Mthatha, Eastern Cape- previously known as Umtata

Mthatha, founded in 1879, was declared the Capital of the Transkei, the homeland of the Xhosa during the Apartheid era. The former Transkei is now part of the Eastern Cape province, previously known as Umtata.
Mthatha is the colourful and lively centre of the region. The city stands on the banks of the Mtata River - the name derives from the word 'thatha' (taker), owing to the damage and fatalities caused by the flooding River. At a Village near the Town, Mvezo, President Nelson Mandela was born into the Madiba Clan of the Them-bu Royal Family. The greatest attraction of Umtata is the Nelson Mandela Museum in the Bhunga Building in Owen Street. The modern Museum displays a substantial variety of historic documents and photos of Madiba's "Long Way to Freedom". There is also the Madiba Trail; a trail named after President Nelson Mandela's clan of the Thembu Royal Family. The trail leads hikers to, among others, Qunu where he grew up and the University of Fort Hare. The Bunga; is a a domed Building that has served as the seat of the Transkei Parliament for more than half a Century. It now houses the Nelson Mandela National Museum. Nelson Mandela National Museum; contains priceless sentimental gifts given to him while he was President. Umtata Dam; the dam that quenches the Towns thirst also provides facilities for outdoor activities, such as picnicking and water sport. Facilities for ski boating are available. Town Hall; a sandstone Building completed in 1908, fronted by pleasant Gardens.
Accommodation is available in the unmatched splendor of the evergreen forests and unspoiled countryside surrounding the town. Ideal for those who revel in outdoor activities in splendid isolation, including hikes and trails. Fishing and bird watching are also available. There are a know many Nature Reserves found in this Area!

Geolocation
28° 44' 31.2", -31° 35' 16.8"

Peter “Terror” Mathebula dies

Peter “Terror” Mathebula dies

On 18 January 2020, Peter “Terror” Mathebula South Africa’s first black world champion boxer died. Mathebula was born on 3 July 1952, in Transvaal (now Gauteng). A flyweight division boxer, Mathebula made his professional boxing debut on 10 July 1971 against compatriot Sydwell Mhlongo in Rabosotho Hall, Tembisa, Transvaal. On 13 December 1980, Mathebula became South Africa’s first black world champion when he dethroned South Korea’s Tae-Shik Kim in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Cederberg Wilderness Area

The Cederberg Region is only two hours from Cape Town and yet the landscape is completely different. With much wilder, warmer with a raw, dramatic beauty. Clanwilliam and Citrusdal with its towering Mountains, brilliant purple and orange sunsets, laden with the scent of orange blossoms in the Spring. Lamberts Bay and Elands Bay; with their perfect waves for surfing, offer open-air Restaurants serving only the best of our seafood and have an abundance of bird life to be spotted.

Wupperthal and Elandskloof, both Missionary Villages situated within these magnificent Mountains. They both have a wealth of History. Enjoy the beauty of the Cederberg in your own way: walk in the Mountains with not another person in sight, enjoy bouldering and climbing at Rocklands; go and discover the beautiful bird life or get your surf on; swim in the clear Mountain rock pools or marvel at the delicate Bushman rock art. Southern African rock art has been dated to be as old as 28 000 Years, with the age of the Cederberg paintings ranging from 8 000 Years to 100 or 200 Years. The paintings most commonly depict animal scenes, and it is thought that particular animals such as eland, have important symbolic religious meanings. Paintings were made by the San as part of their Religion and can thus not be interpreted literally! Humans are also commonly depicted, often in procession, hunting or out gathering food. Other types of paintings show therianthropes (half-animal half-human figures) and entoptic- (occurring or originating inside the eye) shapes, probably of important religious meaning.

Rock art sites in the Cederberg Conservancy open to the public are: Stadsaal; Truitjieskraal; Southern Arch and Vark Kloof.  Or simply relax and enjoy the exhilarating peace of this unspoilt paradise. The Cederberg has an exceptional Botanical diversity, being part of the Cape Floral Kingdom of the Western Cape. This Are is among the twisted rock formations, farmers cultivate the World-famous healthy rooibos tea, found only in the Cederberg of South Africa!

