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Tshwane Unofficial News Restoring the memory of Africa beyond colonization.
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Many southern African societies had sophisticated metallurgical traditions long before sustained European pe*******on in...
09/06/2026

Many southern African societies had sophisticated metallurgical traditions long before sustained European pe*******on into the South. Batlhaping, associated with the Kuruman region were part of that broader iron working world. Archaeological evidence from Batswana settlements across present day South Africa and Botswana proves extensive iron smelting, forging and regional exchange networks that predated colonial contact by centuries.

•Setswana speaking communities produced iron tools, agricultural implements, weapons and other goods using local ores and charcoal-fired furnaces. Smelting and smithing required considerable technical knowledge and specialised labour.

•African metalwork was often judged not only by utility but also by beauty, balance, symbolism and social meaning. Decorative handles made from bone, ivory, wood or stone are consistent with broader southern African craft traditions.

Today, the Ndebele of South Africa and BaPedi remain distinct cultural and linguistic communities, but many families can...
09/06/2026

Today, the Ndebele of South Africa and BaPedi remain distinct cultural and linguistic communities, but many families can trace ancestry to both traditions. In areas of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng it's common to find overlapping clan histories, multilingual households and shared cultural practices that reflect this long history.

The ancestors of today's BaPedi and southern Ndebele lived in adjacent regions of South Africa and interacted extensively through trade, warfare, diplomacy, migration and intermarriage.

The rise of the BaPedi kingdom under Thulare I, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries brought many neighboring communities into BePedi spheres of influence.

The Southern Ndebele, particularly the Manala and Ndzundza, descendants of Musi, maintained long standing relations with neighboring BaPedi groups. Cultural exchange occurred in both directions, especially in initiation practices, settlement patterns, cattle culture, beadwork traditions, and language borrowing.

The identification of Phetla, Kekana, Kope, Masemola et al, as originally Ndebele surnames and later incorporated into BaPedi structures is discussed in oral traditions and regional histories.

Sekonyela, BaTlokwa and Mzilikazi's expansion into the highveld.During the upheavals of "Mfecane/Difaqane" period, uMzil...
08/06/2026

Sekonyela, BaTlokwa and Mzilikazi's expansion into the highveld.

During the upheavals of "Mfecane/Difaqane" period, uMzilikazi kaMashobane established a powerful Ndebele state in the Southern Highveld after breaking away from the Zulu kingdom under uMlilwane kaSenzangakhona. From bases in the western Transvaal, his regiments conducted raids across extensive territories, affecting numerous communities.

During this time, Sekonyela had inherited a highly militarized society shaped by the leadership of his mother Mmanthatisi. BaTlokwa had already survived years of warfare and displacement, making them one of the more formidable groups in the eastern Free State. Conflict between Sekonyela and uMzilikazi kaMashobane was not a single war but rather a series of raids, counter raids, defensive actions, shifting alliances, and competition for cattle, people and territory.

Thaba Bosiu and Regional Politics.
Thaba Bosiu is most famously associated with Moshoeshoe I, who transformed it into one of southern Africa's most successful mountain fortresses. Before Moshoeshoe's permanent occupation, the surrounding Caledon Valley was contested by multiple groups. During the 1820s and early 1830s, both Moshoeshoe and Sekonyela faced pressure from uMzilikazi's expanding power. Although relations between Moshoeshoe and Sekonyela were often tense and sometimes openly hostile, there were occasions when their interests aligned against common threats.

After losing influence around thaba Bosiu, Sekonyela increasingly relied on the mountainous region of Witsieshoek. The area offered difficult mountain approaches, excellent observation points, defensive terrain, refuge for people during raids. These natural advantages reduced the effectiveness of large attacking forces and helped BaTlokwa communities survive repeated conflicts.

Before any European could set foot in what is today South Africa, the kuruman region of today's Northern Cape was one of...
08/06/2026

Before any European could set foot in what is today South Africa, the kuruman region of today's Northern Cape was one of the most important community of Batlhaping settlement, political authority and trade. This community formed part of a network of Setswana speaking chiefdoms that occupied much of the interior of southern Africa.

