| Modimolle | |
| Other Name: | Nylstroom |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Limpopo#South Africa#Africa |
| Coordinates: | -24.7°N 28.4061°W |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Name1: | Limpopo |
| Subdivision Name2: | Waterberg |
| Subdivision Name3: | Modimolle–Mookgophong |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 74.9 |
| Population Total: | 8671 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 44.3% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 1.1% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 0.7% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 53.6% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.3% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Northern Sotho |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 27.4% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 53.2% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | English |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 4.1% |
| Demographics2 Title4: | Tsonga |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 3.8% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 11.5% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal Code: | 0510 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 0510 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 014 |
Modimolle, also known as Nylstroom, is a town located near the southern edge of the Waterberg Massif in Limpopo province, South Africa. It is a medium-sized town that focuses primarily on agriculture and farming (citrus, grapes and cattle) as well as wildlife and tourism. Nylstroom is also located approximately 1350NaN0 north of Pretoria, South Africa's capital city.
The Waterberg Biosphere spreading north, a UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserve, contains approximately 150000NaN0. Waterberg is the first region in the northern part of South Africa to be named as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The extensive rock formation was shaped by hundreds of millions of years of riverine erosion to yield diverse bluff and butte landform.[2] The ecosystem can be characterised as a dry deciduous forest or Bushveld.
In the 1860s, a group of Voortrekkers known as the Jerusalem Trekkers set off for the Holy Land. After discovering a wide river flowing northwards, they consulted the maps at the back of their Bibles and decided that it was the Nylrivier (Nile river).[3] They called the stream Nyl River and settled the town and called it Nylstroom in 1866.[4] [5] After discovering what they believed to be a ruined pyramid, they were convinced that they had found the Nile. It was in fact, a natural hillock, known to the locals as Modimolle.[6] In March 1866, the district of Waterberg was created out of some of the districts of Rustenburg and Zoutpansberg with a landdrost established in Nylstroom.[7] A Dutch Reformed Church was built in 1889 and is the oldest church in South Africa north of Pretoria. It was also used as a hospital during the Second Boer War. The river is the Nyl River, a tributary of the Mogalakwena River.
The first South African railway line reached Modimolle in 1898, connecting the town to Pretoria. During the Second Boer War, the British government operated a concentration camp in Modimolle, where Boer women and children where interned as part of the Lord Kitchener's scorched earth policy. 544 of those interned at the camp died of various causes before it was closed upon the conclusion of the war in 1902. Strijdom Huis (Strijdom House) was the primary residence of the 6th Prime Minister of South Africa, JG Strijdom, and is situated in Modimolle.[8]
The South African government officially changed the name of the town to Modimolle in 2002.[9] The name comes from the Sotho-Tswana phrase, Modimo o lle, meaning "the forefather's spirit has eaten", or "God has eaten".[10]
Other numerous name changes include the renaming of both a municipal building and the town hall after Oliver Tambo, the library being renamed the Ruth First Memorial Library, as well as the renaming of several streets.[11]