A

Brief History
of
SOUTH AFRICA

Desmond Osawaru Emokpae

(D Beloved)
A Brief History of South Africa by: D-Beloved

CHAPTER ONE
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND CLIMATIC CONDITION OF
SOUTHERN AFRICA
The region of the African continent south of the Congo and Tanzania is
named Southern Africa. The physical location is the large part of Africa to the
south of the extensive Congo River basin.

Map of Africa showing the South Region known as South Africa

South Africa is the African country that occupies the most southern part of
Africa. It is bordered by Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, and
Zimbabwe and it surrounds the small Kingdom of Lesotho. South Africa has a
coastline on both the South Atlantic Ocean in West and the Indian Ocean in
East.

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Map of S.A showing its borders regions, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and
Swaziland.
Southern Africa is home to a number of river systems; the Zambezi River
is the most prominent. The Zambezi flows from the northwest corner of Zambia
and western Angola all the way to the Indian Ocean on the coast of
Mozambique. Along the way, the Zambezi River flows over the mighty
Victoria Falls on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls is
the largest waterfall in the world based on selected criteria and is a major
tourist attraction for the region.
The Geographical location or climatic condition of South Africa
determined or influenced the course of events which occurred within the region
under the period of study.
To start with, South Africa, especially the Eastern parts, experienced
abundance of rainfall as against low rainfall in the West. The heavy rainfall
experienced in the east was caused by the availability of mountains within the
regions (Eastern Parts), and one important mountain in the East of South Africa
is known as Drakenburg. The Drakenburg played a major role in the eastern
part of South Africa as it prevents the moisturizing wind from flowing towards
the West hence, the Eastern part or region is colder than the Western part.
In addition, the eastern Parts have more rivers than the west. For
example, in the East, there is the Great Fish River, Limpopo River, Zambezi
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River, and while in the west, there is Orange River. During the cases of acute
dry season, in the west, the Orange River becomes patches or pockets of small
streams while the rivers in the east still maintain their stands.
That as it is, while agricultural activities thrived more in the eastern
region, the region is more inhabitable than the West which is not that favourable
to dwell. What is more, South Africa is blessed with the Mediterranean climate.
This means that there is the winter and summer seasons similar to what is
obtainable in the western world. In addition, the Mediterranean climate
encouraged the cultivation of fruits, barley, wheat etc.
The geography of South Africa influenced and encouraged the European
settlements within the region. More also, it promoted pastoralism especially
among the Bantu Speaking Group.

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CHAPTER TWO
THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
When one talks about the indigenous peoples of a place, one refers to the
first peoples or group, the aboriginal peoples or native peoples of that place.
This is because in every evolving or evolved society, there are always persons
who started living in that society in its earliest times.
For the case of South Africa, there are three (3) major indigenous groups
or peoples who inhabited the region under study known as South Africa in her
early times. They are the SAN, the Khoi-Khoi and the Bantu group.

