Did you know that the building which houses the Mahikeng Museum dates back to 1902? One of the many great attractions is the beautiful steam locomotive among various intriguing prehistoric artefacts inside. You will also be able to view the magnifi¬cent cannon manufactured in 1770, “The Nelson” belonging to an old ship. It arrived in Mahikeng in 1883, sold to Chief Monshioa by Chief Lentshwe of the Bakgatla for 22 oxen. The Mahikeng Museum is rich in Tswana culture and history concentrating on the heritage of the region’s people. The Curator of the Museum also holds the keys to various historical sites in and around Mahi¬keng and will be able to provide sightseeing information. Mahikeng was settled by Chief Molema in 1852, they called it Molema’s Town and in 1881 it was changed to Mahikeng, the “place of rocks” in the Tswana language.
Another integral piece of Mahikeng’s history, documenting The Siege of Mafeking by Sol Plaatje is kept safely at Wits University. Plaatje had an “in-between” role when appointed court interpreter in ‘Mafeking’ in 1898. The job was about more than just translating. He mediated between the English and Dutch magistrates and created a dialogue between these two worlds. Another pioneer translator, Scottish Congregationalist Robert Moat, who started translating the bible from English to Setswana soon after he arrived in Kuruman in 1817. Setswana was the first South African language to receive its own complete Bible.
The North West Province holds great treasures such as The Taung Child, a fossilised skull of a young child which was discovered in 1924 by some quarry workers. The skull is safe in the repository also at Wits University.
The Platinum Province was created in 1994, and takes up 9% of the total land in South Africa. The North West is divided into four district municipalities which are in turn divided into 18 local municipalities. It has 24 cities and towns. Mining and agriculture play an essential role in boosting the South African economy as the North West provides precious commodities such as diamonds, gold, platinum, sunflower seeds, maize and beef.
Our province is one of a kind.
