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In 1840 the London Missionary Society transferred its work in Namaqualand to the Rhenish Mission Society, a German organisation. For the first few years no missionary was stationed at Steinkopf and the mission station was served by visiting missionaries from Komaggas. In 1846 the Rev. Ferdinand Brecher, who was to stay at Steinkopf for about

TIMELINE OF THE HISTORY OF STEINKOPF 1817 – Establishment of the Steinkopf Mission Station at Besondermeid by the London Missionary Society 1838 – The headquarters of the mission station moved to Kookfontein 1840 – The London Missionary Society terminated their work at Steinkopf 1840 – The mission work is taken over by the Rhenish Missionary

The Indigenous Inhabitants of the Area The original indigenous inhabitants of the region were the San and Namas. They did not see themselves as different ethnic groups. The social structure and languages of the two groups shows great similarity. They both speak languages which is remarkable in the prevalence of click consonants. The Namas are