THE SAN
The San were the earliest people to arrive South Africa and they belong to
a race whose original home is said to be the East and Central Africa. They were
short people with brownish skin, broad fore-head and speak a language
containing distinctive clicking-sounds unknown to any other language except of
people who have come in contact with them.
Their culture was of the simplest possible type as they practiced neither
farming nor cattle rearing but survived on widely grown fruits, insects, games,
fish because they were hunters and gatherers. Their women engaged in
fishing, the San possessed no domestic animals except hunting dogs.
Politically, the San lived in a band of not more than a hundred strong
men, made up of kinsmen who were bloodly related with same ancestral
lineage. Dispute was settled by the adult members. Their society was egalitarian
(equality), thus there was no formal government institution and they had a sense
of internal solidarity and unity and generous with their skills.
Each band had a definite hunting territory and trespassing was not
allowed. The derogatory name given them by the Europeans was Bushmen.
Their clothes were of animal skin while their houses were either temporary
shelters made of leaves in dry season and caves in rainy season.
The San possess no private property besides hunting materials and
kitchen utensils often ostrich egg shell and ornamental beads. Though poor and
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always on the verge of starvation, they were very conservative and strongly
attached to their way of life and could not easily be tempted. The San were very
artistic especially in cave decors, they imitate animals when happy and their
best delicacy was ant eggs.
THE KHOI-KHOI (Hottentots)
The term Khoi-Khoi means men of men. The Khoi Khoi group was the
second group to arrive South Africa from the Great Lakes in Central African
and are closely related to the San in race, Language, belief and stature hence
they were often called Khoi-San. However, the Khoi-Khoi are a bit taller and
their culture was more advance than that of the Bushmen (San). For example,
the San like the Khoi-Khoi do not practice farming but Khoi-Khoi were
pastoralists who rear cattle and possess herds of cattle, their women like the San
were engaged in fishing while their men like the San were also engaged in
hunting. There is little or no difference between the two groups, hence they
were referred to as Khoi-San by the Boers. Like the San, they worshipped the
moon and personify natural forces, but being more advance, while the San still
use stone implements, the Khoi-Khoi knew how to smelt iron and copper.
Their political institution was larger than that of the San as they had
chiefs and important men who could influence decisions. Because of their
pastoral life, they were always in search of fresh pasture and their homes were
larger and temporary homes of the San. They lived in larger communities and
were organized in ethnic groups made up of a number of clan, the most senior
member of the clan was seen as chief and he exercised authority with the
consent of the people.
Like the San, they (Hottentots) laid claim to the land but were not
strongly attached to a particular territory as they need to migrate to rear their
cattle. Their standard of living was higher than the San as they possessed private
property (cattle) which constituted a major source of wealth, thus private
ownership of cattle created a class stratification and this explains that they
unlike the San, were tempted to abandon their tradition in return for material
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reward and as such, they were easily absorbed into the European Culture. Their
cattle were everything to them, they value it to the extent that they did not kill it
to eat but allow it to grow old and die.
The relationship between the Khoi-San was conflicting as the San lay
claim to ancestral land for hunting games and forbade the Khoi-Khoi for
trespassing and grazing their cattle there, this often led to the San killing,
hunting and eating their cattle and this eventually often led to a war between the
two groups as the San where highly aggressive in nature.
THE BANTU
The Bantu was the last group to arrive in South Africa and their origin is
traced to the southern part of Nigeria around the Cross River area in West
Africa. They were the most numerous and dominant group in South Arica with
the population of over 13 million. When they came to South Africa, they settled
in the Eastern Coast region which was the most attractive area in the region. It is
quite obvious that they adapted the culture of those they came in contact with
during their course of migration as they were agriculturalist, (farmers and cattle
rearers). Their place of settlement was the most fertile in South Africa. They
have cattle complex as they give cattle as bride price.
Bantu comprise numerous groups that speak different but similar
languages amongst which are; (a). Xhosa (b). Ngwuni (c). Zulu (d). Sotho (e).
Twana (Swana) etc. Sotho & Zulu later became the major groups.
The Bantu were more advanced in culture than the Khoi-San, despite
being last to arrive, they succeeded in pushing the Khoi-San farther South and
settle permanently in the most attractive region. They also had early knowledge
of iron technology with which they produced farm implements which aided
their agriculture and they made defensive weapons to defend their territory
against external factors.
They had well-structured political system where leaders played respective
roles. The leaders include (a). Chiefs (b). Indunas

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A. Chief: the Chief protected his subjects against external aggression, he was the
political leader and exercised authority with the caution that they are under the
watch of the ancestors. He was the final judge in all dispute as his court was a
final court of appeal, he took the lead including important ceremony and was
seen as a link between the people and the ancestors, as powerful as the Bantu
Chief appears to be, he had no absolute powers as he must consult his Council
of Elders (Indunas) before pronouncing any judgement, this contributed to their
internal peace.
B. Indunas: These are council of elders and advisers to the chief, they are judicial
officials responsible for the adjudication and settlement of disputes between
disputants and those who were not satisfied with their decisions could appeal to
the final court (chief court).
Culturally, the Bantu had what was known as the Circumcision ceremony. It
was a system of initiation to manhood. The ceremony indicate that a boy is of
age and ready to assume mantle of an adult. It was usually followed by a long
period of isolation during which they are taught the customs of their people,
made to have respect of their tradition and foster a sense of unity among them
and the desire to defend their existence.
Economically, the Bantu were more advanced than the Khoi-San with
agriculture, providing food in addition to pastoral (cattle rearing) and hunting,
each family had their own land to grow enough crop and the presence of
agriculture made them establish permanent homes unlike the Khoi-San.
The Bantu continued to grow in population due to the fact that;
i. They had early knowledge of Iron technology and metal with which they
cultivate large expanse of land for agriculture to feed population as it is in line
with Thomas Mathos theory of population which states that population will
continue to increase as long agriculture increase in a geometric progression.
ii. There was decrease in mortality rate because unlike their former abode, South
Africa was free from the different disease that hunt them like tse-tse fly and
malaria.
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iii. They had a peaceful society

