Abees, Bela-Bela

Old Khoikhoi name for Warmbad. It means 'place of cleansing or washing'. A Town 100 km away from Pretoria North. It was laid out in 1882 on the Farms: 'Het bad; Noodshulp; Roodepoort and Tufbult'. This Area attained Municipal status in 1932. The Town was proclaimed as Hartingsburg in 1882 but renamed Warmbad in 1920. Afrikaans for 'hot bath', the name refers to the Hot Spring there. The place was also known as Het Bad (the bath) and Badplaats (place of the bath). In Febuary 2002, the name was officially changed to Bela-Bela.