Modimolle

Modimolle
Nylstroom
Modimolle

 Modimolle shown within Limpopo

Coordinates: 24°42′00″S 28°24′22″E / 24.70000°S 28.40611°E / -24.70000; 28.40611Coordinates: 24°42′00″S 28°24′22″E / 24.70000°S 28.40611°E / -24.70000; 28.40611
Country South Africa
Province Limpopo
District Waterberg
Municipality Modimolle
Area[1]
 • Total 83.3 km2 (32.2 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 41,988
 • Density 500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 87.5%
 • Coloured 0.5%
 • Indian/Asian 0.5%
 • White 11.3%
 • Other 0.3%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Northern Sotho 62.2%
 • Afrikaans 11.1%
 • Tsonga 9.7%
 • Tswana 4.8%
 • Other 12.2%
Postal code (street) 0510
PO box 0510
Area code 014

Modimolle (previously Nylstroom) is a town located near the southern edge of the Waterberg Massif in Limpopo province, South Africa. It is a medium-sized town that focuses primarily on agriculture and farming (citrus, grapes and cattle) as well as wildlife and tourism. Nylstroom/Modimolle is also located approximately 135 kilometres (84 miles) north of Pretoria, South Africa's de facto capital city.

The Waterberg Biosphere spreading north, a UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserve, contains approximately 15,000 square kilometres (5,792 square miles). Waterberg is the first region in the northern part of South Africa to be named as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The extensive rock formation was shaped by hundreds of millions of years of riverine erosion to yield diverse bluff and butte landform.[2] The ecosystem can be characterised as a dry deciduous forest or Bushveld.

History

In the 1860s, a group of Voortrekkers known as the Jerusalem Trekkers set off for the Holy Land. After discovering a wide river flowing northwards, they consulted the maps at the back of their Bibles and decided that it was the Nylrivier (Nile river).[3] They called the stream Nyl River and settled the town and called it Nylstroom in 1866.[4][5] After discovering what they believed to be a ruined pyramid, they were convinced that they had found the Nile. It was in fact, a natural hillock, known to the locals as Modimolle.[6] A Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1889 and is the oldest church in sub-saharan Africa north of Pretoria. It was also used as a hospital during the Second Boer War. The river is the Nyl River, a tributary of the Mogalakwena River.

The first railway line reached Nylstroom in 1898, connecting the town to Pretoria. During the Second Boer War, the British operated a concentration camp in Nylstroom, where Boer women and children where interned as part of the British Scorched Earth policy. This subsequently led to the loss of 544 lives at the Nylstroom concentration camp. Strijdom Huis (Strijdom House) was the primary residence of the 6th Prime Minister of South Africa, JG Strijdom, and is situated in Nylstroom.[7]

Name change

The South African government officially changed the name of the town to Modimolle in 2002.[8] The name comes from the Tswana phrase, Modimo o lle, meaning "the forefather's spirit has eaten", or "God has eaten".[5][9]

Other numerous name changes include the renaming of both a municipal building and the town hall after Oliver Tambo, the library being renamed the Ruth First Memorial Library, as well as the renaming of several streets.[10]

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Sum of the Main Places Phagameng and Modimolle from Census 2011.
  2. ↑ C.Michael Hogan, Mark L. Cooke and Helen Murray, The Waterberg Biosphere, Lumina Technologies, May 22, 2006.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Maxwell Leigh (1986). Touring in Southern Africa (First ed.). C. Struik Publishers. p. 156.
  4. ↑ William Taylor, Gerald Hinde and David Holt-Biddle, The Waterberg, Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa (2003) ISBN 1-86872-822-6
  5. 1 2 "Modimolle". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
  6. ↑ Denis Worral (1980). Vic Mayhew, ed. Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa (Second revised (1980) ed.). The Reader's Digest Association South Africa (Pty.) Ltd. p. 244.
  7. ↑ "Strijdom bust carted off to 'place of safety'". Independent Online. 2002-02-26. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  8. ↑ "Official South African Geographical Names System: Old Place Names starting with N". South African Department of Arts and Culture. 2002-06-14. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  9. ↑ "Meanings of place names in South Africa". African Languages. Retrieved 2010-03-26.
  10. ↑ "New names have town in a tizz". News24. 2005-01-20. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
  11. ↑ "Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom". Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2010-03-25.

External links

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