Zeerust

Municipality

Municipality: Zeerust Local Municipality
District Municipality: Central District Municipality

Zeerust Tourism Bureau

Zeerust

Phone number: 018-642-1081

Zeerust is short for Coetzeerust and is named after Casper Coetzee, owner of the farm on which the town is built. The BaTswana name of the town is Sefatlhane.

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Zeerust is a typical bushveld town and lies on the N4 route leading to Botswana - 55Km from the border. It is the closest South African town to the capital of Botswana, Gaberone (115Km ). Groot-Marico lies 40Km to the east on the N4.

The Klein Marico River passes the town. This river joins the Groot Marico river northeast of the town at Skuinsdrif to become the Marico River. The Marico River passes the Madikwe Game Reserve, from where it flows northeast as the border between South Africa and Botswana. It joins the Crocodile River at Olifantsdrif to become the Limpopo River, which eventually forms the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe. The Limpopo River passes through Mocambique into the Indian ocean.

The Zeerust museum exhibits the local cultural history.

Madikwe Game Reserve

The Madikwe Game Reserve is about 80Km north of Zeerust.

Marula Kop

Marula Kop, about 50Km north of Zeerust, was settled during the early iron age.

Kaditshwene ruins

The Kaditshwene ruins dates from the 1700s and was home to the Bahurutse clan of the Tswana tribe. The population of this hilltop town was about 20'000 and included stone masons, copper smiths, and ironsmiths.

TOP

History

Zeerust was established in 1864 as a church centre on the farm Hazenjacht, owned by Casper Coetzee. The first stands were sold in 1867, and the town became a municipality in 1936.

Battle at Mosega 1837

Mosega is about 15Km south of Zeerust on the R49 route to Ottoshoop and Mafikeng.

Mosega was one of the large settlements of the Ndebele (also called Matabele) tribe of King Mzilikazi (ca. 1790 - 1868) of the Khumalo Dynasty. David Livingstone was immensely impressed by Mzilikazi, regarding him as the second most impressive leader he encountered on the African Continent. Mzilikazi was originally a lieutenant of the Zulu King Shaka, but had a disagreement in 1823, after which he had to flee with his tribe of five hundred men and women. They fled to the interior and ruled the areas today in the provinces of Gauteng, North-West and Limpopo. His grouped murdered so many tribes that the era was known as the Mfecane (crushing), creating a void that the Boers quickly filled as wide areas were now unpopulated. Mzilikazi And his tribe eventually settled in what is presently known as Zimbabwe where he left a vast dynasty.

At the Battle of Vegkop (2 October 1836) the Matabele took 6000 head of cattle plus 40'000 sheep from the Boers. In January 1837 a group of 107 Boers under leadership of Andries Potgieter and Gert Maritz were on a mission to repossess their property from the Matabele. They were assisted by members of the Barolong, Marolong and Griqua and !Korana tribes, who did not participate in the battle but gave support.

On 17 January 1837 the Boers surprised the inhabitants of Mosega, and killed large numbers of men. King Mzilikazi was away at Kapain. The Boers killed all the warriors, and destroyed the capital. They reposessed several thousand head of cattle and quickly retreated before Mzilikazi counter attacked.

Thanks to Hermann Wehrmeyer for corrections and additional information.

Nature

Zeerust lies in the WWF AT0717 Southern Africa bushveld ecoregion, particularly in the Mixed savanna region.

There are about 430 species of birds in the area, and about 200 species of indigenous trees.

TOP

Economy

Farming: cattle, sheep, wheat, corn, tobacco, fruit, vegetables. Mining: lead, chrome

TOP