THE SWISS MISSIONARIES' EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVOUR AS A MEANS FOR SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION IN SOUTH AFRICA (1873-1975) by BENNETH MHLAKAZA CHABALALA MASUMBE submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF EDUCATION in the subject HISTORY OF EDUCATION atthe UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: PROF IA COETZER JUNE 2000 ******* 11 I declare that "The Swiss missionaries' educational endeavour as a means for social transformation in South Africa (1873 1975)" is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. / BMC Masumbe 111 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Although this research is the product of individual effort, a number of persons need to be thanked for having supplied data or assumed other roles that are indispensable in any investigation. The researcher would like to express appreciation for services rendered individually or collectively. Firstly, the researcher would like to extend his gratitude to the staff attached to the William Cullen Library's Historical Papers Department, namely Ms Michele Pickover and Mrs Carol Archibold, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. These officers were indefatigable in their quest to satiate the researcher's appetite for data pertaining to the Swiss missionaries' enterprises during their tenure in Southern Africa. They remained unruffled even though the researcher at times went into their library without prior arrangement. Their dedication to their work was in itself invigorating to the researcher. The bulk of research data constituting this report was the result of their efforts, which, amongst other things, brought to the fore the JD Rheinallt­ Jones papers, SAIRR and the Swiss Mission records. The researcher's felicitations also go to the staff of the different divisions of the University of South Africa's Main Library, Pretoria. It was here that the researcher laid his hands on documents produced by the Revs HA Junod and HP Junod as well as the Rev DC Marivate archives. The Marivate Archive has stacks of data relating to his and colleagues' contributions in the civilization of the Shangaans and other population groupings in Southern Africa. The researcher was given licence to ensconce himself in the library chambers in which the various think tanks' works are stored. Ms Danisile Motsatsi, subject Reference Librarian; Education Department, Samuel Pauw Building deserves special mention in this report. She compiled a detailed list of sources on different missionary enterprises and unfailingly advised the researcher to visit the DC Marivate and HA and HP Junod archives at the ground floor of the Main Library. May God bless her and other staff members of the Samuel Pauw Building. IV Next in line is Mr JHM Khosa of Elim, Northern Province, who despite being many years my senior, proved a valuable friend. He allowed me to encroach upon his precious time asking for this and that information pertaining to Swiss missionary operations. He also lent me a large number of books which though ancient, proved indispensable in my research field. Words alone are unable to adequately encapsulate my appreciation for what he did for me in my hour of need. To all the respondents to interviews and questionnaires who are listed in the bibliography, including those who chose to remain anonymous, the researcher's appreciation for your services is beyond quantification. A separate comment is needed in relation to the staff of Elim Hospital, retired or in service. Chapter 6, which focuses on Swiss Missionary influence on the provision of health and nursing care, would have been almost impossible had it not been for the unwavering support extended to me by retired Matron Mavila K waiman and the matrons still holding the fort at Elim Hospital, namely Ms HS Mpapele and Mrs E Madale. Messrs HS Nkuna and GT Nghatsane of the administration division at Elim Hospital helped the researcher with annual reports spanning over many years, and other relevant information, which made the chapter representative of the position as it truly was in the dim and distant past. To them the researcher says: Keep it up! To my study supervisor, ProfIA Coetzer, Department of Educational Studies, University of South Africa - your incisive comments, coupled with your motivational snippets bore all the hallmarks of your professionalism. Your interaction with me even when you should have been enjoying your leave uninterruptedly, made a difference in my studies. Your sound advice didn't fail to fine-tune my approach to my academic work. And you did not stop here, for you secured the services of Mr J Serurubele Lombard and his sister, Louise Korentajer, to edit the manuscript, and to arrange for the final typing and printing of this dissertation upon receiving my pleas for same. With this