Kraaipan

Kraaipan is a village in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in the North West province of South Africa.

Kraaipan
Mahukubung
Kraaipan Kraaipan
Coordinates: 26.294°S 25.297°E / -26.294; 25.297
South Africa	South Africa
Province	North West
District	Ngaka Modiri Molema
Municipality	Ratlou
Area
• Total	31.47 km2 (12.15 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	9,933
• Density	315.6/km2 (817.5/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	99.3%
• Coloured	0.4%
• Indian/Asian	0.2%
• Other	0.1%
First languages (2011)
• Tswana	89.9%
• Sotho	4.0%
• Xhosa	2.6%
• Other	3.4%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	P.O Box 63, Barolong boo Ratlou Tribal House, Letsapa Section.
PO Box	2747
Area Code	018

Location

The village is located between three towns, namely Vryburg (to the north west), Delareyville (to the south east) and Mahikeng (to the north east). It was formerly known as "'Mahukubung'", meaning the place of crows, which were found on a vlei or a pan by the colonizers who camped, settled, and named the place "Kraaipan" during the nights of the Anglo-Boer War initiation, they found a community of the Barolong who broke away from their Capital City of Ga-Khunwana, the council of Setlagole, an administration of Motsitlane, Ga-Thulo, Morokwa, Tlhakajeng, Mohuhuco, Motlhanaoa-pitse, Ralebelwane, Mothokaditse and other small villages. This breakup was made by Mzilikazi's war attacks, leaving the community dismantled and reintegrated later after he conquered Ga-Khunwana.

There were MaTebele who left Mzilikazi's trek and formed the society with BaRolong who remained surviving, those were the groups who were found by the first Christian missionaries who were from overseas.

Kraaipan is a host community of the Kalgold Greenstone Belt mine operated by the Harmony Mine Company. This opencast mine is situated about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north of the village.

Education

The community has only one High School, which was built by the community themselves volunteering, that's why it is called "Boithaopo". All five primary schools were also built by the community and these were named using kings' and chiefs' names: Aron Letsapa, Chaena, Motlhabane, Ratlou and the Letsapa primary schools.