On 8 December 1900, Major-General Ralph Clements camped below the Nooitgedacht cliffs with a force of 1500 British soldiers and ten artillery pieces. Before dawn on 13 December, 2500 Boers under Generals De la Rey, Smuts and Beyers attacked, Beyers from the top of the Magaliesberg and De la Rey from the base. 300 British soldiers defending the summit were quickly overwhelmed. The Boers fired with devastating effect down onto the British positions below. Clements managed to extricate half his force to a low hill in the valley from where he shelled the Boers who were looting the vacated camps. At about 4:00pm, the British retreated eastwards but their losses were considerable. It was a significant Boer victory.
The Blue Plaque is sited at the Plumari Heritage Museum at African Hills Safari Lodge. Take the R563 from Krugersdorp to Hekpoort. At the Hekpoort T-junction turn left onto the R560 for 8kms. Turn right onto the R465 for 6 kms.
On top of the Magaliesberg touring the battlefield (The Heritage Portal)
Fortifications on the summit (The Heritage Portal)
Blue Plaque (The Heritage Portal)