The Battle of Mhlatuze River was a battle fought between the Zulu and Ndwandwe tribes in 1820, following the Zulu Civil War. The Ndwandwe hierarchy was a largely scattered population after this Battle. The Ndwandwe, with the Mthethwa, were a significant power in present-day Zululand, at the turn of the Nineteenth Century. Under the leadership of King Zwide, the Ndwandwe Nation destroyed the Mthethwa under their king Dingiswayo, and the power vacuum was filled by Shaka Zulu and the Zulu tribe. Zwide makes a mistake by thinking that he can surprise Shaka, and hastily sends off his much greater army to fight the Zulu. In one mighty battle, Soshangana and Zwangendaba fight for Zwide and the Ndwandwe. They faced Shaka, and Mzilikazi (Zwide’s grandson) and Dingane are two of his officers.
Once a little fishing Village, Richards Bay is now a busy Harbour Town and popular KwaZulu-Natal Holiday Destination. Where one can enjoy activities like: 'Swimming; Surfing or Bird Watching'. It was also had a Temporary Harbour during the Anglo Boer War of 1879. Richards Bay was named after; British naval Commander Admiral Sir Frederick William Richards. He had landed troops on the Zululand Coast in 1879. After this event, Richards Bay went from small fishing Village to a major Port, opened in 1976. Richards Bay now boasts one the largest Coal Export Terminals, in the Africa. (It loads 65 Million Tons every Year making it the largest in Africa.) The terminal is owned by the Richards Bay Coal Terminal Company Ltd, a consortium of shareholding coal and coal logistics Companies. (The specialised Ships, are a must-see for Maritime buffs!) Richards Bay also offers some of the most spectacular Wetland scenery and unspoilt Beaches. The Zululand Birding Route includes Richards Bay Harbour and the Game Reserve, known also as New Mouth. The Area of Richards Bay covers: Sandbanks; Mud Flats; extensive Mangroves; Freshwater Pans and Forest Areas. Avid, Bird Watchers can spot a number of rarities such as the Cuckoo Hawk and Pygmy Goose. New Mouth, features a number of Water Birds as well as Hippos and Crocodiles. During the formalising of Richards Bay, a Sanctuary was created on the Southern side on the Mhlatuze River which includes the Estuary. This Area has become one of the most important Estuarine Habitats, on the Zululand Coast! The large Marina provides a nursery for Fish, Crustaceans and a variety of Marine and Aquatic Organisms.
Vereeniging is a City, in Gauteng Province of South Africa. It has a population of more than 350,000 people. It is located on the banks of the Northern loop of the Vaal River. The name Vereeniging is derived from the Afrikaans/Dutch word meaning "association" or "union". The City was founded in 1892 and much of its early growth was due to the nearby coal Mines.
The City is well known for being the location where the Treaty of Vereeniging ending the Second Boer War (1899-1902) was negotiated. During this conflict, a Concentration Camp was set up by the British military in the Area. Nearby Vereeniging is Sharpeville. The Site of the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960. Although named after Vereeniging, the Treaty of Vereeniging was actually signed at Melrose House, Pretoria. Vereeniging falls within an Area known as the Vaal Triangle about 60 kilometres from Johannesburg - a roughly triangular, essentially Rural Area. Bounded by Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark and Sasolburg. From 1961-1972 F.W. de Klerk practiced as an attorney in Vereeniging. During this time, he played an active part in Nationalist Party politics and in local educational affairs. He was offered the chair of Administrative Law at Potchefstroom University, but declined the position when he was elected Member of Parliament for Vereeniging in November 1972.
South African legend Leon Schuster, become a movie favourite in most homes, because of his funny personality! Leon Schuster, a comedian, actor, singer, and film director, was born on 21 May 1951 in Vereeniging. Bles Bridges, a well known Afrikaans country singer, also stayed in Vereeniging, until his death in 2000.
The Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden (previously known as the Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden). A 3 Kilometers Squared Botanical Reserve, in the Vaal Triangle. It was formally established in 1982 and is one of the youngest of South Africa's National Botanical Gardens, but the site where it is located has been popular with visitors for many decades before that. The garden is home to a well known pair of Verreaux's eagles that nest in the Roodekrans ridge which intersects the reserve. The garden has a restaurant, gift shop and nursery which sells South African native plants (the nursery closed March 2015). The Garden has been recognized as one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world.
