In the late 19th century, the little town of Botshabelo, just north-west of Middelburg in the Province of Mpumalanga was a thriving mission station. Thanks to the enormous efforts of the Gauteng
Museum Services and the Middelburg Town Council, it is today once again restored to its former state. Botshabelo, formerly known as the Berliner Mission Station, was laid out on a 23-ha farm which is now owned by the Middelburg Town Council.
The town has many charming features, including three hikes. The Klein Olifants River meanders through the koppies and mountains of the farm, providing the hiker with splendid walks along the banks and magnificent views from the vertical cliffs. Even on the hiking trails one can pick up traces of the history of Botshabelo. The Aasvoëlkrans Trail passes through collection of old stone huts and by a small cemetery. Black metal crosses adorn some of the graves and most of the inscriptions are German.
The second trail, the Botshabelo Trail, goes from the village up to Fort Merensky and follows a high ridge above the village. Here one sees magnificent views of the mission station, the Ndebele village and the original farm. Botshabelo also incorporates a game reserve with 24 species of game
Historical Perspective
In December 1858 two young German missionaries from the Berlin Mission Society, Alexander Merensky and Heinrich Grützner arrived in Natal to spread The Word among the Zulu's. Two years later they were sent to Swaziland. Two more moves followed, mainly because of harassment by local Africans. Eventually they bought the farm near Middelburg for R150. Merensky named the farm "Botshabelo" which means "sanctuary". More and more blacks started joining the missionary.
Their first priority was to build a fort as protection against Chief Sekhukhuni, who persecuted the Christians. Three churches were built in succession as the population grew. School buildings, a seminary for training black missionaries and facilities for teaching carpentry and wagon making followed in 1878. A general dealer, cartwrights shop and water mill were started too. An additional drawcard in this rural area was the provision of medical treatment due to Merensky's ample medical qualifications. Botshabelo became a model mission station, highly acclaimed by the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek. In 1898 it had a population of approximately 4000.
Then the second Anglo-Boer War broke out and work ceased on the missionary. Both missionaries were interned. Conditions deteriorated even further with the outbreak of World War 1 when funds were no longer forthcoming from Germany. Finally in 1953, Botshabelo was given to the then Bantu Education Department.
Site Museum
The Middelburg Town Council purchased a section of the farm in the early seventies, but it was only in the late eighties that there were sufficient funds to start the renovations. Although much still needs to be restored, Botshabelo today provides a fair representation of the mission station of a century ago. The area is a site museum and has a great deal to offer tourists, hikers and historians alike.
Fort Merensky was built at the top of a ridge in 1865 by Sotho refugees and restored in 1961.It is a very large fort, constructed of flat sandstone rocks. Inside are a number of rooms and a high round tower. From the Fort a short forest walk takes you down to the church complex, Botshabelo's museum core, comprised of the large church, the original small one behind it and the Ou Pastorie (old rectory). From the main road in the village a beautiful grass-covered cobbled lane leads to the high stone staircase and entrance to the large church.
The church was built of red bricks baked with the help of women and children. It has a thatched roof with beautiful yellowood ceiling beams, an elaborate gallery and a smooth dung floor. Today it is a very popular, romantic wedding venue, especially since it became interdenominational and no longer Lutheran only.
One day, early in 1950 when the missionary's activities had dwindled to the very basic,the church bell cracked during a service. The people saw it as a divine sign of Botshabelo's end and the church bell never rang again. A new one has replaced it.
The Ou Pastorie (museum) has many fascinating contents each authentically representing the era. The kitchen has a trapdoor which opens up to reveal a reservoir underneath. This was discovered by one the German immigrant workers, who had seen something similar in his grandparents' house in Germany when he was a child. Rainwater runs along a horizontal pipe from the gutter downpipes.
The beautifully restored Pakendorf House, built in 1882, is now the Trading Post. Here crafts, woven carpets, pottery and other traditional handwork is sold. The Cartwright's shop is at the end of the road. A small square forms the core of the village. Opposite the Trading Post is the Seminary, built in 1869. It has informal displays and invaluable old photographs to give you an idea of what the mission station looked like.
On the other side of the square the old high school building is an information centre and agricultural museum. Here wonderful old agricultural implements are on display. On a leisurely stroll through town you will even pass a printing and bookbinding centre and some of the missionary and teachers' houses. The houses of Merensky, Nauhaus, Gastrow and Nietsche etc were all built in the 1880's.
The Ndebele village is an open-air museum established to preserve the tribal culture.The "living" museum reveals the three distinct phases in their architectural development People actually live in the huts and may be allowed in with the residents permission. Absolutely unique to the Ndebele's are their geometrically decorated huts.
A visit to Botshabelo is a recreational and educational experience. It is living proof that uthorities do care.
How to get there
From Johannesburg and Pretoria, take the N4 to Middelburg and turn into the R35 to Groblersdal. Turn left 12km from Middelburg at the Botshabelo sign. The entrance gate is only a short distance from the turn-off.
