Potgietersrus (H 6)

Name: Potgietersrus

Source: Wikipedia

Mokopane or Potgietersrus[1] (officially renamed from Potgietersrus to Mokopane in 2003), is a town in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The town was established by the Voortrekkers and named Potgietersrus after the Voortrekker leader Piet Potgieter. The name was changed to Mokopane in 2003. It is home to the Northern Ndebele speaking tribes, English, Afrikaans, Northern Sotho, and XiTsonga speakers. Five kingdoms in the vicinity of the town are Kekana (Moshate), Langa (Mapela), Gegana (Mshade), Lebelo (Garasvlei) and Langa (Bakenburg). The town was supposed to be called Mngombane as the original name of the King was Mngombane but not Mokopane. There is an interest from the Northern Ndebele (SeNdrebele in the language itself) locals to revive their language, many want to read and write their language. The SeNdrebele language is spoken by over half of the community members in Moshate and Mosesetjane Village

Two hours from Gauteng, 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 acacia trees and aloes, which are at their best in June and July.

The Mokopane area is one of South Africa's richest agricultural areas producing wheat, tobacco, cotton, beef, maize, peanuts and citrus. The Zebediela Citrus Estate, 55 km to the southeast, is one of the largest citrus farms in the southern hemisphere. The area is rich in minerals with the mining of platinum, diamonds and granite as chief mineral resources.

Prehistory and 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.[2] Remains of Australopithecus africanus have also been found at the caves.[3]

The Arend Dieperink Museum portrays the history of the town, from the ape-man at Makapansgat, bushman drawings and early activities in the area up to the Anglo Boer War and recent times.


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