Mahikeng (Tswana for "Place of Rocks"), formerly known as Mafikeng[3] and alternatively known as Mafeking (/ˈmæfəkɪŋ/, US also /ˈmɑːf-/), is the capital city of the North West province of South Africa.

Molema was a firm believer in Western education, having attended Healdtown; he opened a school for the Barolong once they had settled in the district.

The Jameson Raid started from Pitsani Pothlugo (or Potlogo) 24 miles (39 km) north of Mafeking on December 29, 1895.

For most of the 19th century (1800s), Mafeking appeared in Southern African maps as a part of Bechuanaland, a territory consisting of Tswana tribal territories, stretching from the Bangwato of Khama in present-day Botswana to the Batlhaping in present-day South Africa's Northern Cape and North West provinces.

Bechuanaland was ruled by Paramount Chiefs of the Tswana groups such as the Barolong, Bakwena, Bangwaketse, Bahurutshe, Batlhaping and the Bangwato who under Sekgoma I and Khama III stretched Tswana lands further north to close to present day Zimbabwe and Zambia territories.

The Boers of the Transvaal would successfully invade Bechuanaland 30 years later in 1882 establishing the Republic of Stellaland and State of Goshen around present day Vryburg and surrounding areas in 1882 to 1883.

In 1910, the Cape Colony unified with Natal, the Transvaal and Orange Free State to found the Union of South Africa.

[6] In September 1904, Lord Roberts unveiled an obelisk at Mafeking bearing the names of those who fell in defence of the town.

In February 2010, Lulu Xingwana, the Minister of Arts and Culture changed the town's name to Mahikeng.

[3] The name Mahikeng means "the place of rocks" in the classic Setswana language of the people of the North West province of South Africa and the surrounding country of Botswana.

In February 2010, Lulu Xingwana, the Minister of Arts and Culture, approved the town's name to be changed again to Mahikeng.

It refers to volcanic rocks that provided temporary shelter for Stone Age humans in order to more easily hunt animals drinking water in the Molopo River.