Geolocation
-32° 21' 28.8", 18° 14' 34.8"

Katberg, Eastern Cape

About 30 kilometres from Hogsback and close on two hours from East London, the little town of Katberg lies in enviable countryside. Citrus orchards, green lucerne fields, clear rivers and soft green valleys with forested ravines - this part of the world is clearly beautiful. People here speak about going up the Katberg, although its grassy summits are really regarded as a section of the Winterberg Mountains. The Katberg pass, almost unfeasible in an ordinary car as the condition of the road is now really poor - rather like driving on a lawn as the road carries so little traffic that grass grows right across it - offers scenery to take your breath away at the top. Hiking in this part of the world is a way of life and the Katberg forest is the scene of several day walks lasting from one to four hours around the forest station and the Katberg Hotel. There are also the Katberg loop trail and the Katberg hiking trail, both of them fairly arduous walks.
The nearby Thrift Dam is a must for fishing fanatics. The most easterly and largest of the trout fisheries in the area, it lies on the uppermost reaches of the Black-Kei River and is stocked with rainbow trout that average two kilograms a piece. But it is the incredible lack of restriction and feeling of expansiveness that come from a holiday in the mountains that makes Katberg such a wonderful place to stay. Katberg is about breathing in fresh mountain air and enjoying the solitude of being in nature in a part of the world that remains unspoilt and beautiful in its own right.

Geolocation
26° 40' 30", -32° 29' 27.6"

Robberg Nature Reserve

Robberg Nature Reserve, situated 8 km south of Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route, is not only a nature reserve, but also a National Monument. Rocks from this region date back 120 million Years to the breakup of Gondwanaland and evidence of middle and later Stone Age inhibition has been found in a few of the caves along the Peninsula. Visitors can find out more at the Nelson Bay Cave Interpretive Centre. Some highlight features of a visit here include spotting the rare 'Blue Duiker', the Western Cape’s smallest antelope; walking alongside one of the seven climbing-falling dunes on the Cape Coastline; and viewing the highest navigational light on the South African Coastline, at the Cape Seal Lighthouse (146m above sea level). The Reserve also extends 1.8km offshore, providing protection to a range of vulnerable fish species. Visitors can expect inspiring Landscapes, exciting dolphin and whale sightings in season, and to be accompanied on their walks or hikes by a variety of bird species and the occasional seal. An overnight hut is available for those who want to spend more time on this beautiful Reserve.
Geolocation
-34° 6' 14.4", 23° 23' 34.8"

Dutywa, Eastern Cape

The Town was founded in 1858 as a Military Fort after a dispute between a Natal Colony raiding party and local people. It is named after the Dutywa River, a tributary of the Mbhashe River.The name means "place of disorder" in the Xhosa language. Its spelling was officially changed from "Idutywa" to "Dutywa" on 16 July 2004. The Settlement was laid out in 1884 and was made a municipality in 1913, formerly part of the Transkei bantustan. It is the birthplace of Thabo Mbeki, who became President of South Africa in 1999. It is 35 kilometres north of Gcuwa (formerly known as Butterworth) on the N2 road. Dutywa is the seat of the Mbhashe Municipality in the Amatole District. Dutywa is an inland Town and an economic center to the nearest coastal town Willowvale Gatyane. The economic contributions to this town mostly come from the agriculture, education and the rapidly developing infrastructure. This town recently finished developing a shopping complex in 2017, and has good recreational areas including sporting centers. Da Village is a heritage/bar which is oriented for fun! A Center where prominent artists with the likes of Zahara who is a South African musician among others and radio presenters come to mingle.
Mida School is a Combined School schools based in Dutywa, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Geolocation
28° 19' 12", -32° 5' 56.4"

Vergelegen Wine Estate Owner Samuel Kerr Dies

Vergelegen Wine Estate

Samuel Kerr,an Irishman, wastheowner of the Vergelegen Wine Estate, Somerset West from 1901-1917. He acquired the estate on 29 March 1901 at a price of £11,404. He was also the owner of sixsurrounding properties since 1899 before acquiring Vergelegen. His wife and eight children lived with him in the Old Homestead at the estate. The Kerr family used to host several parties and picnics at the estate and enjoyed the outdoors. They also spent time renovating the homestead.