type of partnership, coupled with the illuminating guidance that is your trade-mark, I felt empowered to probe Swiss missionary education without any qualms. v Finally, I should like to thank Mr MJ Mathebula, my colleague at Russel-Bungeni High School for ensuring that whatever chapter I submitted to Prof IA Coetzer for perusal and comments, would always be neatly typed. Thanks also to Mr H Nkatingi of the Northern Province Regional Archives Giyani, for the selfless manner in which he presented research data to me for analysis and inclusion in this report. At times he would cut his lunch short in order to furnish me with the primary sources I needed for my research. The researcher does not forget Mr David Mahwayi, Bungeni, who put his knowledge of the French language at my disposal by translating selected Swiss Mission records into English. To Dr SPM Nyathi, Nkowankowa Township, Northern Province, under whom I served during my stint as an administrative clerk from 1981 to 28 February 1988, at the Inspectorate Division, Department of Education, Giyani: Sir, you were, and still are a source of inspiration and a role model to me. To my family, especially my wife Evelyn; this is dedicated to you for creating the conditions conducive to effective learning. Last but not least, to Messrs Phillip Machobane Mabasa and Oriel Ncebe Secheni Makhubele, Johannesburg: I am heavily indebted to your unrestrained love and hospitality. Your arrangement for me to be able to W'\e- stay closer to Wits University during my innumerable sojourns made,., swell with pride. Of all the help I received during the course of my research, that of God was unrivalled. God kept diseases at bay, upped my mental work-rate, and most importantly, ensured that whatever trips I undertook during the phase of information gathering were crowned with success! Vl SUMMARY This research traces the developments in Europe that led to a rush for foreign missions in different parts of the world, with specific reference to South Africa. It describes the operations of the Swiss missionaries in South Africa from 1873 to 1975. This study also evaluates the motives for the evangelization of the African masses, and contradictions that existed in the relations that missionaries had with proselytes during the period under review. The sterling contributions of black evangelists in this period are demonstrated. It cannot be denied that the Swiss missionaries did a lot of good to the indigenous populace of South Africa - the importance of their services at Lemana Training Institution ( 1906) and Elim Hospital (1899) are indelibly inscribed in our historiography. They should also be applauded for their response to the plight of the Shangaans, who had for reasons unknown to the researcher been by-passed by other missions during the "scramble for mission fields". But the missionaries also had their shortcomings, for instance their failure to induce the state to remove capital punishment from the statute books. They may nonetheless still continue to be used by the present government of South Africa to assist in carrying the social transformation process forward. Key terms Social transformation; formal education; informal (home) education; traditional customs; Christian norms and values; mission stations; outstations; Christian marriages; relapses; Christians; heathens; Zabala (bride-price); mission statutes; interdenominational conferences; conversion; rivalry; Plakkerswet (Squatter Act); differentiated education; social Darwinism; circumcision; initiation schools for boys (ngoma) and for girls (vukhomba); social alienation; imperialism; capitalism; subsistence economy; Third Year course; preparatory schools; Penal Reform League of South Africa. vu CONTENTS Page Declaration 11 Acknowledgements lll Summary Vl Key terms Vl List of illustrations xm CHAPTER 1: ORIENTATION AND BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 1 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The aim and rationale of this study 1.3 Delimitation of the field of study 1.4 Limitations of the study 1.5 Assessment of source material 1.6 Methodology used in this study 1.7 Literature review 1.8 Explication of concepts used in this study 1.9 Structure of the study Conclusion CHAPTER 2: THE GENESIS OF THE SWISS MISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA 30 2.1 Introduction 2.2 The first volunteers in Lesotho 2.3 The Basotho evangelists and the Shangaans - a relationship that led to the enlightenment of the Shangaans vm 2.4 The Swiss pioneers' problems with the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (South African Republic I Transvaal Republic) 2.5 The Swiss missionaries' attempts to clear the misunderstanding between them and the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek 2.6 The Swiss missionaries' new application for permission to work in the Zoutpansberg