Throwback Thursday: Origin of the name
Let's take a step back in time and discuss some of Tzaneen's history.
There are many explanations as to how Tzaneen got its name.
In this week’s Herald, we discuss one theory.
A popular explanation and one that has been commonly repeated so often that it has become the widely accepted truth, involves the woven basket we see on the town’s coat of arms.
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It is said that the town of Tzaneen, when viewed from the surrounding hills, resembles that of a Bantu basket called a Tsana.
It is added that the Tsana basket is made of materials only found in the Tzaneen district.
Under this theory, the word Tsana gave rise to the name Tzaneen.
This story was so well repeated that The Tzaneen Town Council accepted the Tsana theory and incorporated the basket into its new coat of arms.
The name Tsana or Tzana can be seen on ancient maps from as early as 1689.
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On a map made in 1903, a hill named ‘Tsana Kop’ lies North East of Leydsdorp whilst a second hill called ‘Tsana Hill’ lies about 3km West of Mooketsi.
Keep an eye out on next week for a different theory…
Have any interesting stories about Tzaneen’s history? Feel free to share them with us via email: bethc@herald.co.za
