WM0018

Did You Know?

The Herrie-Klip is a rock engraving located in Meiringspoort, a mountain pass in the Western Cape province of South Africa, near the town of De Rust. The engraving was created in 1929 by the prominent Afrikaans writer and politician C.J. Langenhoven, who carved the word 'Herrie' into a large rock surface. 'Herrie' was the name of a legendary elephant that, according to local folklore, was said to have roamed the area in the 19th century and was reputedly responsible for carving a distinctive hole in the rock face of the poort, known as 'Herrie se Gat' (Herrie's Hole). Langenhoven's engraving was a tribute to this folk tale and to the cultural heritage of the region. The site was declared a National Monument (now a Provincial Heritage Site) on 3 August 1971, under the then National Monuments Act. The declaration recognised the engraving's cultural and historical significance, particularly as a tangible link to Langenhoven, who was a key figure in the promotion of the Afrikaans language and literature. Langenhoven is also known for writing the lyrics of the former South African national anthem, 'Die Stem van Suid-Afrika'. Meiringspoort itself is a historically important pass, opened in 1858, that cuts through the Swartberg mountains and connects the Karoo town of Klaarstroom with the southern Cape. The pass was a major engineering feat of its time and remains a scenic route. The Herrie-Klip is situated along this pass, and the engraving has become a minor roadside landmark, though it is not a conventional war memorial; its classification as a monument reflects its cultural rather than military significance.

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