In the time of the Voortrekkers, the distances were long and hard. Many were making their way to Lydenburg, an important Voortrekker town, especially after the discovery of gold in the Murchison Hills in 1868.
The establishment of Middelburg in 1859, on the banks of the Klein Olifants River was so that the town could act as a halfway stop over between Lydenburg and Pretoria.
Any new Voortrekker town needed their church as the building block of community cohesion. The Dutch Reformed Church bought the Sterkfontein Farm in 1864 and completed the church by 1890. Luckily this church was not destroyed during the Anglo Boer War. Today this church is still an important monument and worth a visit.
The Meyer’s Bridge, built in 1896, has remained standing for over a century, surviving numerous floods and is one of the few remaining old stone bridges built by the Transvaal Republic. This national monument was originally created as a road link between Lydenburg and Middelburg at the turn of the century.
Anglo Boer War
A sad part of Middelburg’s history is the fact that the British build a large concentration camp during the Anglo Boer War. As many as 1381 women and children died there and their graves at next to the Memorial Museum.
Botshabelo
In 1864, two German Missionaries from the Berlin Mission Society, Alexander Merensky and Heinrich Grutzner, started a mission station 12km north of Middelburg. As the mission station grew with local and other Pedi converts, especially those fleeing from the persecution of Chief Sekukhune, the missionaries taught the people how to make their own bricks, cultivate crops and develop shops such as a bakery, blacksmith shop, printing press with bookbinding where bibles were first published in Sotho, a mill, a school, church and even a postal service. Botshabelo expanded rapidly and by 1973 there were 1 315 inhabitants. The centre was not only important as an influential religious centre, but a place where black and white locals were educated and taught to trade.
Fort Merensky
This restored fort with a commanding view of the whole area, protected the mission station for three-quarters of a century and its dominating presence deterred invaders. All along the Fort’s ridge are many ruins of old houses, once occupied by pioneers and guards at Botshabelo. The fort has an unique blend of Western and Sotho architecture.
Mhluzi
Across the ridge on the north-western side towards Botshabelo, the township of Mhluzi developed and became part of greater Middelburg in 1994.
Doornkop
Doornkop came into being around 1905 after the Pedis from Botshabelo decided to purchase their own land, escaping the unfair labour practices of the German missionaries. The land was bought by 284 residents from the farmer, Klaas ‘Tumahlogo’ Joubert for R7 000. Their title deed is dated 28 March 1915. It is assumed that the original village established here, is more than 100 years old.
Middelburg is the birthplace of celebrated playwright Athol Fugard.