State of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cape Town City Hall, 9 February 2023
Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Mr Amos Masondo, Deputy President David Mabuza,
The Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Mr Geordin Hill-Lewis, Former President Thabo Mbeki,
Former Deputy President Baleka Mbete,
President of the Pan African Parliament, The Right Honourable Chief Fortune Charumbira, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and Members of the Judiciary,
The tight zig-zagging curves of Sani Pass make it, one of the most magnificent Mountain Passes in South Africa!
It ascends through the sheer cliffs of the Drakensberg, linking- KwaZulu Natal to the independent Country of Lesotho. The route up Sani Pass starts at 1,544 metres and climbs 1,332 m to an altitude of an outstanding- 2,876 m. Originally only a mule track, it is still a tortuous, hair-raising road today! The views from this altitude are nothing less than awe-inspiring though. There is snow and frozen Waterfalls in Winter, and a flourish of flowers in Summer.
This Pass was built in about 1950. It still remains a challenging drive even in 4x4 Vehicles with all the added adventure of different scenery, changing weather conditions.
On 26th October, 1948, Godfrey Edmonds (an ex Royal Air Force, Spitfire Pilot) was the first person to ever drive the Pass in a vehicle. This was before the Road was built. It took him five and a half Hours to reach the Summit and he was assisted by a team of Basotho's with mules, ropes and other equipment. (In those days, this achievement was akin to climbing Everest.) A company then formed in Motkhotlong, (a City and seat of Mokhotlong District, in the mountainous Northeastern part of Lesotho) called: " The Motkhotlong Mountain Transport Company". They would take curious adventurers on the amazing 1332m climb, up the Sani Pass. ( please look at Further Reading for the Link) This company does still exists today and they still do the Sani tour. (They now have however switched to Toyota Land Cruisers.)
The Sani Pass covers a portion of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park. This Park in itself is a World Heritage Site and known for its spectacular natural landscape. In fact, the Reserve has about 690 Rock Art Sites, and it is now known that the San lived in the Drakensberg on and off for at least 25 000 Years. The oldest Rock Paintings have been dated, as nearly 3 000 Years old. Sadly, the last of the San people disappeared from the Southern Drakensberg, around the 1870's. The images depict animals and human beings, and represent the spiritual life of the San people, representing an exceptionally coherent tradition that embodies their beliefs and cosmology over several Millennia.
SO WHY NOT TAKE A 4X4 ADVENTURE UP THE SANI PASS TO THE HIGHEST PUB IN AFRICA!
Yzerfontein is considered the ‘Pearl‘ of the West Coast. Yzerfontein, our hidden gem, is a pleasant one hour drive from the metropole of Cape Town, also lying 26km West of the Village of Darling. Having left the suburbs behind, the main arterial road, the R27, is a smooth, scenic drive heading north through long stretches of undisturbed fynbos with views of long bays and blue ocean to the left. The turn-off to Yzerfontein is well signposted and the road immediately hints at the interesting nature of this coastal Village. The 9 km stretch to the Town offers a couple of quirky stops for refreshments and the white lime kilns on the sides of the road never fail to pique people’s interest. A slight rise before the entrance to the town gives one expansive views of 16 Mile Beach which stretches all the way to the Northern tip of the West Coast Nature Reserve and is the longest uninterrupted beach on the South African coastline. Looking south, is the famous view of Table Mountain in the distance.
Yzerfontein is a unique destination, and not only because of the spectacular seascapes, wild fynbos and wildflowers; the entire town is a designated conservancy where man and nature live in harmony. Raised walkways, well-defined walking paths and accessible beaches allow visitors to explore almost every inch of this magnificent coastline. The cold Benguela current delivers bracingly cold water, but this does not deter regular swimmers, surfers and almost every other water sport.
Yzerfontein is a popular holiday resort for many reasons, come and enjoy the warm hospitality of our West Coast Town.
Former South African Football Association president Solomon "Sticks" Morewa died at the age of 61. Mr Morewa played an instrumental role in South Africa's readmission in International Football, He was also at the helm of South African Football Assosiation (Safa) during the 1996 African Nations Cup.
