The village originated from a farm in existence since 1843, initially known as Kronendal, on which a mission was established - one of 22 German Lutheran missions in Natal and the former Transvaal. By 1889 a settlement was surveyed and divided into plots.[2] The local school, established in 1892, is said to have been attended by Louis Botha, who would become South Africa's first prime minister, and Afrikaans poet JD du Toit.[2] In fact both these men were pupils for brief periods at schools founded by missionaries of the Hermannsburg Mission Society – Botha at Hermannsburg near Greytown, du Toit at Morgensonne near Rustenburg.[original research?] The local church congregation counts about 400 members, and is 80% German-speaking, with most of the rest being Afrikaans speakers.[2]
Education
The town has a German secondary school, Deutsche Schule Kroondal.[3]
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