Quick Facts

  • In 1852 Montshioa repelled an attack by Boer Commandant General Andries Pretorius, killing Pretorius
  • In 1868 Montshioa started to protest against land invasion by Boers
  • In an 1871 arbitration, Governor Keate of Natal awards Montshioa most of his land back.
  • In 1878, Molema’s son, Thelesho, established the first school in Mahikeng – under a camel thorn tree
  • Today the tree stands in the centre of the school yard and from it still hangs the school’s original bell the school is now known as Stad Primary School. In 1882 some Boers proclaimed the “Republic of Goshen’ on part of Montshioa’s land (Rooigond). In 1884 the Goshenites were repelled and retreated into the Transvaal
  • In 1885 Montshioa allocated a piece of land to the English for the development of a European town which they named Mafeking (a corruption of the name Mahikeng)
  • In 1885 the Barolong and a detachment of the British Royal Engineers under Sir Charles Warren built a church (Wesleyan Methodist) in the village
  • the first church, built in 1873, had been destroyed during war in 1882
  • In 1898 the legendary Sol Plaatjie came to reside in Mahikeng
  • In 1899 Mahikeng was besieged by 7 000 Boers for 217 days, the. event grabbed the world’s attention
  • the Boy Scout movement was conceived in Mahikeng during the Siege by Colonel Baden Powell.

    • Mahikeng - thrice a capital city

  • Mahikeng was the headquarters of Bechuanaland Protectorate (now Botswana) until 1965
  • In 1977 the Bophuthatswana Bantustan established its capital in Mahikeng and further developed the town renaming it Mmabatho
  • Following the first democratic elections in South africa, Mahikeng was once again chosen as the capital of one of the country’s nine provinces (North West)
    • In 2009 the Barolong resolved to rectify the name of their town and successfully applied to the National Geographic Names Council to have it changed back to Mahikeng
    Did you know?
    Kgosi Montshioa was on the first ever hot air balloon ride in Southern Africa in 1885 when the land earmarked for the establishment of ‘Mafeking’ town was being surveyed