So what are you not allowed to do when you come to this place?” demanded Hills and Dales resident, Martin Masilela, of 20 government officials gathered at Koppie-Alleen.  The bemused officials had no idea.  “You may not point with your finger at Thaba 'Nkonjwa,” Martin warned, placing emphasis on the NOT.

He was explaining the old traditions that surrounded the sacred koppie that stands as a lone sentinel on the plains of Roodekrans.  Known as Koppie-Alleen to white residents, it has a special place in the rituals and traditions of the original Ndebele residents of the area.  Point at it and your loincloth would fall off, warned Martin.

The officials were part of the fifth annual tour of the Rhenosterspuit Nature Conservancy that is organised to bring decision-makers from the different spheres of government to the area so that they can experience first-hand what the Conservancy offers and what the lasting positive or negative impacts will be of planning policies and decisions.

The May 13 tour began in the biting cold of an early morning as everybody arrived to boarded the two tour buses at the prize-winning Bathabile School in Doornrandje (see VeldTalk 44, October 2009). The  tour took in the broad sweep of Egoli Granite Grassland in Doornrandje (the grassland reserve that is spart of a drive by environmental authorities to protect this endangered grassland type), Koppie-Alleen and the Silver Mine, which was full of crystal clear water after the season's rains!  From there the group travelled through the Roodekrans Game Reserve where the animals were grazing in picture-book numbers, just to impress the visitors.

This giraffe family was grazing right next to the road in the private Roodekrans Game Reserve. (Photo Anthony Paton)

A climb up Ladybird Hill was next (probably resulting in stiff muscles the day after) followed by a short stop at the Masilela/Mahlangu mini-cemetery, where Martin's mother, Maria Masilela, aged 106, was buried in 2002.

The  Official Tour group - taking a breather after walking up Ladybird Hill. (Photo Anthony Paton)

SOS Director Myrna Thomas and her team gave us a warm welcome and a hearty lunch at the SOS Training Village in Riverside Estates  The last stop was at the Eshelby “museum”, not far from SOS.  Deon Eshelby is a fifth-generation piano-restorer and the family's weird and wonderful collection of pianos, musical instruments, antiques and art had the group mesmerised.

As the buses headed back, Doornrandje resident Janine von Zeuner, who joined the tour, summed up her experience: “I've lived in the area for 20 years and had no idea of the magic that lies at my back door!”

Said Thulani Mbonambi from the Cradle of Humankind (Deputy Director, Public Participation and Community Projects):  “The RNC official tour was an eye-opener.  It gave us an opportunity to see first-hand what the challenges facing the area are and gave us a resolve to be more considerate when dealing with them.”

Shadrack Buthelezi of Gauteng's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development agreed.  “It was a very exciting and informative excursion indeed,” he said.  “The good part is to know what we have in our country - natural systems, heritage sites, a place like SOS, etc.  I hope what we obtained will remain indelible in our minds.”

Ivan Lätti of the nearby Hartebeestfontein Conservancy noted the value of building understanding and support for the RNC.  “You are creating valuable bridges in doing this,” he said.