Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre

Set in a spectacular but remote veld landscape, Peter Rich Architects’ Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre exemplifies contemporary African architecture. Visible from its entrance gate, the Mapungubwe Centre is approached through a valley from where the outcrop of new buildings merges naturally into the veld!
As you enter the Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site, one of the things that first captures the eye is the architecture of the Museum and Interpretive Centre. The extraordinary curvature and lines of the building will mesmerise all visitors but the true treasures are located inside.
The centre was constructed with the intention of merging the natural location with the park's cultural heritage, by using modern environmentally sensitive techniques. In 2009 the building won the World Architectural Building of the Year Award, out-performing buildings from New York, Singapore and China.The stone-walling technique used in the building of the centre was adopted from a native method prevalent in the Mapungubwe area.
The motivation behind the costruction of such a centre was created when native communities requested the return of the remains and artifacts removed from Mapungubwe in the 1930's. The human remains we reburried. It was decided that the artifacts needed to be displayed in a museum in order to educate and inform visitors of the area's rich heritage.
A short boardwalk ramp leads you to the entrance of the facility, where you will be met by a knowledgeable guide who is eager to share the mysteries of Mapungubwe and one of southern Africa's first trading kingdoms, with you. The museum houses historical artefacts, images and information that tell the story of Mapungubwe's incredle history. The holy grail of the museum is the Golden Rhino which was discovered in a grave in 1932, more than seven centuries after the civilization inhabited the area. The museum tour ends with a short walk to a look-out point where you will be able to see the hill that was, according to legend, the inspiration behind architect Gerard Moerdijk's Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria.
 
Operating times: 
Mondays to Sundays (including public holidays) 8:00 - 16:00
Tariffs:Museum Tour R50 per person. Museum school group tour R15 per person
Golden Rhino Auditorium (accommodates 52 people) R710
Geolocation
-22° 14' 27.6", 29° 24' 14.4"
References

 

https://www.architectural-review.com/https://www.archdaily.com/57106/map...

Further Reading

Greater Mapungubwe Heritage Site And Tour.

