Weenen stands as a testament to the turbulent History of South Africa. Located on the serene Banks of the Bushman River in KwaZulu-Natal, it remains as the second oldest European Settlement in the Region.

In 1838, the Voortrekkers migration initially faced little resistance and eventually reached Natal. This Area was primarily occupied by the Zulu people. The Voortrekkers sought out new Land. Setting their focus on the royal Kraal of the Zulu King, Dingaan.
Their presence, unfortunately, led to heightened tensions. In a series of tragic events in 1838, Dingaan's warriors launched an assault, leading to what would be forever remembered as the' Weenen Massacre'. Two months post this sorrowful event, plots were laid out at the very site of the massacre and became known as: "THE BATTLE OF BLOOD RIVER". (Battle of Blood River, also called Battle of Ncome River). Its proximate cause was a clash over Land Rights in Natal and the massacre of Voortrekkers by the Zulu King Dingaan.
The Town was named Weenen, which means "place of weeping" in Dutch, a grim nod to its blood-soaked genesis. By 1841 Weenan officially become a Settlement. These tragic events that birthed Weenen need closer inspection for their Historical significance. After the Zulu King Dingaan ordered the killing of Piet Retief and about 100 members of his delegation, there was no reprieve for the remaining Voortrekkers however. The Zulu forces, known as: 'Impis', were dispatched to various Voortrekker Encampments. Doringkop, Bloukrans (Blaauwekrans), Moordspruit, and Rensburgspruit along the Bushman River became scenes, of horrifying bloodshed. The total casualties were staggering. Apart from the Voortrekkers, about 250 to 252 Khoikhoi and Basuto (slaves) who accompanied the Voortrekkers, were also killed.

The resilience of the human spirit is evident in how Weenen evolved. By 1910, it fell under the Governance of a Local board. Progress brought with it an innovative mode of transportation —a narrow gauge Railway built, in 1907. This Railway connected Weenen to Estcourt (47 kilometers to the West) and operated until 1983. The Town, being rich in Agricultural produce primarily being; cabbage and the Farmers utilized this railway for transport to other markets. (Due to this unique cargo, it affectionately garnered the name: "Cabbage Express").

Today, Weenen stands as more than just a Town in KwaZulu-Natal. It's a poignant reminder of South Africa's complex past, characterized by both 'CONFLICT AND COOPERATION AMONG ITS DIVERSE INHABITANTS.'

The Merino sheep-farming Town of Burgersdorp, in the North Eastern Cape has been a pivotal point in Afrikaner: History; Culture and Religion. Many Towns in South Africa are named after one person, but Burgersdorp was aptly named after many people: all its inhabitants, in fact. "The Afrikaans farming community  where known as: "Burgers". 'Town of Citizens' is what Burgersdorp means. 

The being oldest Town in the North-Eastern Cape, it was founded on the Farm Klipfontein in 1846. The inhabitants became the envy of other Karoo Towns because, being sheltered in a Valley below the Stormberg Mountains, there was a milder climate and had access to their own water from the Stormberg Spruit.

The migrant families who first came here were granted permission by the Dutch Reformed Presbytery in Graaff-Reinet to establish a Church of their own. The Town's most imposing symbol is its Dutch Reformed Church. Started in 1912, it is a splendid Building of dressed sandstone, which boasts a huge steeple and clock tower, and a large silver dome and cupola.

In 1860, parishioners who had left the Dutch Reformed Church helped start a new denomination, the Gereformeerde Kerk (Reformed Church'). They invited the Reverend Dirk Postma, from Rustenburg, to start a congregation. Nine years later Postma established a seminary too. Housed in an Outbuilding behind the Parsonage in Piet Retief Street, this became the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church in South Africa.
The first lecturer of the initial five students was Jan Lion-Cachet, whose belongings are today on view in the old Seminary, which has been turned into a Museum.
In 1905 the Seminary was moved to Potchefstroom, where it later became: 'the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education'. Dominee Postma, a passionate encourager that 'Christian National Education' be taught in South African Schools. Burgersdorp also became the centre of a strong movement to have Dutch recognised as an official language.