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CHAPTER THREE
NEW ELEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA (DUTCH SETTLEMENT)
The Establishment of the Cape Colony
The Dutch of Holland were the first to establish a settlement in the cape in
about 1652 but the Portuguese navigator Bartholomew Dias was the first to
discover the cape in about 1488 on his return voyage to Portugal and he called it
cape of storm. The cape provided access to the east and so was changed from
cape of storm to Cape of Good Hope (Providence) by King John II of
Portugal.
On the 25th of March 1647, Haarlem a ship owned by the Dutch East India
Company (VOC) wrecked at Table Bay close to the cape and its crew swam
ashore to the cape were they spent a year, they discovered that the region was
free from vegetables and animal disease and so conducive for rearing transport
animals. On arriving Holland, they recommended the Cape for a refreshment
centre as it would reduce the mortality rate caused by scurvy because the Cape
could provide fresh vegetables for the passing ships, they argued that it was the
only in-road into South Africa interior coupled with the fact that the indigenous
people (Khoi-Khoi) were not many and lacked military strength.
The Directors of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) numbering
seventeen, welcomed the idea and Jan Van Riebeeck was made the
commander of the new station, and they set sail on Christmas Eve 25th Dec.
1952 and established the first European settlement in the Cape, thus a new
element was added to the peoples of South Africa.
On their departure, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) gave them couple
of instructions amongst which are;
i. They should establish a vegetable garden to supply passing ships with
fresh food
ii. They should set up a fort which must include a health Care centre
iii. They should set up navigational maps for ships

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iv. They establish friendly relationship with the Hottentots and obtain cattle
from them by barter and intermarriage
v. Not to take up the economic activities of the people (cattle rearing)

It should be noted however that the establishment of a colony as well as

engaging in agricultural activities and other things were in the interest of the
company and not Holland (Netherland)
Unfortunately for them, they arrived in the Cape in the middle of a severe
drought and the Khoi-Khoi had moved from the cape in search of pasture for
their cattle and when the rain finally came, their crops did not do so well. Their
settlement became an irony as they that were expectesd to provide fresh food
for passing ships now end up depending on the passing ships for survival.
Secondly, they didn‟t have the proper requirement to preserve their equipment
which began to wear away.
Again, the cost of the company workers was too much for the company as some
workers were not competent.
To then reduce cost and boost production, the Council of Seventeen in
1657 released nine company workers and granted them land as they were to
grow and sell crops to the company at a fixed price. These freed workers were
called “free burghers” (merchant) free of tax for 12 years. Though released
from the company, the freedom of the Burghers was controlled by the company
for example, they were not free to trade directly with the Khoi-Khoi except in
cattle and sheep. Secondly, the burghers were not to take up the trade of the
indigenous people though land grant was important because it created the
mindset of the Cape being their home and not Europe but the future of the
Burghers was not promising.
The creation of free burghers did not solve the problem of under
production and in other to solve this, they resorted to the introduction of slaves
that in 1657, the first set of slaves who were all blacks, were brought and more
subsequently, in order to increase the Dutch population and prevent other

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European powers from taking over because of the number of voyages, they
came up with the policy of assisted immigration but immigration was slow as
people were not willing to leave Holland for an uncertain future in the Cape and
only the French Huguenots in 1688, 200 who fled France as a result of the
absolute rule of Louis XIV came, they were however forbidden from speaking
any other language beside Dutch and only attended the Dutch reform church.
The company offered them land and a future in the cape as they came with
their families and they became the first real colonists because they had no
homeland to return to. They eventually lived as one and became a group that
considered South Africa as their home.
It should be noted here that, these Dutch speaking settlers as well as the French
settlers and even the German settlers who later came to the Cape were called
Afrikaners because of their contact with Africans. Again, their descendants in
South Africa later formed a language which is known as Afrikaans.

