Paul Roux

History

Paul Roux was established as a post coach station between Winburg and Harrismith. Where the current bowling club stands, there used to be an inn, owned by Mr John Hiscock – a local businessman, at the location of the current bowling club where horses would be changed. The land was purchased from Mr De Jongh and the village was officially proclaimed on 9 May 1909. Two names were proposed for the village – Paul Roux and Du Plessis Ville. To decide on the final name, villagers engraved letters 'PR' on one side of a flat stone and 'Dup' on the other side. The stone was thrown into the air and the village was to be named according to whichever initials appeared facing upwards when it landed. Former state president P. W. Botha was born in Paul Roux on 12 January 1916 on the Telegraaf farm. He attended school in Paul Roux before moving to Bethlehem where he matriculated.

Most-observed species

• Cape Wagtail

  Motacilla capensis Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  96
• African Stonechat

  Saxicola torquatus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  81
• White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

  Plocepasser mahali A.Smith, 1836 · Aves
  77
• Southern Fiscal

  Lanius collaris Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  77
• Bokmakierie

  Telophorus zeylonus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  74
• Southern Anteater-Chat

  Myrmecocichla formicivora (Wilkes, 1817) · Aves
  74
• African Pied Starling

  Lamprotornis bicolor (Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  74
• Long-tailed Widowbird

  Euplectes progne (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  71

Most recent

• M 4.2 — 2015-03-20
  25 km ESE of Ventersburg, South Africa
• M 4.2 — 2001-07-24
  12 km S of Hennenman, South Africa