Mahikeng

Name

The name Mahikeng means "the place of rocks" in the classic Setswana language of the people of the North West province of South Africa and the neighbouring country of Botswana. However, the city is commonly pronounced as Mafikeng, in the vernacular of the Batswana people of Mmabatho. Historically it was also known as Mafeking, and is still referred to as such historiographically in the context of the Siege of Mafeking and Relief of Mafeking during the Boer War.

In February 2010, Lulu Xingwana, the Minister of Arts and Culture, approved the town's name to be changed again to Mahikeng. Despite this, the town's ANC-run local government and most local residents still refer to the town as Mafikeng, both informally and formally.

Mahikeng literally means "place among rocks". It refers to volcanic rocks that provided temporary shelter for Stone Age humans in order to more easily hunt animals drinking water in the Molopo River.

History

Establishment

Molema's town was founded by Molema Tawana (c. 1822 – January 1882).

In 1857 Molema led an advance guard to scout out the area along the Molopo River. This was a familiar area as they had previously lived in nearby Khunwana. Molema settled a town known in its early years as "Molema's town", while the main body of the Barolong under Montshiwa followed. But Montshiwa did not feel safe at Mafikeng due to the close presence and encroachment of the Boers in the Transvaal. He led his followers to Moshaneng in the territory of the Bangwaketse in present-day Botswana.

Molema remained at Mafikeng to ensure that the Barolong retained a presence there. Several of Montshiwa's other brothers were also stationed at crucial sites in the proximity of the Molopo. Molema had to use all his diplomatic skills on several occasions to prevent Boer incursion and settlement near Mafikeng. He has been described as a man of "strong personality and exceptional gifts...and Montshiwa's chief counsellor in vital matters". (S.M Molema: 35) After negotiations with Molema, Montshiwa decided to return to Mafikeng in 1876.

Molema was a firm believer in Western education, having attended Healdtown; he opened a school for the Barolong once they had settled in the district. Molema became a farmer and businessman, as well as advising his brother Montshiwa. He died in 1882. One of his sons, Silas Molema, became a doctor and historian of the Barolong. Later British settlers spelled the name as "Mafeking". The Jameson Raid started from Pitsani Pothlugo (or Potlogo) 39 kilometres (24 miles) north of Mafeking on December 29, 1895.

For most of the 19th century, Mafeking appeared on Southern African maps as a part of Bechuanaland, a territory consisting of Tswana tribal territories, stretching from the Bangwato of Khama in present-day Botswana to the Batlhaping in present-day South Africa's Northern Cape and North West provinces.

Bechuanaland was ruled by Paramount Chiefs of the Tswana groups such as the Barolong, Bakwena, Bangwaketse, Bahurutshe, Batlhaping and the Bangwato who under Sekgoma I and Khama III stretched Tswana lands further north to close to present day Zimbabwe and Zambia territories.

Second Boer War and siege of Mafeking

At the outbreak of the Second Boer War in 1899, the town was besieged by the Boers. The Siege of Mafeking lasted 217 days from October 1899 to May 1900, and turned Robert Baden-Powell into a national hero. In 1900, the British built a concentration camp in Mafeking to house Boer women and children. In September 1904, Lord Roberts unveiled an obelisk at Mafeking bearing the names of those who fell in defence of the town. British losses during the siege were 212 people killed, soldiers and civilians, and more than 600 wounded. Boer losses were significantly higher.

Incorporation into Bophuthatswana

Although it was outside the protectorate's borders, Mafeking served as capital of the Bechuanaland Protectorate from 1894 until 1965, when Gaborone was made the capital of what was to become Botswana. Mafeking also briefly served as capital of the Bantustan of Bophuthatswana in the 1970s, before the adjoining town of Mmabatho was established as capital when Bophuthatswana became nominally independent in 1977.

Following a local referendum, Mafeking joined Bophuthatswana in 1980 and was renamed Mafikeng. The town was treated as a suburb of Mmabatho.

Capital of North-West Province

Following the end of apartheid in 1994, Bophuthatswana was formally reincorporated into South Africa. With that, the merged Mafikeng and Mmabatho became capital of the new North-West Province under the name Mafikeng. The provincial legislature is located in the New Parliament Building in Mmabatho.

In February 2010, Lulu Xingwana, the Minister of Arts and Culture changed the town's name to Mahikeng.

Major facilities

The North-West University's Mahikeng campus, formerly the University of Bophuthatswana, is located in Mmabatho.

Mafikeng railway station

Mmabatho Stadium

Mafikeng Airport

Mafikeng Museum

Mafikeng Game Reserve (4800 Ha) lies on the boundary of the city and can be accessed through its main gate off Jacaranda Drive in Mafikeng.

Botsalano Game Reserve (5800 Ha)

Notable people

Notable people from Mafikeng include:

Khuli Chana, artist

Presley Chweneyagae, actor and Oscar award winner

Vuyo Dabula, actor

Katlego Danke, actress

Marius Gabriel, novelist

Gail Mabalane, actress and business woman

Bonang Matheba, media personality and businesswoman

Fistaz Mixwell, DJ and music producer

Mogoeng Mogoeng, Chief Justice of South Africa

Judge Yvonne Mokgoro, former justice at the Constitutional Court of South Africa

Keabetswe "KB" Motsilanyane, singer and actress.

Zenzo Ngqobe, actor

Cassper Nyovest, recording artist and producer.

Hip Hop Pantsula (also known as HHP), artist

Rapulana Seiphemo, actor

Tuks Senganga, Motswako musician

Climate

Mafikeng has a warm semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh) with hot summers and mild, dry winters with cool nights. Mafikeng experiences a significant amount of sunshine throughout the year.