Modimolle

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title: "Modimolle" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-the-modimolle–mookgophong-local-municipality", "second-boer-war-concentration-camps", "populated-places-established-in-1866", "populated-places-founded-by-afrikaners", "1866-establishments-in-africa"] topic_path: "history/military" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modimolle" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameModimolle
other_nameNylstroom
pushpin_mapSouth Africa Limpopo#South Africa#Africa
coordinates
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameSouth Africa
subdivision_type1Province
subdivision_name1Limpopo
subdivision_type2District
subdivision_name2Waterberg
subdivision_type3Municipality
subdivision_name3Modimolle–Mookgophong
subdivision_type4Main Place
established_titleEstablished
leader_titleCouncillor
area_footnotes
area_total_km274.9
population_footnotes
population_total8671
population_as_of2011
population_density_km2auto
demographics_type1Racial makeup (2011)
demographics1_footnotes
demographics1_title1Black African
demographics1_info144.3%
demographics1_title2Coloured
demographics1_info21.1%
demographics1_title3Indian/Asian
demographics1_info30.7%
demographics1_title4White
demographics1_info453.6%
demographics1_title5Other
demographics1_info50.3%
demographics_type2First languages (2011)
demographics2_footnotes
demographics2_title1Northern Sotho
demographics2_info127.4%
demographics2_title2Afrikaans
demographics2_info253.2%
demographics2_title3English
demographics2_info34.1%
demographics2_title4Tsonga
demographics2_info43.8%
demographics2_title5Other
demographics2_info511.5%
timezone1SAST
utc_offset1+2
postal_code_typePostal code (street)
postal_code0510
postal2_code_typePO box
postal2_code0510
area_code_typeArea code
area_code014
::

| name = Modimolle | other_name = Nylstroom | pushpin_map = South Africa Limpopo#South Africa#Africa | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = South Africa | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Limpopo | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Waterberg | subdivision_type3 = Municipality | subdivision_name3 = Modimolle–Mookgophong | subdivision_type4 = Main Place | established_title = Established | leader_title = Councillor | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 74.9 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 8671 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011) | demographics1_footnotes = | demographics1_title1 = Black African | demographics1_info1 = 44.3% | demographics1_title2 = Coloured | demographics1_info2 = 1.1% | demographics1_title3 = Indian/Asian | demographics1_info3 = 0.7% | demographics1_title4 = White | demographics1_info4 = 53.6% | demographics1_title5 = Other | demographics1_info5 = 0.3% | demographics_type2 = First languages (2011) | demographics2_footnotes = | demographics2_title1 = Northern Sotho | demographics2_info1 = 27.4% | demographics2_title2 = Afrikaans | demographics2_info2 = 53.2% | demographics2_title3 = English | demographics2_info3 = 4.1% | demographics2_title4 = Tsonga | demographics2_info4 = 3.8% | demographics2_title5 = Other | demographics2_info5 = 11.5% | timezone1 = SAST | utc_offset1 = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code (street) | postal_code = 0510 | postal2_code_type = PO box | postal2_code = 0510 | area_code_type = Area code | area_code = 014 Modimolle, also known as Nylstroom, is a town located near the southern edge of the Waterberg Massif in Limpopo province, South Africa. It is a medium-sized town that focuses primarily on agriculture and farming (citrus, grapes and cattle) as well as wildlife and tourism. Nylstroom is also located approximately 135 km north of Pretoria, South Africa's capital city.

The Waterberg Biosphere spreading north, a UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserve, contains approximately 15,000 km2. Waterberg is the first region in the northern part of South Africa to be named as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The extensive rock formation was shaped by hundreds of millions of years of riverine erosion to yield diverse bluff and butte landform. The ecosystem can be characterised as a dry deciduous forest or Bushveld.

History

In the 1860s, a group of Voortrekkers known as the Jerusalem Trekkers set off for the Holy Land. After discovering a wide river flowing northwards, they consulted the maps at the back of their Bibles and decided that it was the Nylrivier (Nile river). They called the stream Nyl River and settled the town and called it Nylstroom in 1866. After discovering what they believed to be a ruined pyramid, they were convinced that they had found the Nile. It was in fact, a natural hillock, known to the locals as Modimolle. In March 1866, the district of Waterberg was created out of some of the districts of Rustenburg and Zoutpansberg with a landdrost established in Nylstroom. A Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1889 and is the oldest church in South Africa north of Pretoria. It was also used as a hospital during the Second Boer War. The river is the Nyl River, a tributary of the Mogalakwena River.

The first South African railway line reached Modimolle in 1898, connecting the town to Pretoria. During the Second Boer War, the British government operated a concentration camp in Modimolle, where Boer women and children where interned as part of the Lord Kitchener's scorched earth policy. 544 of those interned at the camp died of various causes before it was closed upon the conclusion of the war in 1902. Strijdom Huis (Strijdom House) was the primary residence of the 6th Prime Minister of South Africa, JG Strijdom, and is situated in Modimolle.

Name change

The South African government officially changed the name of the town to Modimolle in 2002. The name comes from the Sotho-Tswana phrase, Modimo o lle, meaning "the forefather's spirit has eaten", or "God has eaten".

Other numerous name changes include the renaming of both a municipal building and the town hall after Oliver Tambo, the library being renamed the Ruth First Memorial Library, as well as the renaming of several streets.

Notable people

References

References

  1. [https://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/980006003] from Census 2011.
  2. "Lumaw".
  3. Maxwell Leigh. (1986). "Touring in Southern Africa". C. Struik Publishers.
  4. William Taylor, Gerald Hinde and David Holt-Biddle, ''The Waterberg'', Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa (2003) {{ISBN. 1-86872-822-6
  5. "Modimolle". Encyclopedia.com.
  6. Denis Worral. (1980). "Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa". The Reader's Digest Association South Africa (Pty.) Ltd.
  7. Theal, George McCall. (1889). "History of South Africa: the republics and native territories from 1854 to 1872". S. Sonnenschein & co..
  8. (2002-02-26). "Strijdom bust carted off to 'place of safety'". Independent Online.
  9. (February 2018). "Official South African Geographical Names System: Old Place Names starting with N". South African Department of Arts and Culture.
  10. "Meanings of place names in South Africa". African Languages.
  11. (February 2018). "New names have town in a tizz". News24.
  12. (2011-03-17). "Carel Boshoff". Telegraph.
  13. (19 March 2011). "Carel Boshoff, Founder of White Redoubt in South Africa, Dies at 83". The New York Times.
  14. "Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom". Britannica Online Encyclopedia.

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populated-places-in-the-modimolle–mookgophong-local-municipalitysecond-boer-war-concentration-campspopulated-places-established-in-1866populated-places-founded-by-afrikaners1866-establishments-in-africa