Expansion of the Cape

Because the Cape was the only resting place between Europe and East
India, life in the cape became expensive, and life in the Cape was far from easy,
farming became difficult due to unreliable rainfall, drought could come at any
time, the cost of labour was high due to the introduction of slaves, and
agricultural commodities were limited. The Cape was unable to attract capital
for production because successful farming required high capital on slaves and
equipment, a farmer had to borrow heavily to set himself up but the opposite
was the case in the interior.
The development of the Burghers was limited due to all these conditions
coupled with the fact that they were producing perishable items and as such
they had to go against the company‟s rule and took up cattle rearing as it had lot
of advantages such as if the price was low, the farmer could keep his stock till
the price improves since it was not perishable, cattle was in high demand for the

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meat and hides, taking the cattle to and fro the market did not require expensive
transport as the cattle walked home themselves.
Taking up cattle rearing however needed grazing land and so they trekked
into the interior for fresh land, hence the emergence of the Trek Boers (moving
farmer) as the word „Boer‟ is a Dutch occupational name for „farmer‟.
Consequently, they took up the people‟s land, after overgrazing the land, they
moved on, therefore leading to the expansion of the Cape and eventually crisis
arose between the indigenous people in the interior and the Trek Boers
regarding cattle theft. The reaction of the people made the company to create
hedges (buffer zones) with almond trees which led to separate development and
laid the foundation for apartheid. But these boundaries were often violated by
the whites because the company had no choice but to move with the
Burghers/Boers and this made the indigenous people to react to the expansion of
the colony. The reaction of the people was however in stages.

Reaction of the Indigenes to the Expansion of the Colony

The establishment of the Cape colony by Jan Van Riebeeck in 1652
brought Dutch closer to the indigenous people and they even engaged in inter-
marriage but this relationship depreciated because the expansion of the Boers
into the interior was at the expense of the people, their grazing lands were taken
over and their cattle and sheep were forcefully taken and stolen, and the VOC
company built demarcating hedges, the Khoi-Khoi were cut out of some of their
land and this was not a satisfactory solution to the cattle theft to them, they
frowned at the encroachment by the white community in their land and this led
to series of wars in which the Khoi-Khoi suffered severely but they were easily
absorbed into the white culture. Consequently they were exposed to diseases
such as syphilis and small pox which broke out among them in 1713 and wiped
out a quarter of their population in six weeks, they never really recovered from
this blow and a few that survived withdrew across the orange rivers while the
others took up jobs under the white such as gardeners, house helps and the likes.

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The San were the next to react: They neither had possessions, homes nor
rear cattle but they fought fiercely in resistance to the white encroachment into
their hunting land/grounds to preserve their culture which is hunting. They were
conservative, fought and killed herdsmen with poisoned arrow, stealing and
destroying herds. The colonialist found them almost an equal match, so they set
up commandos which almost failed and as such they came up with the “policy
of participation” with the intervention of disintegrating the San culture like the
Khoi-Khoi but they failed. The San succeeded in pushing the white frontiers
backward, consequently, they came up with the “policy of extermination” and
the San were hunted like wild animals and indiscriminately shot due to the fact
that the court offered a reward of three pound for any San captured, eventually
about 500 San were killed and about 239 imprisoned, their women and children
were made slaves. The San refused to absorb the culture of the white and the
surviving ones fled to the western region into the vast wasteland of the Kalahari
Desert which was a barren land with cracked surface, a good for nothing land,
and they came here because they knew nobody would follow them.
The San survived by going far to hunt for games and so the existence of
the San became like the wind.

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CHAPTER FOUR
BRITISH ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY IN THE SOUTH AFRICA
The British first stint at the Cape was about 1795 and 1803, and after this
period, the British government in the cape began to carry out some reforms. The
British government embarked on reforms in a bid to transform the territory
(land) and the lifestyle of the people. Several factors or reason influenced the
British decisions to transform the societies. Prominent among these factors were
the revolutionary movement that took place in France. The movement was
based on three (3) ideological stands (positions) vis-à-vis;
1. Liberty
2. Equality
3. Fraternity
Also, after the Napoleonic wars, Britain experienced a very serious
unemployment problem and Britons were encouraged by the British
government to immigrate to the Cape colony. The first British settlers then
arrived in Table Bay (in the Cape) on 17th March 1820. Upon settlement, they
were sent to Algoa Bay which is known today as Port Elizabeth. While the
British settlers were in the Cape, they made a remarkable and significant
contribution to agriculture by planting maize, rye and barley. They also began
wool farming which later became a very lucrative trade.
The British government in a way wanted to impact the life of the people at the
Cape. Although it should be noted, that the love for the people at the Cape was
not paramount to the British, but was necessary because the reforms will
equally capture British interest.
However, there is no denying the facts that the British government took
certain steps to better the life of the people at the cape. The British reforms in
the cape included the following:
1. Reforms on Land: Foremost among the reforms of the British was the land
reform. Before (1795), the Dutch East India Company gave free land to its nine
(9) burghers. Later, the company decided to provide a vast area of land about

