SLAGTERSNEK
Mountain pass North of Cookhouse (N10) between the Bosberg and the Great Fish River. It was named after the brutal murder of the landdrost of Graaff-Reinet, Andries Stockenstroom (father of Sir Andries) and 13 others on 28 December 1811. Also notorious as the site of the repeated hanging of five farmers in 1815 after the so-called Bezuidenhout Rebellion
Slagtersnek Monument
Slagtersnek Monument, 15 km south of Cookhouse - A Khoikhoi servant Booy laid a complaint against his employer Freek Bezuidenhout He farmed next to the Baviaans River. The farmer refused to attend court.In October 1815 two British officers and 12 Khoikhoi troops went to his farm to arrest him. Freek and his son fled to a cave pursued by the soldiers. Shots were fired and Freek was killed. His brother Johannes swore vengeance supported by neighbour Hendrik Prinsloo who send letters inciting rebellion. Prinsloo was arrested. About 60 rebels joined forces and demand his release. On 18 November 1815 they were forced to surrender by British solders on top of Slagtersnek. Johannes Bezuidenhout was later ambushed, resisting arrest, shot a Cape soldier before he was shot dead. All the rebels were charged and six sentenced to death, one pardoned by Governor Lord Charles Somerset. Five were hanged at Van Aardspos on 9 March 1816. Four of the ropes broke and the public pleaded for their lives. New rope was found, and they were hanged again.
Memorial plaque
Memorial plaque of the terrain of Fort Roodewal, at the Thomas Pringle site – This plaque refers to the terrain of Fort Roodewal from where the grandson of a French Huguenot, Lt Frans Rousseau, in command of the post, left on the 9th October 1815 with 8 pandoere (Cape Coloured soldiers) to arrest Freek Bezuidenhout. Unbenown to him that this will lead to the Slagtersnek Rebellion.
Thomas Pringle Monument
Thomas Pringle Monument, between Cookhouse and Slagtersnek Monument – a cairn to commemorates the Scottish party of 1820 Settlers led by Thomas Pringle. They changed wagons, drivers and oxen at Roodewal Military camp in this vicinity and proceeded on their journey to their settlement in the Baviaans River Valley.
