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Mafikeng Sites of Interest

<p> A good place to start a tour of Mafikeng is at the Museum, situated in Martin Street. The displays are superb, and the curator holds the keys to a number of historical sites around the town. The Museum is housed in the former Old Town Hall, built in 1902. This ornate building dominated the centre of the town at the time. With its impressive steel ceiling, old town clock and elaborate architectural style, the museum itself deserves a visit. </p> <p> Outside the museum is a <strong><a target="_blank" href="component/option,com_rsgallery2/Itemid,229/page,inline/id,64/catid,3/limitstart,7/">6-H class steam locomotive</a></strong>, weighing 90 tons. Its tender was constructed in Scotland in 1901. This locomotive pulled trains on the route between Mafikeng and Bulawayo until 1971. In 1985 it was moved from the railway siding to its present position. There is also a 1919 steam engine which provided power for machinery. </p> <p> The old Mafikeng Club which was recently closed, is represented in the museum by a piece of its roof which was hit by shrapnel from a 94 pound shell. Inside the museum is a treasure trove of artifacts dating back to prehistoric times. An interesting feature is the emphasis on the Tswana culture and history which, for so long, was ignored. A traditional hut greets visitors at the main hall and,opposite, in sharp contrast,stands an old ship's cannon &quot;the Nelson&quot; manufactured in 1770. The gun weighs 436 kilograms, has a calibre of 94mm and had a range of 2,769 metres. It came to Mafikeng in 1883, sold to chief Montshoia by chief Lentshwe of the Bakgatla for 22 oxen. It was used against land-hungry Boers of the Goshen Republic. Baden-Powell's forces later used it in defence of Mafikeng during the Siege. </p> <p> A unique feature at the museum are objects and pictures related to the Siege, including part of a steel boiler of the train which was ambushed by General De La Rey's commando at Kraaipan. The hole in this piece of steel was caused by the first artillery shot of the war. </p> <p> The Siege Room features displays of hundreds of artifacts and photographs from Mafikeng's most famous moments and an entire display is dedicated to Sol T Plaatje, academic and founder member of the ANC. His diary of the Siege written when he was a court interpreter provides one of the few written accounts of those events by a black person. </p> <p> <strong><a target="_self" href="index.php?option=com_rsgallery2&amp;Itemid=229&amp;catid=3">Click here to View the Mafikeng Museum Photo Gallery</a></strong> </p>

Mafikeng Museum 		Although Rhodes supported the BaRolong. his ulterior motive was to annex this area to the Cape Colony and Rhodesia. When his plan was thwarted by chief Kgama of the Bamangwato tribe, the British government assumed direct rule over the former Protectorate (now Botswana).

Cecil John Rhodes Monument 		<p> On the outskirts of town, Kanon Kopje to the south-east and Warren's Fort on the northern side, pay tribute to the desperate defences of the defenders of Mafeking. Both sites have been well maintained and Kanon Kopje provides an excellent elevated view of Mafikeng. </p> <p> The kopje was probably first occupied by Stone Age people about 8,000 years ago. It was here the Goshenites first launched an artillery attack on Mahikeng between 1882 and 1884. </p> <p> Two forts were built during the Warren expedition of 1885 on either side of the Molopo River. </p> <p> To get to Kanon Kopje, take the Danville turn-off opposite the Tourist Information Centre and follow the signs. Kanon Kopje is adjacent to the hospital parking lot.&nbsp;&nbsp; Enquiries at the museum. </p>

Kanon Kopje

Graffiti @ Kanon Kopje

Kanon Kopje Monument
The name Warren crops up at a number of Mafikeng's historic sites. Warren's Fort was another structure built by Warren and was a police post to protect the BaRolong, first from attacks by the Goshenites of Rooigrond and later from the Bechuanaland Border Police and the British South African Police (BSAP). During the Siege it was home to about 28 men under Colonel Hore. The fort was captured for one day by Commandant Sarel Eloff, with 200 men, towards the end of the Siege, but the British took it back within a few hours. Building on the fort began in 1 s&gt; 5 and everything remaining, except for the raising of the roof level, is authentic. It has been declared a national monument. The fort is adjacent to the ammunition magazine.

Warren Fort 		General Sir Charles Warren built an ammunition magazine, which was renovated and the area around it was cleared. It is built of brick and has a heavy steel ceiling and steel-lined door. The door is presently at the Mafikeng Museum. It was built to store guns, ammunition and explosives. Situated near Warrens Fort, The Magazine is just outside the grounds of the North West Police Headquarters on the Vryburg road.

The Ammunition Magazine 		Warren's Well is a brick-lined structure built in 1885 by Warren's Royal Engineers during the stay of Sir Charles Warren. This well is on the second site, the original being near the riverbed. The water was lifted from the well by a hand-operated pump. A steel cover was put on in 1913 over the railway bridge on the Vryburg Road. Turn left at the first traffic lights and follow the signs.

Warren's Well 		Originally a strong, single story building built in 1890. This was Minchin's law office. Colonel Baden-Powell commandeered the building for his headquarters and directed operations from a lookout tower on the roof. On the south west corner of Market Square. Nowadays it is the Bee Gees Boutique.

