Understanding heritage: The grading of Adam Kok III’s laager settlement at Mount Currie by Celeste Rossouw and Anton C. van Vollenhoven he identification and assessment Formally proclaimed Griqua heritage of heritage in contemporary sites are poorly represented in Kwa- TSouth Africa is complex terri- Zulu-Natal. Importantly, all formally tory. It is an emotive act, in addition proclaimed sites in the province prior to one that is deeply political. Impor- to 1994 were downgraded one level in tantly, current thinking prioritises the 1999 when the National Heritage Re- promotion of heritage sites that were sources Act (NHRA, 25 of 1999) was previously marginalised in listings and promulgated. All downgraded heritage proclamations. One of the communities sites (now considered grade II) had to least represented is that of the Griqua. be reassessed based on their scientific, This paper uses the case study of a social, historic, technical or aesthetic Griqua heritage site to explain the pro- values mapped against criteria listed cess of identification, assessment and in the Act. proclamation of sites in contemporary The laager of Adam Kok III at Koks- KwaZulu-Natal in order to showcase tad was chosen as a case study to reveal the rigour with which decisions are the grading process of heritage sites as made as well as the complex territory followed by the KwaZulu-Natal Amafa in which such decisions lie. and Research Institute (the Institute). 14 Natalia 50 (2020) Copyright © Natal Society Foundation 2020 Understanding heritage The methodology used included a in its features. As such the Adam Kok III literature study, the identification of in- laager site is believed to be of high cul- terested and affected parties, interviews, tural significance for the Griqua people and surveys of the laager site. and therefore the Institute investigated By assessing the site in terms of the possibility of formally grading it. the stipulated criteria for cultural sig- Heritage grading follows a number nificance as presented in the Act, as of logical steps. These are presented well as those indicated in the national in order to support the grading recom- legislation, the Adam Kok III laager mendation of the original laager site at was graded as a provincial heritage site. Mount Currie as a grade II heritage site This study can thus be used as a model and clarify the process of grading and to grade similar sites of historical or proclamation of heritage in KwaZulu- archaeological importance and can also Natal. assist in recommending best-practice The purpose of this article is to management guidelines. As this paper expand upon the methodology used employs terminology that may be con- during the grading process for the site. sidered contentious there is a glossary It reflects the process that determines on pages 28–29. whether the site has cultural sig- nificance or not. This involves evalu- Introduction ation of cultural, social, scientific and Adam Kok III is considered the last of aesthetic values in accordance with the great Griqua leaders of Transoran- international protocols for the protec- gia (the area between the Modder and tion of historical sites, as well as South Orange rivers with Philippolis as its African practice.2 Identifying the main headquarters) and Griqualand East. research question is an intrinsic part of He led the Griqua to a new land, the the grading process, which leads to as- so-called Nomansland, later to become sessment of the degree of significance known as East Griqualand. Nomans- of the different criteria listed in section land was located on the south-east side 3(3) of the NHRA. These are: of the Drakensberg below the Sotho • the importance of the site for the kingdom and between the sources of the community, or in national history; 1 Umzimvubu and Umzimkulu rivers. • whether it is an unusual, rare or The Griqua arrived here in 1863 and endangered aspect of the natural or named their settlement De Laager. They cultural heritage of the country; started a new life, laying out streets, a • the potential of the site to reveal stronghold, a church, a school and a information that contributes to an fort. This eventually grew into what is understanding of South Africa’s today Kokstad. natural or cultural heritage; The importance of the laager lies in • the importance of the site in reveal- the social value it has for the Griqua ing the most important character- community, who revalidate the site on istics of certain classes of South an annual basis. Furthermore, the his- Africa’s natural or cultural places torical significance of the site reflects or objects; its importance and rarity in comparison • the importance of the