Situated in the Northern Cape of South Africa is Birtstown. It is such named after Hans Brits. Hans steeled there after a short venture into the interior of Africa with David Livingstone, choosing a life of farming in the Karoo over a life of adventure.

In 1877 a section of his farm (Gmenokfontein) was sold to build a church and community centre. It was only in 1889 that Britstown became an official municipality after many years of being a stop-off point for fortune seekers headed to the diamond fields.

Now Britstown is mainly a farming community focusing on sheep, wool, mutton and karakul skin.