"As we celebrate the launch of the Greater Mapungubwe Heritage Route, we urge citizens of Limpopo Province and beyond to explore the cultural landscape and heritage hubs of MapungubweWorld Heritage Site as that will help grow tourism along the route." These are the words of acting CEO of Limpopo Tourism Agency, Mr. Fixon Hlungwani, marking the launch of the Greater Mapungubwe Heritage Route.
Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA), in collaboration with other stakeholders launched the route from 12 to 14 October 2012. Attractions showcased included the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site itself, the Sacred Lake Fundudzi and Dzata Museum in the Vhembe District. The other stakeholders are South African National Parks (SANParks), Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), Limpopo Department of Sports Arts and Culture and tourism establishments and tour operators in the Vhembe District Municipality, as well the municipality itself. This event stems from the Domestic Umbrella Marketing Campaign, which Limpopo Tourism Agency launched in July and took place under the "It is here...Celebrate With Us" element of the campaign. It urged the citizens of Limpopo to celebrate their Culture and Heritage, which are the wealth of the Province. Limpopo Province optimizes on the competitive advantage of sharing boundaries with other SADC Countries. To this end, South Africa, in partnership with Botswana and Zimbabwe have agreed to establish the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area in support of the Mapungubwe cultural landscapes and all heritage sites linked to Mapungubwe across the three countries. The two countries have also committed to attending the launch of the route.
The Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) has for the last five years been conducting the Vhembe Tour, the Cultural Carnival, Tourism Expo and the Music Festival during September albeit on a small scale. The annual event of the Municipality was planned for 19-21 September 2012, but the leadership agreed to collapse their event into the Mapungubwe Heritage Route- The key among the objectives of the; Greater Mapungubwe Heritage Route are to establish a unique, World class route. In celebration of Mapungubwe Cultural landscape and other highly significant Heritage sites/hubs, in Limpopo (South Africa). As well as Zimbabwe and Botswana.  Created an annual event rebranded as: "The Greater Mapungubwe Heritage Celebration". This Route links numerous Cultural and Natural Heritage sites through a circular route centred around key sites such as the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site, the Thulamela Archaeological Site and the cluster of heritage sites around the sacred Lake Fundudzi and Royal Dzata Museum.
The Greater Mapungubwe Heritage Route starts at Louis Trichardt (Makhado) and dates back about 1 000 years. From Louis Trichardt it follows a circular route to the west along the Soutpansberg until Vivo. It ends amongst the largest colony of Cape Vultures in South Africa at the Blouberg Nature Reserve. From Blouberg the route goes North to the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Park and World Heritage Site. From Mapungubwe it goes East via Musina to the Greater Nwanedi Wildlife Reserve with its two beautiful Dams and the Sagole Big Tree. (Which is the biggest baobab in South Africa and one of the biggest trees in the World!) 
The Makuya Nature Reserve is the next stop and is characterised by stunning views over the Kruger National Park (KNP) at places such as: 'World View, the Luvuvhu Gorge and at the Singo Safari Lodge'. 
The Route then moves into the KNP to the Thulamela Archaeological Site - one of the primary heritage sites of South Africa, and the link between Great Zimbabwe and the modern Vha Venda Nation.
"Crooks Corner"- where South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana meet at the confluence of the Pafuri and Limpopo rivers is the centre for the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, which has a fascinating History!
From Crooks Corner the route turns South West towards the Punda Maria gate of the KNP to enter the heartland of the Land of Legend; in the Nzhelele River Valley.
In the heart of the land, a legend of Heritage sites are found, such as:
The mysterious and sacred Lake Fundudzi
The Sacred Tswime Mountain
Tshivhase Stone Terraces
The next stop is Valdezia - the first Shangaan settlement in South Africa; then to the Historic Mission hospital of Elim, start of the Ribollah artist route and then to the Skirmishes Route, highlighting a number of very significant incidents during the Anglo-Boer War.
Geolocation
-22° 14' 27.6", 29° 24' 14.4"
References

http://www.krugerpark.co.za/kruger-park-news-the-greater-mapungubwe-rout...

Further Reading

Loeriesfontein, Northern Cape

Loeriesfontein is situated in the Northern Cape. This little Town is situated in the Hantam Municipality, 120 kilometres from Brandvlei. Other nearby towns include Nieuwoudtville and Calvinia.
It has an open Area, which is perfect for Wind Turbines! Wind energy is one of the cleanest and safest methods of generating electricity. 61 Turbines have been installed already by May 2019 and connected to the grid. They have a height of 152m and construction was completed in December 2017. This Wind Farm powers 120 000 homes and has many more benefits like: Job creation; a positive impact on the Ecosystem and has greatly improved the lives of the people who live here!
Whilst the wide spread introduction of an alien plant, the Prosopis tree, has wreaked chaos on our Country’s native plants and broader ecosystem, it however provides benefits such as animal fodder, shade and is a source of business for two Loeriesfontein families who have set up small local enterprises that are able to provide Local employment. These dynamic community entrepreneurs, with their families are behind the commercialization of: "Khobab Firewood". This focusses on the logging of this species from Farms in the Area. Then selling these stockpiles of dried wood for packaging and distribution.
Support of other enterprises extends beyond just providing working capital, it includes: business planning; equipment and business support. These access markets and distribution channels, human resources management, financial management, procurement and other general business administration. 
The Community is also being looked after and protected, through various projects including; The 'Isibindi Safe Park' opened its doors to the community of Loeriesfontein, late 2018 and has already carved a place in the hearts of the wider community where it plays a crucial role. In 2022, National Child Protection Week had a huge impact on the local community. The Safe Park was built to provide a safe and caring environment for children and youth who are especially at risk and vulnerable within the community, of Loeriesfontein. It provides access to the services of family-focused professional Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCWs), offering continuous support to children and families.
Loeriesfontein is also the proud home of one of the World’s only two Windmill Museums. This is called: 'The Fred Turner Museum', it showcases 27 assembled windpumps.
Geolocation
-30° 56' 11.238", 19° 18' 3.6"
References

https://www.power-technology.com/features/largest-windfarm-south-africa/...

