Sites

At the foot of Tjate Mountain just east of the Tjate settlement a footpath leads up the mountain to a large granite outcrop. According to local tradition Sekhukhune took refuge in a large cave under this outcrop. He was eventually arrested two days after the Sekhukhune battle of 28 11 1879. The exact position of the cave was not recorded as the cave is held sacred by the local people and I could not obtain permission to visit the cave. Stone walling is found in the vicinity of the granite outcrop at S24° 30’ 52.4” and E30° o1’ 13.8”. West and east of this granite outcrop two initiation sites with their Phiris were found. The first site only has one Phiri and some low stone walling S24° 30’ 52.1” and E30° 01’ 13.2”. The second site at S24° 30’ 51.0” and E30° 01 15.6” has four Phiris and also some low stone walling. Phiris are stone cairns which are build at the end of the boy’s initiation and are made of flat granite slabs collected by heating a large granite outcrop and then cooling it down with water. The granite then cracks into thin layers of granite slabs. The Phiri is then build with the ash of the initiation school fire as well as the ash from the clothes of the initiates which are also burnt at the end of the school.