Piketberg was one of the few points where a cannon was placed on top of the mountain and fired to warn surrounding farmers, especially when visiting ships entered the Cape for fresh stock. 

In other instances it was fired when danger was noticed and the farmers had to arm themselves and gather together. 

Piketberg also served as an outlook post against the Gonjemans who attacked the farms. The cannon has since then been removed and can be seen today in front of Piketberg High School.

Piketberg lies at the foot of the sandstone slopes of the Piketberg mountain range, which towers above the wheat fields at a height of 1459m or 4788ft on Zebra kop (Zebra head).

In earlier years the imposing mass of Piketberg was in a way an establishment for the Khoi-san and many examples of their drawings can be seen on various farms.

The town Piketberg was established in 1836 when Sir Benjamin D’Urban gave the ruling farm “Grotefontein” to the church council. The church then ruled the town until 1901, and the town grew up around it.

The town serves as an important business center for the farmers, as well as the surrounding smaller towns. Piketberg is a progressive town with a variety of businesses and an outstanding infrastructure. The town has netball courts, tennis courts, golf courses and rugby fields.

The Municipality is known as the Berg River Municipality and Piketberg is the principal town that includes Velddrif, Porterville, Aurora, Redelinghuys, Eendekuil, Goedverwacht and Wittewater.