DEKAT DIGITAL 2019 - 2020

The mountains of the Eastern Free State are believed by the Sotho to be possessed by powerful spirits.
The area is the spiritual heartland of the Basotho and many people make annual pilgrimages to its
various sacred sites.
Motouleng near Clarens is known as the Fertility Caves or Sacred Caves and thousands of people gather
at this extraordinary site over religious holidays. For this reason, it is often called the great cathedral
of African spirituality. The 30-minute hike takes you through a narrow valley that follows the Caledon
River, which is considered sacred and dotted with places of offerings and prayer. The site of the largest
cliff overhang in the southern hemisphere is an astoundingly beautiful primordial place. Respectful
permission to enter is requested from the sangoma who guards the area. Inside, a large stalagmite
covered with burning candles and spilled wax is the traditional location – an altar – where women go to pray.
Along the cave rockface, lit candles indicate personal places of prayer and gifts of food for the ancestors. Inside,
sangomas offer training and healing in traditional huts. The cave also holds a San burial area and a place where the
elder women go to pray. A drink from the sacred spring makes this a memorable historical and cultural experience. It
is appropriate to offer the sangoma a gift for his blessing at the spring.
To find the Sacred Caves, look out for the Surrender Hill turn-off on the R711 between Fouriesburg and Clarens.
THE PASS OF THE LIONS
Modderpoort is situated close to the Lesotho border near Clocolan and has also become a popular destination for
pilgrims. Traditionally a sacred place known as Lekhalong la Bo Tau or ‘The Pass of the Lions’, it is a unique amalgam
of apostolic, apocalyptic, animist Christian sacred sites and traditions. A steady stream of pilgrims travel to the grave
of the Basotho prophetess Mantsopa, to seek her blessing, pray for miracles and ask her to intercede with God on their
behalf. Born around 1795, the prophetess became one of the region’s most influential and powerful leaders during the
1800s. In addition to her political activism, she was also regarded as a diviner, rainmaker, and seer. The spring near her
grave is believed to have curative powers and pilgrims collect ‘holy’ water from it for spiritual and ceremonial functions.
Further along the terrain is the cave that gave shelter to the Anglican priests who opened a mission station at
Modderpoort in 1870, and later to Mantsopa who was then christened as ‘Anna’. The priests transformed it into the
only known existing Anglican cave chapel, known as the Rose Chapel. The roof and altar have become blackened by
centuries of fires and thousands of candles, and the chapel has become a popular place of pilgrimage.
The final place to be visited in the area is the rocks in the hills above an Anglican church and cemetery, which
indicate the presence of San in the area. Rock paintings depict a cattle raid, with men fighting and dying, and there
is scattered evidence of animist rituals between the sacred rock formations.
To find the area, head along the R26, and the turn-off sign is halfway between Clocolan and Ladybrand.
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