Mafikeng Siege Headquarters 		<p> These cemeteries were for those who supported the Boer cause and for the wives of commandos who refused to surrender to the British. One contains 825 marked graves altough the total number of recorded burials is 858. This figure includes 33 burghers who died around Mafikeng during and just after the Siege. Their remains were exhumed from isolated graves and reburied in a mass grave in the larger cemetery in 1934. </p> <p> A smaller Concentration Camp Cemetry is situated about 800 metres south of the larger cemetry in the Magogoe area (named after the Magogoe stream that runs into the Molopo River). Only four graves with inscriptions are found here. However, 220 marked graves are recorded. A 1949 renovation unearthed up to four corpses in many graves. This strengthens the belief that many black women and children were also buried here, but never recorded. The two graveyards are at Lotlamoreng Dam, two kilometres out of town on the right and left of the Vryburg Road. </p>

Concentration Camp Cemeteries

Concentration Camp Cemeteries

Monument @ Concentration Camp Cemeteries

Monument @ Concentration Camp Cemeteries

VCs

Youngest Casuality @ Concentration Camp Cemeteries
Dr Modiri Molema (1891 - 1965) was the son of Silas Molema. He qualified at Glasgow University in Scotland and practiced in Mafikeng. He wrote extensively on the BaRolong Boora-Tshidi and the BaRolong Boora-Tshidi Seleka. Opposite Warren's Well. Follow the signs.

Dr. Modiri Molema's Home and Surgery 		This tribal meeting place of Chief Montshoia has been in continuous use since the 1850s and contains a monument to the BaRolong who died in action during the Mafikeng Siege. An engraving of the BaRolong totem, the Tholo (Kudu) is found at the top of this memorial. A monument to chief Besele Montshioa was unveiled on October 10, 1999. On the Vryburg road on the opposite side to Police Headquarters.

Kgotla of the Barolong Boora Tshidi 		The house was built by Silas Molema, son of the founder of Mahikeng, who also built the firts school in the area in 1878. The Molema family is the most prominent family after that of the chief. Sol Plaatje occupied the house during the siege. He was a writer, scholar, journalist and politician. An American researcher, John Comaroff, visiting the the house in 1969, found Sol Plaatje's diary. Take the Vryburg road, just past the Police Headquarters there is a brick road (The Prince of Wales Road) on your left. About 400 metres along this road you will find Maratiwa, a large house on your left.

Maratiwa House 		Silas Molema established this school for local BaRolong Boora-Tshidi children in 1878. He was the first principal. An existing camel thorn tree and the school bell marks the spot of the original school. Turn left at the first traffic intersection on the Vryburg Road. Follow the signs.

Mahikeng Stadt Primary School 		The Molema families are among local historical families buried here. The Molemas are today the most prominent family after the chief. Silas Molema, son of the founder of Mahikeng, is also buried here. Near Seweding.

Molema Cemetery
This monument was built in memory of 60 people who died and the many others who were injured during the 1991 ousting of the Bophuthatswana Government. Situated in the Botanical Gardens near Garona.

Monument of Democracy and Peace 		For many years Mafikeng was a railway enthusiast's dream. It was one of the last towns in the world where steam engines could be seen in daily operation. One of these locomotives now holds pnde of place outside the museum and the people of the town still talk of the feat of engineering ingenuity required to move the loco from the station to the grounds of the museum.

Steam Railways 		Was built to commemorate the siege. It was constructed of Lobatsi brick for about R50 000 in today's prices. Sir Herbert Baker, one of the architects of the church was also responsible for the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Its architectural style is Gothic and the foundation stone, laid the same day as that of the Town Hall reads "To the glorv of God and in memory of those who died during the Siege of Mafikeng, and as an act of thanksgiving for the Relief of the town." It also commemorates the coronation of King George VI. There are three windows in the sanctuary with the predominant colour being red. The central one represents Christ enthroned in Glory; that on the north side, St. Michael holding the scales and the sword and on the south side, St. George and the Dragon. The roof carving is a beautiful work of art from Oberammergau in Bavaria and was presented by the architects. The figure was stained at a later date after the original flesh colour caused considerable consternation among the congregation. Public outcry later saw the figure returned to its original colour. In the niche of the south side of the Sanctuary is the font which at one time stood in the Old Church. The front is marble and is inscribed; "part of an old beam from the roof of St. German's Church, Cornwall, at least 500 years old". Tragedy struck on July 3 1984 when the church was gutted by fire. It has since been restored. The church stands diagonally opposite the museum.

The Anglican Church (St John's) 		Established in 1892 on the corner of Martin and Robinson Streets. The church was used to keep prisoners of war. It later became badly damaged and services continued in neighbouring buildings. The present church hall was built in 1916 and was initially used as the church itself. In 1960 the present building opposite the old church was occupied and is in use today.

NG Church 		This stone-fronted house Commissioner Place complex, was the official residence of the Commissioner of the Bechuanaland Protectorate until 1966. Sir Sydney Shippard was the first Administrator of British Bechuanaland. The building is on the comer of Victoria and Carrington Streets.

Commissioner Place

The Mother & Child Monument

The Mafikeng Prison

Mafikeng Cemetery

Victoria Hospital

Mafikeng Game Reserve
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