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The Vegkop Boer Laer (lager) is a historical site near Heilbron in the Free State province of South Africa. It marks the location where a Voortrekker laager (wagon camp) was formed in 1836 under the leadership of Andries Hendrik Potgieter. This site is most famously associated with the Battle of Vegkop, which took place on 16 October 1836. During this battle, a group of approximately 35 Voortrekkers, including women and children, defended their laager against an estimated 6,000 Ndebele warriors under King Mzilikazi. The Voortrekkers successfully repelled the attack, though they suffered significant losses of livestock and supplies. The battle was a pivotal event in the Great Trek, as it forced the Voortrekkers to seek alliances with other groups and ultimately led to the defeat of Mzilikazi's forces in later conflicts.
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