruggens is a small farming town situated along the N4 National Route in the North West Province of South Africa. It was established in 1875.
The town is located on the Elands River, 69 km east of the town of Zeerust, 56 km west of the city of Rustenburg and 34 km north-west of Koster.
It takes its name ‘Swartruggens’ from a series of hills, formerly known as Zwartruggens, the Dutch name for ‘black ridges’.
Swartruggens is part of Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality under the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality of North West Province.
History
The town of Swartruggens was founded in 1875 on the farm Brakfontein.
Following the Siege of Mafeking, during the Second Anglo-Boer War, one of the supply depots was established by Robert Baden-Powell in Swartruggens, as he moved to Pretoria.
A cemetery for British war dead from the Second Anglo-Boer War is located in the town.