The Old Slave Tree Memorial

The Old Slave Tree Memorial is located in Spin Street, Cape Town. It was an old fir tree that was cut down in 1916. The site is now an octagonal memorial erected on a traffic island in remembrance of the very large number of slaves that were said to be sold under the tree. The words “On this spot stood the old slave tree” is inscribed on the plaque.  Most of the slaves, who were sold under the tree, were brought to the Cape from Africa and Asia. The slave tree is located in close proximity to the Slave Lodge, which housed many of the slaves and too operates as a slave memorial now. The slave tree also functioned as a gathering for slaves who were not allowed to enter churches. In 1951, the last remnants of the tree were removed as the stump of the tree was destroyed in order to widen the street.  In 2014, the Old Slave Tree Memorial was highlighted during the World Design Capital event in Cape Town.
Geolocation
18° 25' 14.88", 33° 55' 28.56"
References

Galt, R. (2017).  Heritage trees of Cape Town: beacons of local history & culture. Available online:
www.currentconservation.org/heritage-trees-of-cape-town-beacons-of-local-history-culture/. Accessed [20/01/2020].

Iziko Social History Centre. (2020). Museums. Available online: dev.iziko.org.za.dedi6.cpt3.host-h.net/museums/iziko-social-history-centre. Accessed [20/01/2020].

Manjoo, S. Classrooms in the Shade. Johannesburg: STE Publishers, 2008.

Where to Stay. (2020). The Old Slave Tree Memorial. Available online: www.wheretostay.co.za/topic/6161-the-old-slave-tree-memorial. Accessed [20/01/2020].
 

Slave Church Museum

The South African Missionary Meeting House/ Sendinggestig Museum (short for the Slave Church Museum) was built between 1802 and 1804. It was founded by the African Missionary Society in 1799. The church is located in Long Street, Cape Town and is South Africa’s oldest indigenous mission church that still exists in its original structure. It is also the first official slave church in South Africa. The church was predominantly used as a space to educate slaves and those identified as non-Christians in the Cape- hence the name of the establishment. In 1802, around 280 slaves were taught literacy and religion at the church. The slaves belonging to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in the Slave Lodge mostly gained access to the church and went on to be baptised and confirmed making them full members of the congregation. Slaves who did not attend the church were often taught in their homes or at the harbour by church goers throughout the 18th century. By the 1770s, slaves who were baptised could no longer be sold. This ruling however was not always adhered to.

The church was also used for meetings held between church directors and members as well as to preach. Sundays, in particular, were used for divine services. By 1971 the church was sold due to the poor state of the building and a new church was established in Belhar. However, in 1977 it attained heritage status and was restored by the Cape Provincial Administration. The museum is open daily and does not require anentrance fee.

The church depicts the history of mission work undertaken by South Africans. It also displays church furniture and objects, original documents, audio and visual files. The front church benches feature the names of the first eight slaves baptised at the church, and the wooden floor has a representation of stars to commemorate the abolition of slavery in 1834 in the Cape. The main exhibition consists of ten illuminated panels, which showcases the church’s history, missionary work and information about the church community. The exhibition was created by the University of Cape Town students and researchers Siona O’Connell and Nadia Kamies.

Geolocation
18° 25' 13.8324", 33° 55' 16.806"
References

Cape Town History. (2019). Sending Gestig Church. Available online: capetownhistory.com/?page_id=455. Accessed [17/01/2020].

Cornell, C. Slaves at the Cape- a Guidebook for Beginners Researchers.Cape Town: Hansa Reproprint, 2005
Daniels, N. (2018). Exhibition honours Slave Church on 219th anniversary. Available online: www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/exhibition-honours-slave-church-on-219th-anniversary-14600404. Accessed [17/01/2020].

Duncan, P & Proust, A. Hidden Cape Town. Cape Town: Stuik Lifestyle, 2013