The Kuruman area lies on the edge of the Kalahari. Although much of the terrain is semi arid, the region had a crucial advantage, the permanent springs known today as the Kuruman eye. These springs produced a reliable water supply throughout the year allowing for;
•Permanent residence
•Crop cultivation
•Cattle keeping and herding
•Population growth
•Long distance trade

For these reasons, the area became one of the most densely occupied parts of the Kalahari. Batlhaping were among the largest Setswana speaking groups in the region. Their society was organised around Dikgosi (Kings), extended family wards, age regiment systems, large cattle holding.

Cattle were a major source of wealth and status, but the economy was diverse and included mining and metallurgy. Settlements often consisted of numerous homesteads organised around cattle enclosures, with social status reflected in settlement layout.

By the late 18th century, Batlhaping chiefdoms controlled significant territory around Kuruman. European travellers entering the interior often encountered Batlhaping among the first large centralised African polities north of the Cape frontier. Early European visitors described large cattle herds, extensive settlements, organised leadership structures and active distance trade.

The topic of how Northern Ndebele's (Zimbabwe Ndebeles) got to be identified as that even though uMzilikazi kaMashobane ...
04/06/2026

The topic of how Northern Ndebele's (Zimbabwe Ndebeles) got to be identified as that even though uMzilikazi kaMashobane was a Zulu warrior, is still debated amongst African scholars and historians.

But, few points are broadely supported;

1. The Southern Ndebeles(South African Ndebeles) whose descendants are found mainly in present day Mpumalanga and Gauteng, existed long before the migration of uMzilikazi kaMashobane. They trace their ancestry to Musi. There were already Ndebele speaking communities in the Transvaal region before and the interactions between uMzilikazi's followers and these established Ndebele groups remain a subject of debate.

2. uMzilikazi kaMashobane's followers originated from the Khumalo clan and left the Zulu kingdom during the upheavals of the early nineteenth century. As they moved north, they incorporated many conquered groups into a multi ethnic community. Historians generally agree that the kingdom that eventually emerged in present day Zimbabwe was ethnically diverse rather than being composed solely of the original Khumalo followers.

Where historians may differ;

1. Some historical sources state that uMzilikazi's followers themselves came to identify as Ndebele, while neighboring Batswana and Basotho referred to then as Matabele.

2. The claim that the name arose specifically because conquered Southern Ndebele warriors were visible within uMzilikazi's army is an interpretation that is sometimes advanced, but not a dominant explanation found in mainstream historical works.

The metallurgy industry at the Marothodi settlement was one of the most important economic and technological activities ...
01/06/2026

The metallurgy industry at the Marothodi settlement was one of the most important economic and technological activities of the community. Archaeological research shows that Marothodi was not simply an agricultural village but a major center of iron production, cattle keeping and regional trade during the late 1700s and early 1800s

The people of Marothodi produced iron from locally available iron ore. The process involved;
1. Mining and collecting iron ore, broken into smaller pieces before smelting
2. Large quantities of charcoal were produced from local woodlands. Charcoal provided the high temperatures needed for smelting.
3. Smelting.
4. Forging process which includes slag and impurities removal.

Archaeologists working at Marothodi have uncovered
Large quantities of iron slag (waste from smelting). The sheer volume of slag suggests that iron production was carried out on a scale larger than household needs. Marothodi produced surplus iron for trade with neighboring communities.

Iron was transformed into;
Spears
Knives
Axes
Chisels
Jewelery and ornaments
Livestock and management tools
Agricultural hoes.

The ability to produce iron tools supported agricultural productivity and helped sustain a population that nay have numbered several thousand people.

Marothodi settlements, one of the great historical Batswana stone walled capitals in the present day North West Province...
01/06/2026

Marothodi settlements, one of the great historical Batswana stone walled capitals in the present day North West Province of South Africa, near Pilanesburg. Associated with BaTlokwa and flourished in the 1700s to the 1800s.