Further Reading

Ezakheni, Ladysmith

Ezakheni is an African township that was built in the old KwaZulu homeland about 25km from the town of Ladysmith. The area was established in 1972 and its population at the time was in the region of 50 000. The township was built in two parts, a formal section with rented housing and a site and service section where people could build their own houses.  The area was built on Trust Land acquired by the South African Development Trust (SADT) in the early 1960s, after some resistance from the local Farmers Association to the acquisition of more land in the district by the SADT.  

Ladysmith forms part of the Uthukela District Municipality, with Ladysmith, Ezakheni, Steadville and Colenso/ Nkanyezi as the main urban areas. Ezakheni Technical College and Skills Centre were established by the then Department of Education in the early 1980's. Both training centre's offered an artisan training based on the scheduled block-release system as well as short skills courses in Plumbing, Motor Mechanic, Welding and Carpentry of three months duration. In the 1990's Nated courses from N1 – N6 Engineering courses were offered. The College's Central Office and Ladysmith Campus are situated on the banks of the Klipriver and are located in the central Ladysmith. The Ezakheni campuses are situated at Ezakheni Township, in approximately 25 km away from the town.
 
African families from Ladysmith townships and surrounding ‘black spots’ were moved into Ezakheni in successive batches, and these included landowners. The removals to Ezakheni occurred in 1972, and continued throughout the 1970s. The following were the feeder areas that Ezakheni residents were evicted from:

·         Vulandondo - a relocation resettlement outside Ladysmith, founded in 1963 for residents evicted from Khumalosville, a freehold area cleared in about 1972 to make a way for a dam.

·         Umbulwane- a ‘black spot’ on the edge of Ladysmith whose squatters were evicted as ‘illegal tenants’ in successive batches in the 1970s.

·         Rietkuil, a ‘black spot’ next to Ladysmith in 1975-76.

Moreover, large numbers of families were moved to Ezakheni from the municipal township of Steadville in Ladysmith. Properties evacuated in Steadville were rented out after the area was de-proclaimed and African people were relocated to Ezakheni in the 1970s.

African people in Roosboom, Good Hope and Welcome- all adjacent ‘black spots’ about 11km from Ladysmith, were all forcibly removed in 1976. The forced removal from Roosboom was described by Elliot Mngadi in the Association For Rural Advancement(AFRA) Special Report No.2, 1981. The threats of removal first arose in the 1960s, but this occurred only after Zakheni was established. In 1960, the local Health Commission was in charge of Roosboom, and in 1965 their houses were numbered.

The area was the first among Ladysmith freehold areas to be de-proclaimed, in 1970. Then in 1975 landowners were given expropriation notices followed by the removal of both the landlords and squatters. White farmers and businessmen of Ladysmith gave various reasons for their evictions. Roosboom was in a White area, too close to the main road and the houses were unpleasant to passing motorists, and the White farmers complained of burglaries. Moreover, the land was also coveted by industry and commerce. These were some of the reasons amongst others that lay behind the evictions and forced removals. The total population removed from Roosboom, Good Hope, Welcome together with Rietkuil, was recorded as 7 353. More removals occurred from other areas. About 2 856 residents of Crieman,- a ‘black spot’ about 15km north of Ladysmith were moved to Ezakheni in 1978.  

Ezakheni was one of the large townships of KwaZulu outside of the metropolitan area of Durban with a population estimated to be around 50 000 during a survey conducted by the Surplus People’s Project (SPP). The area was earmarked as an “industrial development point” which was part of the government’s new decentralisation proposals of April 1982. The Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce and the Town Council both touted its workers as the largest labour force in the province. Ezakheni was created to accommodate and control Ladysmith’s labour force and their families within KwaZulu. 

