Moorddrift Monument - nr Mokopane, Limpopo

The Moorddrift Monument (or Murder Ford Monument), located about 16 km south of Mokopane (formerly Potgietersrus) alongside the R101 road, marks a profoundly tragic event in South African history. In September 1854, a Voortrekker party of 28 men, women, and children was ambushed and brutally murdered near a crossing of the Nyl River by warriors loyal to Chiefs Makapan (Mokopane) and Mapela. Legend has it that six children were killed against camelthorn trees, giving the site its chilling name, Moorddrift (“Murder Ford”).

In 1937, a sandstone monument was erected between two iconic camelthorn trees, replacing a simpler memorial. It was declared a National Monument on 19 January 1940, serving as a solemn tribute to the victims and a symbol of reconciliation.

The site is open and easily accessible, with free access and parking beside the roadside. Every Heritage Day (late September), a remembrance ceremony is held here, as local descendants of the families killed, such as Prinsloo, Breedt and Potgieter, gather to lay flowers and honour their ancestors.