Marothodi was not just a village, it was a large political, economic and industrial centre specializing in iron and copper production. One of the most fascinating discoveries at Marothodi is copper smelting remains, iron furnaces, slag deposits and metal working zones.

The settlement, at its peak, is believed to have housed around 7,000 people making it one of the largest inland African towns in southern Africa during it's time.

Precolonial South Africa had many different kinds of settlements ranging from small pastoral villages to large stone-wal...
29/05/2026

Precolonial South Africa had many different kinds of settlements ranging from small pastoral villages to large stone-walled towns and regional capitals. Within these settlements were many cultures and political systems across the region.

Amongst many settlements, these were among the most organised;

1. Kaditshwene
One of the largest Batswana capitals in the 1400s to 1823 located near present day Zeerust. This settlement, at its peak housed 15,000 - 20,000 people and it's known to researchers for it's scale.

2. Marothodi
A stone walled settlement associated with Bahurutshe people with complex urban styled organisation, extensive walls and evidence of iron production and trade. Flourished between 1700s to 1827

3. Mapungubwe
Located near the Limpopo River which borders present day South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Southern Africas first known kingdom around 1075 to 1220. Known for elite ruling class, ties to trade with the Indian ocean world, gold working, social hierarchy and planned settlements structure.

4. Molokwane
A Batswana settlement near present day Rustenburg known for organised wards, cattle enclosures, hilltop defensive design with population reaching 15,000 people. The settlements were approximately 3km from north to south.

5. BaKoni
A highly advanced precolonial agro pastoral society. Flourishing in the 1500s to 1820. Located in present day Mpumalanga, Ladenburg. These extensive settlements feature a sophisticated layout of terraced fields for agriculture.

6. Dzata
A Venda royal capital known for stone walling, terracing, sacred leadership traditions and political centralization. Located just outside Makhado. Built around 1700.

7. Thulamela
A stone walled settlement inside today's Kruger National Park.. known for long distance trade, stone architecture similar to Great Zimbabwe.

Bakwena, one of the most prominent branches, offshoots from Bahurutshe. By the late 17th century, there were several bra...
21/05/2026

Bakwena, one of the most prominent branches, offshoots from Bahurutshe. By the late 17th century, there were several branches of Bakwena and one of their Kgosi (king) named Modimosana moved eastward with his people into the area west of Dithaba tsa Mogale (Magaliesberg). Oral traditions indicates that Kgosi Modimosana had four sons: Ramananela, Mmatau, Maake and Mmatlhaku.

By the beginning of the 18th century, Mmatau's son was Sekano had become Kgosi (now known as Bakwena ba Modimosana ba Mmatau) and they had settled at Molokwane along the upper reaches of the Kgetleng (selons river)

Over time Molokwane became a huge stone-walled settlement. The people living there followed the normal Tswana practices of laying out each kgoro (ward) according to the central cattle pattern, with the cattle kraals surrounded and protected by the living areas of the people. At Molokwane, however, there were large numbers of dikgoro(wards) which merged to form what was effectively a large town.

From the air, the extensive 3km stone walling at Molokwane is still clearly visible today.

Molokwane settlements, Located 15km west of Rustenburg in the North West Province of South Africa. The settlements were ...
21/05/2026

Molokwane settlements, Located 15km west of Rustenburg in the North West Province of South Africa. The settlements were some of the largest most advanced precolonial urban style settlements in southern Africa. They were associated with the Bakwena branch of Tswana speaking people.

The settlements dates back to the 1600s, featuring the distinct "Tswana settlement pattern." It consisted of a central hub which served as a royal court, surrounded by numerous family clusters, featuring stone walls, cattle enclosures and huts.

The main settlement was enormous by regional standards. Archaeologists estimate that at its peak, it housed tens of thousands of people, making it one of the biggest precolonial settlements in South Africa.

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