| Situated in the scenic panorama of the Eastern Free State, along
the Highlands Route, Ficksburg nestles at the foot of the Imperani
Mountain and on the banks of the Caledon River, the border with Lesotho.
With magnificent views of the majestic Malutis as backdrop, changing
with the seasons, from the purple haze of summer to the snow clad
slopes in winter.
The history of this area goes back to the dawn of time, starting
with the dinosaurs who left their fossils and their footprints as
reminders of their presence, later came the seas and deserts that
set the sandstones with their fossilised remains, and wonderful
evening colours, later yet the first humans we know of who left
us their prehistoric tools, then the Bushmen, who left their tools
and their paintings for us to wonder at. Later came the Black man,
with the difaquane and wars of extermination, and the Basotho nation
was built up of the remnants of the tribes that had survived. Then
came the white man, the hunters, the "trekboere" the Voortrekkers
and after them the settlers.
The first permanent European settlers in this area that was eventually
to become Ficksburg was a missionary the Rev. James Allison and
his wife. His mission station, of the Methodist or Wesleyan Church,
was begun in August 1834 and was amongst the Batlokoa or Mantatee
tribe under the chieftainship of Sekonyela . The mission station
was situated on the N.E.flank of Imperani, directly above present
site of the Cherry Research Station. Imperani which had its name
long before the town of Ficksburg was founded, was originally derived
from the Sesuto word Sephara, meaning flat, a flat topped mountain.
The chief of the Batlokoa tribe, Sekonyela, lived a short distance
to the East of Imperani, at his stronghold Marabeng (place of the
puff adder), the present North End farm. His mother Ma'Ntatisi lived
at the adjoining mountain called Joala Boholo (the place of the
big drink).
The Batlokoas who originally were settled near Warden and Vrede
became "displaced" after being attacked by the Zulus during
the Difaquane or wars of retribution in the early 1820's. They in
turn under Chieftainess Ma'Ntatisi (from which the name Mantatee
is derived) also went on the rampage from the N.E.Free State, looting
and killing weaker tribes all the way, as far as Rev Moffets mission
at Kuruman. There they were defeated by the Griquas of Nicolas Waterboer.
Many Batlokoas (and their slaves from the conquered tribes) died
on the return trip to the Free State, as a result of their scorched
earth policy on the outward journey . The remnants of the tribe
then settled on the banks of the Caledon River in the district that
was to become known as Ficksburg.
In December 1837 Piet Retief came to fetch Dingaan's stolen cattle
from Sekonyella. This meeting took place at the Imperani mission
where the Rev. James Allison was missionary. After having returned
the stolen cattle Retief and his followers were murdered by Dingaan.
Slowly European hunters and the "trekboere" seeing the
natural beauty, the farming potential and not withstanding the cold
winters, the pleasant climate, began looking at the area as a place
where they could settle.
The first permanent European farmers in the district were probably
a Moolman at Moolmanshoek in about 1830, a Jacobs near Rosendal
at about the same time, and a Botha at Rietvlei, Rosendal, in 1842.
The Batlokoas were very warlike and were continually at odds with
Moshesh, chief of the Basuto. The failure of the Basutos to conquer
the Batlokoas was attributed to the " strong medicine"
of the then incumbent missionary at Imperani, Rev.John Daniel, father
of the first Mrs Newberry of Prynnsberg . In 1853 Moshesh attacked
and wiped out the Batlokoas in the battle of Dawidsberg or Marabeng
.
Inevitably a territorial conflict between black and white arose,
this coupled to cross border raids, broken treaties, land hunger
and disregarded bounderies led to a series wars between the Boers
of the Free State and the Basutos. After the second Basuto War the
Treaty of Imperani was signed in the Meulspruit valley just south
of the bridge on the road to Clocolan. Further incursions led to
the third Basuto war after which the present boundaries were finally
laid down. The area west of the Caledon river which had been ceeded
to the Free State by mutual agreement with Moshesh, was called the
Conquered Territory.
Although many farmers were settled in this area already during
the Basuto Wars, actual legal occupation of the farms in the conquered
territory under The Occupation Law was in 1866. Farms were given
to those who had served in the commandos during the wars, under
the following conditions " To whomsoever a farm has been given
will at all times be available for active service with his horse,
a saddle and bridle, gun, 200 bullets, 5 pounds powder and 500 primers
or 12 flints, and provisions for 10 days."
Ficksburg was proclaimed in June 1867, and named after General
J.I.J. Fick, commandant general of the Free State forces, to serve
as a "Military town". The outbreak of the third Basuto
war in August 1867 meant that the laying out of the town had to
be postponed indefinitely. However by May 1868, 32 erven were ready
Basutos still crossed the border on raids, and in those early days
most inhabitants spent their nights in laagers, slowly things improved,
the natives became more peaceful, more settlers arrived, and civilisation
began to creep into the infant Ficksburg. By 1883 it had about 150
inhabitants both Dutch and English, schools and churches and a government
office were built. There were half a dozen general dealer stores,
where you could buy anything from a plough to a ladies dress, and
thirsty customers could refresh themselves with a drink of "Cape
Smoke".
Mail came once a week by post cart, first from Winburg and later
from Ladybrand,the arrival heralded by the blowing of a bugle. Natal
post came via Leribe in Basutoland.
Trees were planted, Piet Retief Street was originally named Hout
Street because of all the pine trees growing on the sidewalks. Water
driven flour mills were erected along the Meulspruit, beautiful
sandstone buildings, unluckily long since demolished.
Ficksburg became a magisterial district in 1891, the office being
opened by Mr.W. Robertson.
The Town Hall and old Court House were built before the Anglo Boer
War, as was the Methodist Church, all were built of local sandstone.
In 1907 the Dutch Reformed Church, the Railway Station, the old
Post Office and the bridge across the Caledon , all built of Ficksburg
sandstone, were formally opened. Many public buildings including
the Union Buildings in Pretoria were built of Ficksburg sandstone.
As part of the reconstruction plan after the Anglo Boer War the
Milner government established a plantation on Imperani mountain,
called The Railway Sleeper Plantation Co. The trees however never
grew to sleeper size and were eventually used as box- and firewood
On the agricultural front Ficksburg has the distinction of being
the birthplace of what eventually has become the largest hail insurance
company in the Southern Hemisphere. It was in 1929 that a few local
farmers got together and formed the Conquered Territory Mutual Hail
Assurance Co. This later became Farmers Hail or Boere Hael, then
Sentra Oes, and today is known as A.R.S. Agri Risk Security.
Ficksburg also had the honour of being declared the first Soil
Conservation District in South Africa in 1946.
Ficksburg has developed and prospered and today is not only the
gem of the Conquered Territory but also the Gateway to the Kingdom
of Lesotho.
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