Information on Wepener
The town was founded in 1876 on the banks of Jammersbergspruit, a tributary of the Caledon River, and named for Louw Wepener who was killed in 1865 while trying to storm Moshweshwe’s stronghold of Thaba-Bosiu in the Free State’s second war against the Basotho.
Wepener was the southern most of several settlements founded by the Free Stater’s in the ‘conquered territories’ to prevent the Basotho from resettling the land taken from them during the war of 1865.
The Dutch Reformed parish was established in 1870 and the town was granted its first management board in 1875. Today the town is a commercial centre of a 1725 square km district where mixed farming is practised (cattle and sheep ranching, dairying, wheat, and maize).
The district of Wepener was the scene of many battles raids and skirmishes during the 19th century. Many graves, mostly without identification, are sad reminders of the events in the valley of Jammersbergspruit during this stormy period.
During the Anglo-Boere War a British garrison of 2000 men under Col E.H. Dalgety was attacked by General Christiaan de Wet at Jammersdrift on the Caledon River.
The siege lasted 17 days – until reinforcements arrived on 25 April 1900 to end the battle in favour of the British.
Activities:
· Caledon Nature Reserve – Fishing is the main attraction. The river supoprts barbel, mudfish, yellowfish and carp. Canoeists and hikers are welcome.
· Caledon River Bridge – Sturdy sandstone bridge, declared a national monument.
· City hall – A historical sandstone building, built in 1927
· Dutch Reformed Church – A sandstone edifice built in 1882, and widely-known for its grandeur
· Jammersdrift Battlesite – The site of many Briton-Boer clashes, with many British graves in the area
· Louw Wepener Memorial – A bronze bust, by acclaimed sculptor Coert Steynberg, unveiled on the 100 year anniversary of Wepener’s death
· San Rock Artwork – On the Ventershoek farm
· Van Rooyens’ Gate Border Post – Gateway to Lesotho 7 km away.
Enquiries:
Wilna Swanepoel
Cell: 082 579 1822P.O. Box 63, Wepener 9944
info@lordfraser.co.za