Mokopane

Mokopane[2], officially renamed from Potgietersrus in 2003, is a town in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The village Vredenburg was established by the Voortrekkers and renamed Piet Potgietersrust after the slain Voortrekker leader Piet Potgieter.

Mokopane

Potgietersrus
Mokopane
Mokopane
Coordinates: 24°11′2″S 29°0′46″E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceLimpopo
DistrictWaterberg
MunicipalityMogalakwena
Area
 • Total75.13 km2 (29.01 sq mi)
Elevation
1,130 m (3,710 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total30,151
 • Density400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African66.7%
 • Coloured0.7%
 • Indian/Asian4.4%
 • White27.6%
 • Other0.6%
First languages (2011)
 • Northern Sotho46.5%
 • Afrikaans27.8%
 • English7.4%
 • Tsonga4.4%
 • Other13.8%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
0600
PO box
0600
Area code+27 (0)15

The town name was changed to Mokopane in 2003 in honour of a local Northern Ndebele leader, King Mgombane Gegana, who ruled the area before being conquered by the Voortrekkers. Mokopane is the Northern Sotho form of the king’s name, and is hence erroneous, even though the majority language in the area is Northern Sotho.

Two hours from Gauteng by road, the town acts as a getaway destination and as a stop-over for travelers en route to Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kruger National Park. The area is typical bushveld with many Vachellia and Senegalia trees (formerly part of the acacia genus) as well as aloes, which blooms in June and July.

History

The historic and archaeologically significant Makapansgat caves are situated 15 km north of the town. Recovery of Homo habilis habitation has been made at these caves.[3]

Remains of Australopithecus africanus have also been found at the caves. The Arend Dieperink Museum portrays the history of the town, from the ape-man at Makapansgat, Bushmen paintings and early activities in the area up to the South African War and recent times.[4]

Culture

The stunning bushveld environment and influences from North Sotho, Ndebele, Tsonga, Afrikaans and English cultures give Mokopane a unique character. There are also ancient caves, the "Big Five", San rock paintings, curios, bushveld food and drinks such as biltong (dried meat) and mampoer (a potent alcoholic drink), tropical gardens and traditional dancing. In the adjacent township of Mahwelereng traditional lifestyles, set against the spectacular Waterberg, can be observed. Mokopane also offers outdoor activities ranging from hiking, camping and 4 × 4 trails to birding, angling and game viewing.

Economy

The economy of Mokopane used to be primarily based on agriculture, until the opening of Anglo American's platinum mine. Currently the mine is the biggest contributor to the local economy. Recently there has been interest displayed by other mining companies to start up, but community resistance around mining remains the main reason for the slow growth in mining. The Mokopane area is one of South Africa's richest agricultural areas, producing wheat, tobacco, cotton, beef, maize, peanuts and citrus. The area around Mokopane is rich in minerals with the mining of platinum, diamonds and granite.

See also

Notes
  1. "Main Place Mokopane". Census 2011.
  2. Mokopane infosite Archived 2018-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, googlebattle.com; accessed 27 August 2014.
  3. Nick Norman and Gavin Whitfield, De Beers Consolidated Mines (2006) Geological Journeys: A Traveller's Guide to South Africa's Rocks and Landforms. Struik Publishing; ISBN 1-77007-062-1, ISBN 978-1-77007-062-2
  4. C. Michael Hogan, Mark L. Cooke and Helen Murray, The Waterberg Biosphere Archived 2012-03-01 at the Wayback Machine, Lumina Technologies, 22 May 2006.
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