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60,000 acre as loan with charges known as “recognition money” in return, with
the arrival of the British government, there was a drastic transformation in terms
of land acquisition. The British introduced the quit-rent. There was an
improvement on land tenure system practiced by the advent of the British. That
as it is, it should also be noted, that the British government having realized the
taste and hunger for land by the Boers decided to annex queen Adelaide in other
to place the Boers within the territory. Unfortunately, pressure from the
Christian missionary made the British to revoke the decisions of relocating the
Boers to Adelaide‟s territory. Instead, the British resettled the Bantus within the
region. This decision in no little way angered the Boers.

2. Judicial Reforms: The British government brought fundamental transformation

to the judicial system. Before the judicial reform, there existed in the land, a
judiciary most headed by a magistrate system which enabled the Boers to
achieve their selfish interest. Judgements in most cases were decided in favour
of the Boers. However, this system was altered by the British. The British
introduced the Circuit Court. The Circuit Court enabled equal justice
(equality) between the Bantu and Boer societies e.g. Slachter‟s Nek Rebellion
is noteworthy. The British government through circuit court at Graaff-Reinet
summoned Frederik Bezuidenhout before the court. He refused to be arrested
in fact, he shot the British officers sent to arrest him. As a result of this, the
British government killed Bezuidenhout in his cave in 1816. His relations
organized army (armed movement) to challenge the government some of the
relatives were arrested while 5 members were killed by hanging in Slachter‟s
Nek town.

3. Abolition of Pass: In a bid to promoting equality, or equal rights among the

various races at the Cape, the British government introduced a policy known as
the 50th ordinance in 1828 which is sometimes known as “the Magna Carta of
the Coloured people”. With the introduction of this policy, the use of pass was
abolished. Before now, movements of persons especially the Hottentots was
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restricted. Without a passport, the Hottentots could not enter certain areas at the
cape. In addition, the 50th ordinance helped improve on the condition of service
of the Hottentots as it also banned the incoming British settlers from buying
slaves. The children of servants, were no longer maltreated as it were before the
introduction of the policy. Also, the policy (50th ordinance) enabled the
Hottentots and other indigenous people to have access to land i.e. within certain
area or region, the Hottentots can purchase land. What is more, the British
government played significant role in resolving the crisis that existed before
their occupation or arrival.

4. Creation of Neutral Territories: Having noticed the existing conflict situation,

the government introduced or established neutral territories and created or built
fortes to separate the indigenes from the whites and the Boers. The British
government established neutral territory at Zuurveld. The British settled within
this area unfortunately, the region wasn‟t viable for agricultural activities.

5. Abolition of Slave Trade: The British government condemned slavery and

globalized its abolition in 1833. The abolition of slave trade became a major
reform carried out by the British. Slaves under the Boers were freed and could
walk freely.

6. Language Reforms: There was also a reform in the spoken language at the
Cape or South Africa. The British introduced English language in the cape and
its educational institutions and through the Charter of Justice of 1828, English
was declared as the only official language to be used in official matters of the
colony that in 1853, English became the only language used in the Cape
Parliament. The British adopted English language as the main medium of
communication up till the second half of the 19 th century when Afrikaans
(language of the Boers) was recognized or accepted. These are the reforms
embarked upon by the British government.

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7. Religion: The Church was also reformed from 1824. The Dutch Reformed
Church was given certain degree of liberty. Government representatives stopped
to attend meetings of its Councils of „synod„. Freedom of worship was extended
to all religious groups. The Roman Catholics were given right to worship.
Starting from 1826, the Government also decided to pay the Roman Catholic
priests like priests of other denominations. All religious denominations at the
Cape were given equal status. The Anglican Church replaced the Dutch
Reformed Church. This met a lot of resistance from the Dutch, as they feared
being eliminated by the British.