site with regard with other Griqua heritage sites. The to specific aesthetic characteristics laager also conforms to technical value on which a community or cultural 15 Natalia 50 (2020) CC-BY-NC cc Natal Society Foundation 2020 Understanding heritage group place value; Kok I and Adam Kok I’s son-in-law, • the potential of the site to represent Barend Barends.8 Cornelius Kok had a high value of creative or techni- been born at Piquetberg and received cal achievements in a specific time the staff of office in 1795. They roamed period; the area of the Orange River up until • a strong or special association with 1804 when the London Missionary a specific community or cultural Society (LMS) persuaded them to settle group for social, cultural or religious at Klaarwater. In 1813 under the influ- reasons; ence of missionary John Campbell they • a strong or special association with changed their name from Bastard to the life and work of a person, a group Griqua to honour their Khoekhoen ori- or an organisation of importance in gin and altered the name of Klaarwater the history of South Africa; to Griquatown.9 • places of meaning with relation Adam Kok II preferred to live a life to the history of slavery in South of hunting and trading. In 1828 he tried Africa.3 to relinquish his authority to his son Cornelius Kok III, but after his son died, A brief background to the Griqua he had to resume the chieftainship. He The origins of the Griqua centre on also tried to relinquish his authority to Adam Kok I (1710–1800). Oral tradi- his son-in-law Hendrik Hendrickse, but tion suggests that he was either a cook was unsuccessful.10 on board a ship in Table Bay, from Andries Waterboer, who led the which he escaped, or that he was a slave Griqua of Griquatown between 1820 and cook for either Governor Hendrik and 1853, was of pure San ancestry. He Swellengrebel or Ryk Tulbach at the was the missionaries’ preferred leader Cape.4 A third account states that he was since he was educated at Griquatown the illegitimate son of a slave woman under their influence. He was stricter in the domestic unit of a Dutch gover- with his followers than Adam Kok II nor at the Cape; he was born in 1710 and Barends and served as kaptyn over and his father’s name is not known.5 both Griqualand West and Transorangia Either way, by 1751 he had obtained until 1837.11 grazing rights to a farm at Stinkfontein. Another Griqua group moved from Here he met remnants of the Grigriqua the Cape Colony to settle around Khoekhoen group.6 Oral tradition Philippolis on the invitation of John relates that Adam Kok I married the Philip, superintendent of the LMS in daughter of the leader of the Grigriqua South Africa. He established a mission clan. He gathered Bastards, escaped station for the San at Philippolis, the slaves and Khoekhoen of the Grigriqua oldest town in the Free State. Philip’s group together with rogue white set- invitation was to ensure the San’s safety tlers. This group grew to such an extent after he left the area and also allow for that the Dutch East India Company freed slaves to settle at Philippolis. In recognised Adam Kok I as a kaptyn.7 1826 Adam Kok II (first mentioned as From the mid- to late-1790s two a kaptyn of the Griqua in 1813), took groups of Griqua settled 50 kilometres possession of Philippolis and control outside Prieska Drift under the leader- of the lands between the Modder and ship of Adam Kok I’s son, Cornelius Orange rivers.12 16 Natalia 50 (2020) CC-BY-NC cc Natal Society Foundation 2020 Understanding heritage Other sources explain that the LMS’s between Adam Kok III, Waterboer and invitation to this Griqua group was a the British government led to a division means to control Adam Kok II, who of the Griqua state into two Griqua was not interested in a settled life and states (Griqualand West under Water- being a chief. Instead he wanted to re- boer and Transorangia under Adam main aloof as initiator of the Bergenaar Kok III), with joint council meetings group with Barend Barends (Adam Kok and co-operation in mutual matters I’s son in law) in the 1820s and 1830s.13 such as military.18 In 1838 an Act was It is also known that the Griqua under passed by Adam Kok III that forbade Adam Kok II’s leadership did not en- the sale of Griqua land to Europeans.19 courage the protection of the San, but In 1840 this Act was modified when it rather their annihilation.14 was decided that the Griqua could lease In 1827 trekboers moved into this lands occupied by trekboers for a fee, Griqua territory and from 1833 a se- that the Griqua had to pay for improve- vere drought resulted in their illegal ments erected by the trekboers on the occupation of Griqua lands.