St Augustines B&B and Conference Centre

St Augustines B&B and Conference Centre at Modderpoort, is located in the picturesque Eastern Free state province. Closer inspection reveals that behind Modderport's unobtrusive facade lies an exceptional and unique hierophany that goes beyond the rock art to encompass four sacred sites, the San Rock Paintings, the Anglican Church and Cemetry, Mantsopa's grave and the Cave Church.


Modderpoort has an extra ordinary and unique character that was first noticed by the San and since commemoratod by many people of different faiths. It is Africa's rare centre for the arnalgamation of different cultures and faiths that straddles through time.

The first sacred site (San rock paintings) is one of the few places in Southern Africa where the name of the San community (the Makhomokholo or the people 'great at cattle') who lived there and painted vibrant images of their spirit world. The paintings reveal strong attraction to both earthly and spititual levels.


The Second site, Anglican church and cemetery, indicates how Christian rnissionaries, from 1869, were attracted to this same area. A. priory and the sandstone church were built. In the pale church yard there are graves of the brothers of the Society of Saint Augustine.

It is also within the cemetery that the third sacred site is encountered, Mantsopa's grave. Mantsopa's grave is located between the Anglican Brothers and white resident's graves is the grave of the renowned Sotho prophetess Mantsopa Makheta (c 1793-1905). Mantsopa'slife was long and her story complex. Born in the late 18th century, Mantsopa received the calling to divinity while quite young. Her powers grew steadily and in the late 1860s she was exiled to Modderpoort by King Moshoeshoe who feared her influence of becoming too great. At Modderpoort Mantsopa was baptised on the 13 March 1870 - the same day King Moshoeshoe chose for his baptism; an event destined not to happen as the King died two days behre his intended baptism. Though a Christian, Mantsopa continued to perforrn miracles and venerate her ancestors until her death.; a combinationof orthodox and traditional teachings that presaged the formation of the Zionist Christian Church (ZCC), Mantsopa's grave continues to be worshipped today and each weekend sees new offerings placed on her grave, in the cave church where she sometimes worked and at the spring where she bathed. Within a short walk from the grave lies the fourth sacred site, the Cave Church.

The cave Church, also known as the Rose Chapel, has a long and interconnected history. Originally occupied by San hunter-gatherers, the cave church provided the first missionaries with shelter and a place of worship behveen 1867 - 1870. The cave has been used as a place of pilgrimage by the ZCC. The cave church is considered as a place at which ancestors are particularly strongly present. Ceremonies, take place and many offerings are placed there.


We invite you to break away from the stress of city life to enjoy the peace, tranqullity and spirituality that are unique to St Augustines B&B and Conference Centre.

Contact us at: +27 51 924 3318