While these reforms by the British went a long way emancipating the
blacks, it also met a great dissatisfaction by the Boers and this as a result, led to
the movement of the Boers from the Cape. This event of the Boers‟ movement
from the Cape is what is known as the Great Trek.

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CHAPTER FIVE
MFECANE
Mfecane is a Bantu word for upheaval, chaos, uprising, revolution that
brings about drastic change, forced migration and even guerrilla wars as it is
called among the Southern Bantu and Tswani. It spanned around 1815 to 1840.
Mfecane in Sesotho is called Difaqane or Lifaqane. Two factors are however
responsible for the Mfecane they cure;
1. Increase in population
2. Lack of grazing land

Increase in population: by the late 18th century, the Bantu population in San
began to increase in geometric progression because new environment improved
their hygienic and health condition as it was void of diseases in Southern
Nigeria (Cross River) and this led to decrease in mortality rate.
Lack of grazing land: their population increased without considerable increase
in land as their main occupation was cattle rearing, thus crisis was bound to
happen as population pressure and landlessness led to restlessness and constant
friction and this led to the Mfecane. The Mfecane however had consequences,
both positive and negative.
Positive Impacts
1. It led to the emergence of great empire builders, territorial chiefs, political
leaders, able and charismatic leaders amongst whom were: Dingiswayo, leader
of Mthethwa, Nwandowe of Zwinde and most prominent of all wars Shaka of
Zulu Kingdom.
2. It also led to the creation of a standing military regime, consequently the
circumcision ceremony was abolished as young men were needed to fight wars
that is instead of practicing circumcision and ritual seclusion, and youth formed
age regiment forming a permanent army

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3. It brought about the creation of kingdoms in places such as modern day

Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi by refuges of the war
in search of security.

Negative Impacts
1. Just as the Mfecane led to the emergence of states and charismatic leaders, it
also led to the destruction and demise of these states and their leaders, just as it
brought them to limelight, so also did it sweep them away one after the other.
Example, Dingiswayo of Mthetha was killed by Zwide who later escaped with a
remnant of his clan across the Pongola River. Later his clansmen were attacked
by the Zulu. Similarly, Shaka was killed by his brother Dingane.
2. Like every other war, it led to the destruction of lives and properties, crops were
destroyed, villages were abandoned, wells were poisoned, affected the
demography of the region, those who remained took to cannibalism and
banditry (bandits).
3. During this period, the British had started settling down around the Cape and
their policies affected the Boers (Dutch) and they became desperate to abandon
the Cape, the Mfecane however paved way for the great trek.

As earlier mentioned, the Zulu kingdom was one of the prominent states that
emerged during the Mfecane and they attained dominance under the leadership
of Shaka who carried out a lot of reforms during his reign like King Josiah in
biblical history. He was regarded as an illegitimate child because his mother
was not among the favourite of his father but he became more successful than
his siblings, though denied the legibility of the throne, the walked his way
through as he first trained in the army of Mthethwa under Dingiswayo. Shaka
however was a child born during the age of wars (the Mfecane) as so most of
his reforms were war and military related.

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CHAPTER SIX
THE GREAT TREK
The Great trek was a mass movement of a people (Boers) from the cape
into the interior of the South Africa. It was an eastward migration of Dutch-
speaking settlers who travelled by wagon trains from the cape colony into the
interiors of modern South Africa from 1835 onwards, seeking to live beyond the
Cape‟s British Colonial administration. The Great Trek resulted from the
culmination of tensions among rural descendants of the cape‟s original
European settlers known collectively as Boers and the British Empire.
It was also reflective of an increasingly common trend among individual Boer
communities to pursue an isolated and semi-nomadic lifestyle away from the
developing administrative complexities in Cape Town. The Boers who took part
in the great trek identified themselves as Voor trekkers, meaning “pioneers” a
pathfinder in Dutch and Afrikaans.
The Great Trek led directly to the founding or several autonomous Boer
republics, namely the South African Republic also known simply as
Transvaal, the Orange Free State, and the Natal Republic.
Many factors precipitated the great trek; they are as follows;
1. First, the land reform (quit rent system and permanent ownership of land) was
kicked against by the Boers. The Boers never supported. They needed land
(hunger for land).
2. Also the 50th Ordinance established by the British did not only bring about
equality, but in a way humiliated the Boers and this made the Boers to move
into the interior. The eradication of the use of passport provoked the Boers.
3. More so, the restructuring or re-organization of the judicial system which
relegated the land host system of the Boers to the background.
4. In addition, abolition of slave trade deprived the Boers of cheap labour. Dignity
of human was now observed and as a result, they decided to move because they
needed a new area where they could settle and acquire cheap labour.

