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Mokopane is located in South Africa
 Mokopane shown within South Africa
Coordinates: 24°11′2″S 29°0′46″E﻿ / ﻿24.18389°S 29.01278°E﻿ / -24.18389; 29.01278Coordinates: 24°11′2″S 29°0′46″E﻿ / ﻿24.18389°S 29.01278°E﻿ / -24.18389; 29.01278
Country South Africa
Province Limpopo
District Waterberg
Municipality Mogalakwena
Established 1907
 • Total 75.13 km2 (29.01 sq mi)
Elevation 1,130 m (3,710 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 30,151
 • Density 400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 66.7%
 • Coloured 0.7%
 • Indian/Asian 4.4%
 • White 27.6%
 • Other 0.6%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Northern Sotho 46.5%
 • Afrikaans 27.8%
 • English 7.4%
 • Tsonga 4.4%
 • Other 13.8%
Postal code (street) 0600
PO box 0600
Area code +27 (0)15

Mokopane [2] (officially renamed from Potgietersrus in 2003), is a town in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The village Vredenburg was established by the Voortrekkers and renamed Piet Potgietersrust after the slain Voortrekker leader Piet Potgieter. The name was changed to Mokopane in 2003 in honour of King Mgombane Kekana who resided on the land and ruled the area before he was overthrown and killed by the Voortrekkers. It is home to Northern Ndebele-speaking people, English-, Afrikaans-, Northern Sotho-, and XiTsonga-speakers. Five kingdoms in the vicinity of the town are Kekana (Moshate), Langa (Mapela), Lebelo (Garasvlei) and Langa (Bakenburg).

There is an interest from the Northern Ndebele people (SeNdrebele in the language itself) to revive their language, many want to read and write their own language. The SeNdrebele language is spoken by over half of the community members in Moshate and Mosesetjane villages. Two hours from Gauteng by road, the town acts as a getaway destination and as a stop-over for travelers en route to Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kruger National Park. The area is typical bushveld with many acacia trees and aloes, which display their beautiful blooms in June and July. The Mokopane area is one of South Africa's richest agricultural areas, producing wheat, tobacco, cotton, beef, maize, peanuts and citrus. The Zebediela Citrus Estate, 55 km to the southeast, is one of the largest citrus farms in the southern hemisphere. The area is rich in minerals with the mining of platinum, diamonds and granite.[citation needed]

Prehistory and history[edit]

The historic and archaeologically significant Makapansgat caves are situated 15 km north of the town. Recovery of Homo habilis habitation has been made at these caves.[3] Remains of Australopithecus africanus have also been found at the caves. The Arend Dieperink Museum portrays the history of the town, from the ape-man at Makapansgat, Bushmen paintings and early activities in the area up to the Anglo Boer War and recent times.[4]


The stunning bushveld environment and influences from Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, SeSotho, Afrikaans and English cultures give Mokopane a unique character. There are also ancient caves, the "Big Five", San rock paintings, curios, bushveld food and drinks such as biltong (dried meat) and mampoer (a potent drink), tropical gardens and traditional dancing. In the adjacent township of Mahwelereng traditional lifestyles, set against the spectacular Waterberg, can be observed. Mokopane also offers outdoor activities ranging from hiking, camping and 4 × 4 trails to birding, angling and game viewing.[citation needed]


The economy of Mokopane used to be basically farming, until the opening of Anglo American's platinum mine. Currently the mine is the biggest contributor to the economy. Recently there has been interest displayed by other mining companies to start up, but community resistance around mining remains the main reason for the slow growth in mining.[citation needed]

See also[edit]


  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Mokopane". Census 2011. 
  2. ^ Mokopane infosite,; accessed 27 August 2014.
  3. ^ Nick Norman and Gavin Whitfield, De Beers Consolidated Mines (2006) Geological Journeys: A Traveller's Guide to South Africa's Rocks and Landforms. Struik Publishing; ISBN 1-77007-062-1, ISBN 978-1-77007-062-2
  4. ^ C. Michael Hogan, Mark L. Cooke and Helen Murray, The Waterberg Biosphere, Lumina Technologies, 22 May 2006.

External links[edit]