The Town also contains a remarkable piece of sculpture dedicated to their erstwhile foe, Queen Victoria. It consists of a very ornate drinking fountain of 1897 to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. Surrounded by a crown, this spectacular work of art has a lacework dome supported by eight columns, the fountain itself consists of a stork poised over an urn from which water flows. Salamanders crawl up the central column and other storks and doves peep out from the canopy.

Congresses of the 'Afrikanerbond' were held in Town and in 1882, after 25 years of demanding that their language be recognised, they achieved this aim. To commemorate their victory, a 'Taalmonument'-(Language Monument) was erected. Money was collected from around the Country and the Monument was unveiled in 1893. The statue depicts a woman pointing her finger at a tablet held in her other hand. The main inscription reads, De Overwinning de Hollandsche Taal ('The Triumph of the Dutch Language'). Badly damaged during the Anglo-Boer War, Lord Milner had it removed. A replica was made and erected in 1907, but the original - missing its head and one arm - turned up in a King William's Town workyard in 1939. Now the two statues stand side by side in Burger Square. There is also a Memorial to Townsfolk who died during the Anglo-Boer War.

 A Monument was unveiled in 1908, by the Afrikaner hero, General Koos de la Rey. To remember the battle that took place near Burgersdorp, in late 1899. This was the 'Battle of Stormberg'. Along with two other battles at the same time in which the British suffered defeat - Colenso and Magersfontein- Stormberg contributed to what became known as 'Black Week'. In the Battle of Stormberg, a Commando of 400 Boers fought a much larger British force and subsequently took possession of Burgersdorp. Four months later, however, the Town was re-occupied by the British and many of the rebels were incarcerated in the Old Jail, built in 1861.

Overlooking the Town from the North, a blockhouse called Brandwag (sentinel) - one in a line of forts that Lord Kitchener had built across the Cape frontier towards the end of the war. It's similar in style to those at Wellington and Laingsburg - together they formed part of a line of Forts that extended from Queenstown, via Molteno and Burgersdorp, to Bethulie. The 'Old Town Jail', in which Piet Klopper, one the first 'rebels' of the Cape Colony, was executed. (This can be visited in an Historical Tour!)
 

Meadowlands, located in Gauteng Province, South Africa, is a Suburb of Soweto. It was founded in the early 1950's during the Apartheid era to accommodate Black residents who were forcibly removed from Areas like: Sophiatown and the Western Native Townships.
The forced removals began on February 10, 1955, and continued until the mid-1960's when most of the new Township had been completed. Early residents were segregated into various zones based, on their ethnic backgrounds. The Johannesburg City Council, provided additional land in Diepkloof, when space became scarce in Meadowlands.
By 1968, the Natives Resettlement Board had relocated thousands of black families to both Meadowlands and Diepkloof. The move away from Sophiatown inspired the protest song: “Meadowlands”. This song gained popularity, both within and outside South Africa.

In 1973, the administration of the Area transitioned to the name: "Diepmeadow". By 1978, a Diepmeadows Town Council was formed to manage the two Townships independently of 'Soweto Council123'. The Natives Resettlement Act (Act No 19 of 1954) led to the establishment of Meadowlands, also known as: "Ndofaya". 

The forced removals began on February 10, 1955, and continued until the mid-1960's when most of the new Township had been completed. Early residents were segregated into different zones based on their ethnic backgrounds, and the Johannesburg City Council provided additional Land, in Diepkloof when space became scarce in Meadowlands. By 1968, the Natives Resettlement Board had relocated Thousands of black families to both Meadowlands and Diepkloof. The move away from Sophiatown inspired the protest song: “Meadowlands”. This later gained popularity, both within and outside South Africa. In 1973, the administration of the Area transitioned to: 'Diepmeadow'. By 1978, a Diepmeadows Town Council was formed to manage the two Townships independently of Soweto Council123. Notable South Africans from Meadowlands include: Sindi Dlathu, Vusi Kunene, Thandiswa Mazwai, Kgalema Motlanthe, Rapulana Seiphemo, Sibusiso Vilakazi, and Jacob Matlala.