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5. More importantly, the Mfecane played a major role in the great trek. As a result
of the political uprising among the Bantu speaking people, vast area of land was
deserted by fleeing indigenes. It is therefore right to say that availability of land
in the interior of South Africa equally encouraged the great trek.
6. In addition, the quest or desire for self-determination/freedom played a role in
ensuring great trek. The presence of the British government at the Cape meant
lack of freedom for the Boers. The Boers were not ready to be under the control
or leadership of the British.
7. The Anglican doctrine was created to supersede their orthodox doctrine.
8. The adoption of the English language is also a factor that led to the movement
of the Boers into the interior.

Apart from the factors which influenced the Great Trek in South Africa,
the Great Trek also had impact on the South Africa history as follow;

Rapid expansion of White settlement into the heart of the Southern Africa
interior. The Boers migrated interior of the Southern Africa where their
anticipation was to establish new settlement as to avoid the direct control from
British. Large number of Dutch moved to the interior of South Africa for
example, some went to Natal region and others to Orange Free State where they
formed their independent states.

Annexation of indigenous land by Voor Trekkers. Zulu land and other

indigenous land for example were annexed massively by Dutch, the Dutch
wanted to possess all the fertile land found in the interior. Therefore this
situation led to the creation of landless people to the indigenous people, they
only remained labourers to the Boer farmers

Establishment of Republican government in the interior by Dutch people.

After the movement from the Cape, Dutch succeeded to establish new
republican government in the interior like Orange Free State, Natal Republic
and Transvaal. These states were independent from British control. In those

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states, Dutch succeeded also to from new hybrid language known as Afrikaner
language known as Afrikaan, a language that was a mixture of Dutch language,
local language, French language and German language.

Acquisition of firearms by African Kingdoms of the interior. Boers brought

firearms to the interior of South Africa whereby it was easy to reach at the
hands of Chiefs of Kingdoms, these firearms were later used as a defence
weapons against external enemies and sometimes in conquering the
neighbouring states.

Brought Spirit of Nationalism to Afrikaner nationalist. British suppression

was a lesson to Afrikaner nationalist whereby many Dutch accumulated a lot of
grievances and claims against British due to their maltreatment. Therefore, this
was a catalyst to Dutch in demanding their lost freedom; they began to fight for
the independence from British government.

Generally, the Great Trek was the one which founded the Natal
Republic, Orange Free State, and Transvaal due to the fact that Dutch or
Boer farmers wanted to live independently from British control as a result they
decided to move Interior of the Southern Africa from the Cape.

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CHAPTER SEVEN
THE DISCOVERY OF MINERAL RESOURCES IN SOUTH AFRICA
The history of South Africa involved a different dimension following the
discovery of mineral resources in the second half of the 19th century. Before this
period, territories within the Cape and or a provinces were poor e.g. Tranvaal
and Orange, Free State provinces were por.
However, the discovery of mineral resources brought drastic transformation and
in general have lasting effects on the people and land in South Africa. In 1869
in Grigualand diamond was discovered, while in 1886, Gold was discovered in
wit-water‟s land. In the same vein, other categories of mineral resources like
coal were discovered in other areas. The discovery of mineral resources
significantly brought about lofty impacts which are as follows;

1. First, the discovery made the British government to reconsider his

decision on his earlier considered “Little England”. Thus, the British
government jettisoned the idea of confining itself to a restricted location.
As a result of the discovery, the British parliament pursued a federal
system which has to do with the bringing together of other areas under
their control.
2. In the bid to achieve the federal system, the British government through
Cecil-rhodes pursued the policy of federalism. Cecil-rhodes played a
major role in bringing territories under the British hegemony.
3. That as it is, the discovery of mineral resources brought positive
transformation to the economy of South Africa. It should be noted that
before the discovery South African Society was to a large extent based on
Agricultural activities. However, there was a change in the occupational
choice of the people following the discoveries. Mining became a more
prominent occupation that was embraced by the people.
4. In addition, the discover gave rise to the use of advanced technologies
and machines that equally helped in transforming the economic section.