Geolocation
-28° 35' 56.4", 29° 55' 33.6"
References

Editorial (1979), ‘EZAKHENI’, from Editorial Vol.11 No.6, November [online] Available at www.disa.ukzn.ac.za[Accessed: 15 March 2013]|

Forced Removals In South Africa – The Surplus People’s Reports Report Vol. 1, January 1983, p.15|

Forced Removals In South Africa – The Surplus People’s Reports Vol.4, (Natal), January 1983, pp.332-333,335,337&350/https://www.ladysmith.co.za/show.php?id=554/https://www.mnambithicollege...

Further Reading

Nazareth House, Durban

The official reopening of Nazareth House in Durban took place on Saturday, June 8, 2019. Members of the public had been invited to tour the facility and meet the management team.
This time last year, its future was uncertain. With the cost of living increasing, the departure of the Sisters of Nazareth, and ongoing operational challenges, Nazareth House was in danger of closing.
However, with the arrival of a new management team in mid-2018, determined to keep the facility open, in just a few months of planning, reorganising and refurbishment, Nazareth House Durban has now opened its doors once again as a care facility for the elderly, emphasising the social and personal requirements of senior citizens.
Nazareth Care provides a safe, tranquil environment, offering independent living, assisted living, frail care, palliative care and respite care services. It also has a specialised dementia care unit called The Villa.
“Caring for a loved one with dementia poses many challenges for families and coping strategies are often realised too late,” said dementia care specialist Melody Ziervogel.
“We know that working with dementia clients requires dedication and attention to detail. Families can rest assured their loved ones will be well taken care of,” she added.
Nazareth House Durban offers; 17 dementia care rooms, six newly-added independent living rooms, and 16 frail and assisted living rooms.
Founded on the core values of the Sisters of Nazareth, who arrived in South Africa over 130 years ago, Nazareth Care spans the Southern Africa region, with care facilities and outreach centres in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Warrenton and Harare.
 
Geolocation
-29° 51' 10.8", 30° 59' 2.4"
References

https://www.scross.co.za/2019/06/nazareth-durban-reopens-with-an-invitat...

Further Reading
https://www.sahistory.org.za/.../challenge-church-theological-comment- political-crisis-south-africa-kairos-document-1985

Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Free State

Rejuvenation is on offer at Golden Gate Highlands National Park! Spend time in the majestic Maluti Mountains, hiking, horse riding, exploring caves and much more in their indescribable golden glow. The vulture’s restaurant (bird hide) welcomes birders to a proper vulture feast. Basotho Cultural Village will transport you back in time and take you on an incredible journey where a chief offers you mqombothi (sorghum beer), his wives offer you the fruits of their labour and a traditional healer offers you insight into African spirituality.
 
The Golden Gate National Park is a Free State Nature Reserve in South Africa, located in the north eastern part of Free State and derives its name from the brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the sandstone cliffs, especially the imposing Brandwag rock. The area is famous for its captivating scenery, invigorating climate and the accommodation offered in hotel rooms, rondavels (round huts) and self-catering chalets.
 
The park is a real highlight for visitors to the Free State. Popular attractions include the vast, colourful sandstone formations, which shine golden-yellow in the evening sun, and from which the area derives its name. Vegetation in the Golden Gate Nature Reserve consists mainly of wooded ravines, gullies and grasslands.
 
Golden Gate Highlands National Park was established in 1963 to protect the sandstone rocks were once shelters for the Bushmen. Guests can view many of their cave paintings that are well preserved. The park also boasts various rare and indigenous flowers that include the Arum Lily, Watsonias, Fire Lilies and Red-Hot Pokers.
 
