The Northern Cape Provincial Government honoured the Batlhaping and Batlharo Dikgosi who took part on the 1897 Langerberg War of Resistance. This was during unveiling of a monument in honour of Batlhaping Dikgosi Galeshewe and Luka Jantjie as well as Batlharo Kgosi Toto. The unveiling which was done by Premier Ms. Sylvia Lucas took place during the 2018 Freedom Day celebrations at Kuruman's First Eye in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District in the Northern Cape. The event was marked under a theme "The year of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela: Towards full realisation of our freedom and democracy through radical socio-economic transformation".
Premier Lucas was accompanied by MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Ms. Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, the MEC for Health Ms. Fufe Makatong, MEC for Education Ms. Martha Bartlett, Legislature Speaker Mr. Kenny Mmoiemang as well as mayors from John Taolo Gaetsewe District and Local Municipalities.
The unveiling formed part of the provincial government's initiative to commemorate the 121st anniversary of the 1897 Langeberg War of resistance. The project is a commemoration of our heroes and heroines incorporated as a national flagship.
The Langeberg War of resistance of 1897 saw thousands of members of Batlhaping and Batlharo community scattered across various parts of the country. This was after being disposed off their land at the Langeberg Hills outside Olifanshoek during a battle now called the Langeberg War. According to Kgosi Jantjie, the battle started when Batlhaping Kgosi Galeshewe Mothibi was chased out off his land by the British in the Phokwane area. He and his men fled to the Langeberg area to join Kgosi Jantjie and Kgosi Toto in a battle that lasted almost eight months.
Research indicates that thousands of Batlhaping and Batlharo men, women and children were displaced while some taken to the Western Cape farms as indentured labourers. This was after the brutal killing and beheading of Kgosi Luka Jantjie and the imprisonment of Kgosi Galeshewe and Toto as well as their followers.
