Sites

Site G12 (S31Å34’07.9”; E28Å13’51.2”) is situated approximately 45m north-east of the proposed line route. The site comprises of the remains of 2 huts, one with a lower grindstone and block and indicating continuing Iron Age practice till very recent times. Related cemeteries are more directly associated with the contemporary Bonase family homestead situated just north of the site. Bonase family members pointed towards the graves of the 2 founding fathers of the family buried at the livestock encampment (G12.1 - S31Å34’06.9”; E28Å13’52.1”). Graves are characterized by remains of stone outlines and earth fills. Towards the east of the male graves is the female cemetery (G12.2 - S31Å34’07.5”; E28Å13’53.6”), the 5 female graves are identified by overgrown earth mounds, some with visible stone headstones. Slightly towards the north of the female cemetery is the children’s cemetery, comprising of 4 graves (G12.3 - S31Å34’07.1”; E28Å13’54.2”) all characterized by earth mounds. The Bonase family provided additional information relating to the founding of Mhlahlane – A Village: They were the first family to have settled there and today still constitutes the dominant family group, with origin of their settlement recorded as to 2 generations ago, dating roughly to the mid 1900’s or slightly before.