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Cecil-rhodes launched the consolidated gold field. Money accrued from

the consolidated gold field was used for the establishment of British
South African company.
5. What is more, the discovery also had a positive impact in the traditional
lifestyle of the people. E.g. working in mining company brought the
indigenes together. The coming together of the indigenes informed
political, economic and social consciousness i.e. the people saw more
reasons why they must remain as one united front against foreign
domination. Also, there was a transformation in transportation and
communication network e.g. the telegram was introduced while good
roads were established to link provinces for mobility of persons and
goods from one location to another.
6. Significantly, it is disheartened to note that the discovery of mineral
resources played a major role in the institutionalization of Apartheid
Policy, segregation and racial discrimination. For example, for British
government to succeed in its plans towards federation, she jeopardized
the interest of African and other none Europeans by accepting not to
discuss issues bothering on race relations with the Boers. In facts in 1911
there was the mines and work act which proffered different salaries for
Africans and Boers. Also in 192 the work amendment act also entrenched
segregation.

THE ADVENT OF NEW ERA IN RACE RELATION:

Afrikana Nationalism and Racialism
The indigenous people were not happy with the administration of the
Cape which aided the development of Afrikana nationalism or racism. The
establishment of the Cape was not meant to be a permanent settlement but a
refreshment centre so they fostered relationship with the indigenous people
through product exchange and intermarriage.

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The failure of the workers which led to the creation of burghers brought
about a community which later took up the name Afrikana, the freed negro
slaves who acquired burgher status and the children of the mixed union were
readily accepted into this society but everything changed owing to the cape
government policy;
The policy which forbade the French Heugenots from speaking any
language besides Dutch and to only attend the Dutch reformed church laid at the
initial foundation for racialism and the feeling of Dutch superiority which made
most of the settlers proud.
Another factor which aided the Afrikana nationalism or racialism was the
introduction of slaves as the blacks were looked down upon as inferior.
Consequently, the trek Boers who moved into the interior found themselves in a
position of authority among a mixed group of slave (Hottentots and a few
Bushmen).
In addition, the struggle against the San lowered the value of the blacks as
they were accustomed to killing them like animals, so it became unimaginable
to treat them as equals. The Calvanist religion also aided the development of
self-consciousness in the Boers as it taught that mankind is divided in two, the
damned and the chosen, with the blacks being the former, so they never
attempted to convert them and the children of the mixed union were no longer
regarded as legitimate.
Finally the main weapon used by the Boers for discrimination were
repressive laws against the slaves which eventually formed legislative
precedents/laws that were applied to the Bantu speaking Africans in the 19 th and
20th century which later became the Republic of South Africa.

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Shaka‟s Reforms
At the death of his father in 1816 he took over the throne and declared
himself Chief of Zulu

1. He built up his forces and trained them in new warfare by abandoning the
traditional military tactics. In the place of the traditional throwing spear,
he introduced the short stabbing knife, which help the soldiers fight at a
close range.
2. Introduced protective shield called assegai
3. He introduced the horn tactics which was a sign for the Zulu soldiers to
round their enemies and fight them from all sides.
4. As a military tactic, he introduced the scotched earth tactics that is to foul
your enemy‟s provision after making preservation for your soldiers, kill
their animals and burn their crops.
5. Prior to his rule, only nobles were made army general so he adopted the
policy of appointing commoners as army general as they were bound to
remain loyal unlike the nobles who were proud.
6. He initiated the idea of continuous military service by keeping his army
constantly equipped in special military camps.

With these reforms he was successful in his campaign against Zwinde and
Dingiswayo. However, Shaka brought diseases, war and misery to Zulu, as his
objective were to make war and more wars, he made the land depend on war
booty, little wonder his two brothers conspired against him and he was killed by
Degane to revolt against his highhandedness. Shaka‟s rule was synonymous to
war.
Establishment of the Cape 1652
Bartholomew Diaz 1486
Haariem Shipwereck 1648
Set sail 1651

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Arrived the Cape 1652

Release of 9 Burghers 1657
First set of Slaves (12) 1657
French Heugenerts 1688
Small pox (Khoi Khoi) 1713
Mfecane Late 18th – 19th
Shaka Zulu 1816
Great trek 1835-1856
Cape parliament act 1836
Discovery of Diamond 1867
Largest discover of diamond 1871
Anglo-Boer war 1899-1902

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