This Free State Nature Reserve in South Africa is one of the last refuges of the rare Bearded Vulture and the rare bald ibis which breeds annually in Cathedral Cave. The park is also home to a variety of mammals that include Burchell's Zebra, Black Wildebeest, Eland, Blesbok, Springbok and the threatened Oribi. Some 140 bird species have been identified in the park, and a hide at the Vulture Restaurant enables bird lovers to view these creatures closely.
Geolocation
-28° 29' 32.7612", 28° 34' 15.6681"
References
 
Further Reading

Inkamana High School, Vryheid

Situated in the heart of the Zululand, Inkamana High School was started February 2 in 1923 as an intermediate School with only one class of grade 5 by Benedictine Missionaries from Germany. The new school had 15 pupils, four boys and eleven girls, all from Vryheid and the Paulpietersburg district. They were all boarders at Inkamana. They paid sixpence a month for school fees and brought farm and garden products to pay for their boarding accommodation.
The first Junior Certificate Examination was held at Inkamana in November 1934. The Senior Certificate course at Inkamana began in 1935 and a year later four pupils were preparing for their graduation. However, three of them left. The only remaining student, Ulrica Dzivane, successfully wrote her Senior Certificate Examination in Nov. 1936. Since then the Senior Certificate results have gained for Inkamana the reputation of being one of the best schools in the country. The failure rate was always low. The school recorded a hundred percent pass rate in matric examinations from 1969 until now.
Presently the student enrolment is 200 with one class for each grade. Inkamana High School provides a holistic education and besides providing a good academic training, the school aims at education learners to live as a community founded on mutual respect and responsibility. It is expected that learners look at their education not only as means of their personal advancement but also as a trust and responsibility to work for the good of their fellow men.
 
As A Benedictine School:
 
We pray with and for one another.
We endeavour to work to the best of our ability.
We listen to God and to each other.
We treat others with respect and hospitality.
We show respect for the environment.
We take responsibility for ourselves and we are accountable for our choices.
Self-discipline is at the centre of all our behaviour.
We treat others as we would wish to be treated.
We love one another as Christ loved us.
We believe in educating the whole person - body, mind and spirit.
 
Geolocation
-27° 49' 12.7515", 30° 48' 34.7174"
References

http://www.inkamana.co.za

Further Reading
 

eThekwini Municipality

EThekwini Municipality is a Category A Municipality found in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. The Area is topographically hilly, with many gorges and ravines, and almost no true coastal plain. Durban has a turbulent history dating from ivory hunters in the 1820s and their conflict with the local Zulu monarchs. 
The province has the largest number of battlefields. The World-class Durban Chief Albert LuthuliInternational Convention Centre (ICC) has hosted a historic line-up of events including conferences of a global scale. Durban is the largest City in this Province and the third largest City in the Country. It is a sophisticated cosmopolitan City of over 3 442 398 people (as per 2011 Census). It is known as the home of Africa's best-managed, busiest port and is also a major centre of tourism because of the City's warm subtropical climate and extensive beaches. 
Experience awe-inspiring world heritage sites such as the coastal iSimangaliso(Greater St Lucia) Wetland Park and the mountainous 'Barrier of Spears' in Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. Follow in the footsteps of legendary Zulu kings, timeless Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and icons of democracy. Witness the unforgettable sardine Run, see dolphins and whales and glimmering golden beaches with getaway coves. Enjoy the biggest music, sport and arts festivals in an even bigger City life - overlooking the picture-postcard seaport of Durban. Yes it is all true. KZN promises an inexhaustible quota of things to do and places to go to. 
Geolocation
-29° 53' 1.8416", 30° 32' 35.5078"
References

