Thaba Nchu

Thaba 'Nchu is a town in Free State, South Africa, located 60 km east of Bloemfontein and 17km east of Botshabelo. The population is largely made up of Tswana and Sotho people. The town was settled in the 1830s and officially established in 1873. The town grew larger following the 1913 Natives' Land Act that stated Thaba 'Nchu as a homeland for Tswana people. It was known among the Voortrekkers as Blesberg (blazed mountain, bald mountain).HistoryMoroka II, chief of the Boo-Seleka section of the Barolong, migrated here in 1833. A decade earlier, his clan was driven from their land of origin, over the Vaal, by Mzilikazi, and sojourned at Motlhanapitse, in what is now the western Free State. Upon reaching an agreement with king Moshoeshoe I, they settled at Thaba 'Nchu, where their numbers were augmented by other Barolong scattered by Mzilikazi.These Batswana people accepted the Voortrekkers as allies. The first Voortrekkers to stay here on their northward journeys were Louis Tregardt and Hans van Rensburg. Thaba 'Nchu subsequently became a safe meeting place for leaders such as Hendrik Potgieter, Piet Uys and Gerrit Maritz.