1|Page
PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT 04
NAME: SUPRISE MADIMETJA
SURNAME: LEDWABA
STUDENT NUMBER: 64768139
MODEL CODE: AGE2601
DUE DATE: 13 OCTOBER 2023
ACTIVITY 1 -3
Declaration
I understand what plagiarism is and I am aware of the UNISA’s policy in this
regard.
I declare that the work hereby submitted is my own original work. Where
other people’s work has been used (either from a printed source,
Internet or any other source), this has been properly acknowledged and
referenced in accordance with the SHSPH’s requirements.
I have not used work previously produced by another student or any other
person to hand in as my own.
I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone, to copy my work with the
intention of passing it off as his or her own work
Signature: SM Ledwaba
Student No: 64768139
Page 1
, 2|Page
ACTIVITY 1
Botshabelo Mission Station - Abandoned German Refuge outside Middleburg,
South Africa
“Travel Adventures make our way to the Botshabelo, an abandoned German refuge
mission station, which is located on the outskirts of Middelburg, in the Mpumalanga
Province of South Africa. The remarkable history behind this place begins with
Alexander Merensky and Heinrich Grützner, two young German missionaries that
arrived in South Africa from the Berlin Mission Society during the 1860s, to spread
the gospel among the Zulu nation. They were attacked by the soldiers of Chief
Sekhukhune, the king of the baPedi of Swaziland, at their previous mission station,
Ga-Ratau, in 1865, and were forced to flee with a small group of parishioners. With
the little they had, they purchased a farm in the Olifants River Valley near Middelburg
and soon established a Mission Station named Botshabelo, meaning „Place of
Refuge or sanctuary. I located this information on Google search as it seems very
informative about the historical view in the 90s century”.
https://youtua.be/R3B3oxvLphE?si=Gf02NHKx-jNvpr8L
THE NEGLECTED HISTORICAL GRAVEYARDS OF SOUTH AFRICA: A
GLIMPSE INTO BOTSHABELO MISSION STATION IN MPUMALANGA
Historical graveyards play a pivotal role in preserving a nation's past, telling the
stories of those who came before us, and reflecting the complex tapestry of history.
In South Africa, there are numerous such graveyards that have, unfortunately, fallen
into neglect and disrepair. This essay will shed light on the importance of these
historical graveyards, focusing on their relevance to Botshabelo Mission Station in
Mpumalanga.
Importance of Historical Graveyards
History of South Africa - Online Information explains that these cemeteries serve as
repositories of historical information, recording the lives, deaths and social status of
individuals who lived in the area during the different periods. They provide invaluable
information about South Africa's complex history. Culturally, many cemeteries are
the final resting places of individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, representing
the rich tapestry of South African heritage. They bear witness to the cultural diversity
that shapes the nation. Cemeteries often have religious or spiritual significance,
reflecting the faith and beliefs of the communities that founded them. These are
sacred spaces worthy of respect and preservation. Genealogy and Ancestry For
many South Africans, historical cemeteries are essential for tracing their family tree
and accord their family history. They connect individuals to their roots and ancestors.
There are many abandoned cemeteries with important historical and cultural
contexture and the meanings of these cemeteries are gradually losing their value.
Let's look at one of the examples of historic cemeteries that were once abandoned
but were later restored and developed because they were significant: the District Six
area in Cape Town, South Africa. District 6 is not actually a cemetery but a
Page 2
PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT 04
NAME: SUPRISE MADIMETJA
SURNAME: LEDWABA
STUDENT NUMBER: 64768139
MODEL CODE: AGE2601
DUE DATE: 13 OCTOBER 2023
ACTIVITY 1 -3
Declaration
I understand what plagiarism is and I am aware of the UNISA’s policy in this
regard.
I declare that the work hereby submitted is my own original work. Where
other people’s work has been used (either from a printed source,
Internet or any other source), this has been properly acknowledged and
referenced in accordance with the SHSPH’s requirements.
I have not used work previously produced by another student or any other
person to hand in as my own.
I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone, to copy my work with the
intention of passing it off as his or her own work
Signature: SM Ledwaba
Student No: 64768139
Page 1
, 2|Page
ACTIVITY 1
Botshabelo Mission Station - Abandoned German Refuge outside Middleburg,
South Africa
“Travel Adventures make our way to the Botshabelo, an abandoned German refuge
mission station, which is located on the outskirts of Middelburg, in the Mpumalanga
Province of South Africa. The remarkable history behind this place begins with
Alexander Merensky and Heinrich Grützner, two young German missionaries that
arrived in South Africa from the Berlin Mission Society during the 1860s, to spread
the gospel among the Zulu nation. They were attacked by the soldiers of Chief
Sekhukhune, the king of the baPedi of Swaziland, at their previous mission station,
Ga-Ratau, in 1865, and were forced to flee with a small group of parishioners. With
the little they had, they purchased a farm in the Olifants River Valley near Middelburg
and soon established a Mission Station named Botshabelo, meaning „Place of
Refuge or sanctuary. I located this information on Google search as it seems very
informative about the historical view in the 90s century”.
https://youtua.be/R3B3oxvLphE?si=Gf02NHKx-jNvpr8L
THE NEGLECTED HISTORICAL GRAVEYARDS OF SOUTH AFRICA: A
GLIMPSE INTO BOTSHABELO MISSION STATION IN MPUMALANGA
Historical graveyards play a pivotal role in preserving a nation's past, telling the
stories of those who came before us, and reflecting the complex tapestry of history.
In South Africa, there are numerous such graveyards that have, unfortunately, fallen
into neglect and disrepair. This essay will shed light on the importance of these
historical graveyards, focusing on their relevance to Botshabelo Mission Station in
Mpumalanga.
Importance of Historical Graveyards
History of South Africa - Online Information explains that these cemeteries serve as
repositories of historical information, recording the lives, deaths and social status of
individuals who lived in the area during the different periods. They provide invaluable
information about South Africa's complex history. Culturally, many cemeteries are
the final resting places of individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, representing
the rich tapestry of South African heritage. They bear witness to the cultural diversity
that shapes the nation. Cemeteries often have religious or spiritual significance,
reflecting the faith and beliefs of the communities that founded them. These are
sacred spaces worthy of respect and preservation. Genealogy and Ancestry For
many South Africans, historical cemeteries are essential for tracing their family tree
and accord their family history. They connect individuals to their roots and ancestors.
There are many abandoned cemeteries with important historical and cultural
contexture and the meanings of these cemeteries are gradually losing their value.
Let's look at one of the examples of historic cemeteries that were once abandoned
but were later restored and developed because they were significant: the District Six
area in Cape Town, South Africa. District 6 is not actually a cemetery but a
Page 2
