Paul Weinberg South African, b. 1956
Madimatle, meaning “beautiful blood”, is a holy mountain and cave that has been a site of
spiritual practice for Setswana communities in South Africa and Botswana for centuries. Its
revered oral history dates back hundreds of years. People from these communities regularly
visit the site for spiritual ceremonies, healing and initiation rituals even though they were
removed from the land in the 1930s. Today, Madimatle is subject to a land claim by the
Manaiwa family and community who once lived there. In recent years, there has also been
a dispute over a mining claim on the land. The South African Heritage Resource Agency
(SAHRA) has determined that it should be granted cultural heritage status.
