The filming of the “Breaker” Morant documentary in the Soutpansberg area is of great significance.

Makhado (Louis Trichardt) and surrounds will receive international television exposure  because of this two-part documentary that will probably be aired on the History Channel. Sabido Productions (Pty) Ltd, part of the e.tv group, will produce the documentary on the Anglo-Boer War saga involving Breaker Morant and the Bushveldt Carbineers (BVC). It is a co-production with an Australian film company, Film Projects.

“It is extremely gratifying that this documentary is happening. We hope that we will be given the opportunity to finally show the world what really happened here with regard to the BVC murders of prisoners of war and witnesses,” said Charles Leach, author of The Legend of Breaker Morant is dead and buried - a South African version of the Bushveldt Carbineers in the Zoutpansberg , May 1901 – April 1902. Contrary to the Australian version of this piece of history, Leach researched and describes in his book  that atrocious deeds had been committed - 35 murders took place and not only the 12 for which Morant and Handcock were convicted and executed by the British firing squad in 1902.

Leach also finds it gratifying that so many locals will be involved as extras in the documentary as well as local props such as carts, ox wagons, furniture and horses. Leach noted that the locals on horseback will be soldiers of the British army, mainly on “English” horses. Those starring as Boers will generally be on foot.

The documentary will include re-enactments of about seven scenes from the Morant story. The re-enactments will be done at Vliegenpan, a farm outside Makahdo (Louis Trichardt) and at Fort Hendrina en Erasmus Street. The scenery at Vliegenpan will  be suitable for more than one re-enactment since the agriculture has changed at the original places where there are now macadamia orchards and pine plantations. The Makhado Municipality graciously consented to making the use of Fort Hendrina available for the shooting of the “Fort Edward” scene. “We appeal that you make use of our local community, so that they can also get exposed to the international film industry,” wrote the municipal manager, Mr Isaac Mutshinyali. 

The three “leading BVC characters” in the documentary will probably be brought in, whereas local people will be used for the rest. The re-enactment will include the killing of six sickly Boers (one a boy of 12) by the BVC as they were heading to a hospital in Valdezia. There is also the killing of eight surrendering Boers by a BVC patrol, which included Lts Morant, Handcock and Witton. The victims include a 16-year-old boy and four teachers from Holland. Reverend Heese and his Ndebele driver were killed (near Vliegenpan) by Lt Handcock. The three Van Stadens were killed, a father and two boys (18 and 12). They had to dig their own graves. The Floris Visser (20) shooting at Mooketsi was an important incident in the Courts Marshall. Among the extras required in the various scenes will be about eight black witnesses of the events.  The joiner, Van Buuren, was shot  at the "Fort" scene where many extras will be milling around.  All extras will have to be available from 13 to 20 April.

The footage includes interviews with Boer descendants. Leach appeals to all descendants, including Mr Dennis Eveleigh,  to urgently come to the fore. They include descendants of the six shot at Valdezia on 2 July 1901: JJ  Geyser (65), JJ Vercuil (31), JC Greyling (25), a Van Heerden man, FGJ Potgieter (18) and PJ Geyser (12). Among the eight surrendering Boers (shot  on 23 August 1901) were B Wouters, CPJ Smit, JJ du Preez (16) and Pauskie. Descendants are also needed of  Rev CAD Heese, Floris Visser, Barend and JJ Viljoen, Harzenberg, Reverend Reuter and Sergeant Frank Eland.