http://www.durban.gov.za/Pages/default.aspx/

Further Reading

Dundonald, East Mpumalanga

MPUMALANGA - Dundonald is located in the Gert Sibande district municipality east Mpumalanga. It was part of the former homeland KaNgwane established under apartheid’s Group Areas Act.
Though KaNgwane was dissolved in 1994 along with the other nine homelands, Dundonald residents remain isolated to this day. Growing up without basic infrastructure, A community member, Thulasizwe. Remembers fetching water from a shared well, before communal taps were introduced. Today, it is common place to see people carrying firewood from the nearby forests. Though Dundonald has seen some developmental changes, an air of exclusion remains.
Thulasizwe matriculated at SW Nhlapo high school’s in 1997. He then went on to study at Rhodes University through NSFAS funding and qualified as a journalist. He returns to his old school and chats with an old friend, as well as the school’s founding principal Mr. Mbuyane, and its current principal Mr. Shongwe. Mbuyane and Thulasizwe reminisces about the past and how Mr. Mbuyane had played a key role in determining the trajectory of Thulasizwe life. Shongwe, also from the community, discusses how things have changed since he left almost twenty years ago, and about the challenges that remain. Child-headed households and children surviving on nominal social grant incomes of their parents are still challenges faced by learners every day. Though Dundonald is lagging far behind other parts of the country, community members say they have waited far too long for the development of a mall which was promised to them years ago.
 
September 19, 2018 “Billboards for this development were displayed and we were even showed the site where the mall will be constructed by our municipality, but there is still no sign for that development. We don’t even have a shopping complex, we have to travel over long distances to either shop in Ermelo or Elukwatini. Christmas holidays are even a nightmare with one having to stand in long queues in those areas and even being hijacked or robbed on our way back,” they said. The community also demand delivery of clean water service in the area.
“We sometimes go weeks without any water running from the tapes.” They added that they also want the municipality to pave and maintain roads to the local cemeteries. Police are monitoring the situation."
 
Geolocation
-26° 14' 16.8", 30° 47' 52.8"
References
 
Further Reading
https://www.sahistory.org.za/.../address-president-south-africa-thabo-mb... national-council-provinces-limpopo-4-november-200

Tiffindell Ski Resort, Eastern Cape

Tiffindell Ski Resort - South Africa's only ski resort situated in Barkley East, Eastern Cape, South Africa's only snow ski resort!  Tiffindell Ski Resort began in 1993 and is a fully equipped ski and snowboard resort with state of the art snowmaking and grooming equipment, ski lifts, restaurant, ski shop, ski school, conference facility and accommodation for over 150 guests. 
The resort is 2720m above sea level in the Eastern Cape Highlands and offers winter skiing each year by way of natural and man-made snow!  Non skiers may come and enjoy a unique South African snow experience, making snowmen, throwing snow balls or tobogganing making it the perfect family holiday for young and old!
Activities
We have skilled ski and snowboard instructors, who will teach you to ski in a controlled and safe environment, and ensure that by the end of your stay, you will be able to swish down the slopes with control.  A beginner ski or snowboard course is compulsory for first timers, on specially prepared flat beginner areas (about 60m long). After your course, you should be skiing or snowboarding on your own with control and using the beginner lift for a day or two. As you gain confidence, you will move onto the main slope.  Private beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons will be available on request. Race training sessions will be on offer during certain periods for the more ambitious junior and adult alpine skiers. Summer activities include some of SA’s best fly fishing, mountain biking, quad biking, the famous 8 passes route for motorcyclists, and alpine hiking. There are more species of alpine flowers than found elsewhere in the country.
Accommodation:​
Tiffindell can accommodate up to 134 guests and all Tiffindell accommodation is situated within 100m of the slopes and is centrally heated. All bedding, linen, towels and amenities are supplied, as well as tea and coffee, in all accommodation types. Three and four night packages are sold from a Wednesday to Sunday or Sunday to Wednesday. Packages are priced per person per package and not per person per night. All packages include accommodation, breakfast, dinner, ski and snowboard equipment hire and ski pass for your entire stay, as well as emergency medical assistance, ICE-AID band and resort entertainment.
 
Geolocation
-30° 38' 58.0406", 27° 55' 35.1596"
References
 
Further Reading
https://www.sahistory.org.za/.../rosa-sophia-cornelia-nepgen-sa-composer- and-wife-poet-weg-louw-born-barkly-east-eastern-
 
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