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Herrieklip
De Rust district, Western Cape

Date:1929
Type:Monument
Status:Extant

 


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Coordinates:
33°25'31.56" S 22°32'56.93" E Alt: 845m

The Herrieklip is located in Meiring's Poort, a mountain pass on the N12 where it crosses the Swartberg mountain range.

Transcription of National Monuments plaque:

HERRIEKLIP

IN JULIE 1929 HET C. J. LANGENHOVEN (1873 - 1932), AFRIKAANSE
SKRYWER, TAALSTRYDER EN DIGTER VAN DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE
VOLKSLIED, DIE NAAM "HERRIE" VAN DIE BEKENDE OLIFANT IN SY
BOEK "SONDE MET DIE BURE" UITGEBEITEL. MET SY KENMERKENDE
HUMORSIN HET HY SKERTSEND DAARNA VERWYS AS 'N MONUMENT
VIR HOMSELF. DIE TERREIN IS IN 1973 MET DIE HONDERDJARIGE
HERDENKING VAN LANGENHOVEN SE GEBOORTEDAG TOT
NASIONALE GEDENKWAARDIGHEID VERKLAAR.

Raad vir Nasionale Gedenkwaardighede

C. J. LANGENHOVEN (1873 - 1932), AFRIKAANS WRITER, PROTAGONIST
OF THE AFRIKAANS LANGUAGE AND AUTHOR OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN
NATIONAL ANTHEM, CHISELLED THE NAME OF THE WELL-KNOWN
ELEPHANT "HERRIE" FROM HIS BOOK "SONDE MET DIE BURE" IN JULY
1929. WITH HIS CHARACTERISTIC SENSE OF HUMOUR HE REFERRED
TO IT IN JEST AS A MONUMENT TO HIMSELF. IN 1973 THE SITE WAS
DECLARED A NATIONAL MONUMENT TO COMMEMORATE THE
CENTENARY OF LANGENHOVEN'S BIRTH.

National Monuments Council