Volksrust (meaning 'people's rest') is a quaint South African town with plenty of history and cultural sights, situated close to many famous battle sites. Volksrust became a municipality in 1904 and is currently a commercial centre where maize, wool, sorghum, sunflower seeds, beef and dairy are all farmed.
Majuba, one of Eskom’s new generation power stations, was commissioned near Volksrust which has added to its importance to the surrounding areas.
The remains of the Convention Bridge on Grensspruit have been proclaimed a national monument and thus making it a popular tourist attraction. One of the key battle sites in South Africa is Majuba Hill. The British suffered catastrophic losses in what was the main and decisive battle of the First Boer War in February 1881. It is considered to be one of the most humiliating defeats of the British in history.
- Battle sights
- Convention bridge
- Majuba hill
The battle site features a memorial to British casualties on the spot where General Colley fell. Two memorials, both dedicated to victims of the two Transvaal-Britain Wars, are found in the town. One is for the concentration camp victims and the other for those involved in active service.
Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian human rights activist, featured prominently in South Africa's liberation struggle during the 20th century. He is best known for adopting a passive resistance campaign, called Satyagraha, and concerned himself with the plight of Indians in South Africa.
In November 1913, Gandhi mobilised more than two thousand peaceful protestors to march from Natal to Transvaal in protest against the Immigration Law that prohibited Indians from residing in the area. He was arrested, sent to Volksrust Correctional Services and released on £50 bail. One hundred and fifty five protestors were arrested in the days following his initial arrest; he was arrested a further two more times.
In early 1914 the government agreed to all of Gandhi’s terms. They abolished the £3 tax and the Black Act allowed Indians to move freely into the Transvaal and recognised Hindu-Muslim marriages. Today, Gandhi’s prison cell has been converted into a classroom where inmates are taught life skills to help them adjust to life after prison; however it is not accessible to the public.
