Mokopane
Mokopane (formerly Potgietersrus, still nicknamed 'Potties') is the main town of the Mogalakwena Local Municipality in the Waterberg District of Limpopo. It is an agricultural and mining service centre on the Platreef of the Bushveld Complex, near Anglo American's Mogalakwena open-pit platinum mine, and serves farms producing citrus, maize, wheat, tobacco, cattle and game. Suburbs include Chroom Park, Trim Park, Nylpark and Kameeldoring Park.
History
Voortrekkers founded a settlement here in 1852, first called Vredenburg. It was renamed Potgietersrus after Piet Potgieter, killed in 1854 during the Siege of Makapansgat, when Chief Mokopane's (Makapan's) Kekana Ndebele people were besieged in the nearby caves for about a month. The town grew as a farming centre with tobacco and general co-operatives, and in 2003 was renamed Mokopane in honour of the chief. Platinum mining has since become a major part of the economy.
Getting there
About two hours' drive north of Gauteng. The N1 toll road bypasses the town on the way to Polokwane (about 40 minutes north) and Beitbridge; the R101 runs through the town centre and the N11 runs north-west from town. Mokopane has a small airfield (FAQR); the nearest scheduled flights are from Polokwane.
Weather & climate
Semi-arid bushveld climate with hot summers and afternoon thunderstorms, and mild, dry, sunny winters.
Things to do
- Doorndraai Dam Nature ReserveAbout 7,000 ha reserve around Doorndraai Dam, roughly 30 minutes from Mokopane, popular for birding and angling, with game such as kudu, zebra and giraffe.
- Kameeldoring Country Club golfBunker-free 18-hole par-72 bushveld course from 1978 where trees are the main hazard; carts for hire and open to the public every day.
- Percy Fyfe ConservancySmall bushveld reserve about 20 km from Mokopane towards Polokwane that breeds roan antelope and disease-free buffalo; cycling routes, a hiking trail and game drives.
- Thabaphaswa Hiking and MTB Trails38 km of self-planned hiking routes plus mountain-bike trails among granite domes, with camps, a tree shelter and glass-walled huts; leopard, brown hyena and nearly 200 bird species.
Things to see
- Arend Dieperink MuseumCultural history museum in an old stone school building, covering the region from Makapan's caves to the Anglo-Boer War, with a replica bushveld farmhouse and Piet Potgieter's grave nearby.
- Makapan's Valley (Makapansgat Caves)Fossil-bearing caves in a World Heritage-listed valley north-east of town, where Australopithecus africanus remains were found and where Chief Makapan's people were besieged in 1854. Visits must be booked in advance and are guided.
- Mokopane Biodiversity Conservation Centre1,300 ha breeding and conservation centre of the National Zoological Garden on the northern outskirts of town, with rare species such as black rhino, tsessebe, roan and lemurs.
Businesses in Mokopane
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Accommodation (34)Agriculture (2)Automotive (18)Business Services (23)Community & Government (9)Education (13)Food & Drink (14)Health & Wellness (24)Home & Building (5)IT & Electronics (6)Shopping (36)Tourism & Leisure (2)Transport & Logistics (2)
AGS Groeipunt
AFM (AGS) congregation.
Places of Worship
Mokopane, Limpopo
Christ Baptist Church Mokopane
Baptist church.
Places of Worship
Mokopane, Limpopo
Home Affairs Mokopane
Department of Home Affairs office opened in May 2024.
Municipalities
Mokopane, Limpopo
Lebowa Funeral Parlour
Funeral parlour.
NGOs & Charities
Mokopane, Limpopo
Mogalakwena Local Municipality
Local municipality with its head office in Mokopane.
Municipalities
Mokopane, Limpopo
Mogalakwena Public Library
Public library in Mokopane town listed by the Limpopo Dept of Sport, Arts and Culture.
Libraries
Mokopane, Limpopo
SPCA Mokopane (Percy Fyfe)
Animal welfare society.
NGOs & Charities
Mokopane, Limpopo
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Mokopane
Latter-day Saints meetinghouse.
Places of Worship
Mokopane, Limpopo
Volle Evangelie Kerk van God
Full Gospel church.
Places of Worship
Mokopane, Limpopo
Property in Mokopane
No property listed in Mokopane yet. List a property.