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Understanding the Bulhoek Massacre: Voices After the Massacre and Down the Years

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Understanding the Bulhoek Massacre: Voices After the Massacre and Down the Years Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 26, Nr 2, 1996. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za UNDERSTANDING THE BULHOEK MASSACRE: VOICES AFTER THE MASSACRE AND DOWN THE YEARS D.H. MAKOBE DOCUMENTATION SERVICE DIRECTORATE, SANDF Die gevolge van die Bulhoekopstand het uiteenlopende reaksies ont/ok. Afhangend vanuit watter politieke oogpunt die aangeleentheid benader is, het die toerekening van blaam gewissel van die Israeliete self tot die Regering se optrede. Hierdie verskillende reaksies word ontleed. The squatting and defiance of the law by the fol- lowers of Enoch Mgijima (Israelites) at Bulhoek was an unwelcome exercise by the people who stayed in the vicinity of Queenstown. Various African lead- ers, including the members of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), tried to per- suade the Israelites to leave Bulhoek peacefully. The massacre generated mixed reactions from dif- ferent political organisations: within parliament, the general public and from various newspapers. There were many fiery debates about the tragedy after the massacre and the trial.1 Almost every newspa- per in the country at the time carried reports about the events of 24 May 1921. The newspaper reports give a clear indication of who was blamed for the Bulhoek massacre. It is the purpose of this article to analyze what the nation at the time thought of the conflict between the Israelites and the govern- ment and what African political leaders thought of the event down the years. Enoch Mgijima THESANNC Africa Museum, Johannesburg 24 May 1921 was an important day in the Union of South Africa. It was a British public holiday, Em- SANNC conference deeply. S.M. Makgatho, who pire Day, and it was the birthday of General Jan was the chairman, requested delegates to debate Smuts, who was then the Prime Minister of the on the incident. The Congress declared that the Union of South Africa. It was also the day on which Government had failed to respect the religious con- the Bulhoek massacre occurred. On the same day victions of the Israelites, and expressed doubts the SANNC held its ninth annual meeting since its whether the authorities would have taken the same formation in 1912 at Bloemfontein.2 The news of drastic measures in a similar situation if it had been the events at Bulhoek stirred delegates at the created by people of European descent.3 The trial of the Israelites commenced on 21 November 1921 and concluded on 2 December 1921 in Queenstown. For a complete account of the trial see: South African Police Service Archives, Pretoria (hereafter SAPS Archives): Box 4202 Bulhoek massacre records, File 6/850/21 /HTrial of Israelites, Report of paper clippings. SAPS Archives: Box 4202, File 6/850/21 Press Cuttings, Native Congress and Bulhoek Tragedy, Rand Daily Mail, 1921-05-27. SAPS Archives: Box 4202, File 6/850/21 Press Cuttings, Native Congress and Bulhoek Tragedy, Rand Daily Mail, 1921-05-27. 98 Militaria 26(2) 1996 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 26, Nr 2, 1996. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za As a way of condemning the Government's actions so on, as an incident that has passed into what we at Bulhoek, the Congress adopted two resolutions. might call the political history of the people."8 In The first resolution declared that "...the Governor- 1962 while addressing the conference of the Pan- General of the Union of South Africa, as a repre- African Freedom Movements of East and Central sentative of the King, is the Supreme Chief of the Africa (PEFMECA), Nelson Mandela referred to the Bantu races and as such on all matters affecting massacre by saying that "South Africa is known the Bantu population should from time to time, ac- throughout the world as a country where the most cording to the exigencies of the moment, take ad- fierce forms of colour discrimination are practised, vice from chiefs and leaders. It was complained and where peaceful struggles of the African people that the Supreme Chief was not approachable, and for freedom are violently suppressed. It is a coun- it was not known how he got direct advice from the try torn from top to bottom by fierce racial strife natives. The native people placed tfJeir trust and and where the blood of African patriots frequently protection upon the King."4 The Congress blamed flow. Almost every African household in South Af- the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa rica know about the massacre of our people at for not taking any steps to protect the Israelites at Bulhoek in the Queenstown district where detach- Bulhoek. ments of the army and police armed with artillery, machine guns and rifles, opened fire on unarmed The second resolution called for the repeal of the Africans. "9 Natives Land Act of 1913. They argued that the Government had failed to carry out its principles Since 1921 the Bulhoek massacre has been viewed and the Act itself was impracticable. The Congress by Africans as part of the struggle for national lib- felt that the position was getting serious and that in eration. G.v. Mqingwana, a lecturer in the history other places something similar to the Bulhoek af- department at the University of Transkei (But- fair might occur.5 To the SANNC the Israelite sect terworth branch) said this about the massacre in had attracted people who had been pushed off their his thesis that "One can safely say that there de- land by the 1913 Land Act. People who joined the veloped not only a physical but also a symbolic link Israelite sect, according to the SANNC, had aban- between Ntabelanga and later the African nation- doned their homes to join the sect.6 alist resistance which culminated in the Sharpe ville massacre in 1960. "10 The Congress sent a telegram to Arthur Barlow, (Member of Parlaiment for Bloemfontein North) as In the post-1976 students uprisings, knowledge of well to request a parliamentary inquiry into the history of the resistance to oppression before and shootings. The Congress further decided to un- after the imposition of apartheid became a weapon dertake the defence of those arrested at Bulhoek. in the struggle and facts were not always viewed As a solemn demonstration of protest, the Con- objectively. Facts were interpreted in such a way gress adjourned and marched in procession through as to further the aims of the Mass Democratic Move- the location, with the band playing the Death March, ment, the latter being a movement which solidified after which a service was held in memory of the all black freedom movements in South Africa in dead.? the late 1980s. Robert Edgar produced a booklet in 1988 on the Bulhoek massacre and reinterpreted As time went by the SANNC, which later became the event as an act of heroism.11 Students and work- the African National Congress (ANC), continued ers viewed Israelites who had died at Bulhoek, as to draw its own conclusions about the massacre. political heroes who sacrificed their lives for the The national significance of the Bulhoek massacre struggle for national liberation. The massacre was in the struggle for liberation was expressed by the quoted at political rallies in the townships and was ANC leader Professor Z.K. Matthews during the categorised with other tragedies such as the Treason Trial (1956-1961) when he said that Sharpeville massacre of 1960, the Soweto riots of Bulhoek massacre "...is talked about to children and 1976 and the Langa massacre of 1985. SAPS Archives: Box 4202, File 6/850/21 Press cuttings, Native Congress Resolutions, The Star, 1921-05-27; Meeting of the South African Native Congress, Rand Daily Mail, 1921-05-28. SAPS Archives: Box 4202, File 6/850/21 Press Cuttings, Meeting of the South African Native Congress, Rand Daily Mail, 1921-05- 28. For an analysis of the reasons why the followers of Enoch Mgijima decided to settle at Bulhoek see D.H. Makobe, Confrontation with the Police:The Israelites of Enoch Mgijima and the Bulhoek massacre of 24 May 1921, Militaria26 (1),1996, P 23. SAPS Archives: Box 4202, File 6/850/21 Press Cuttings, The Star, 1921-05-28; Rand Daily Mail, 1921-05-27. Z.K. Matthews quoted in G.v. Mqingwana, The Israelite movement and the Bulhoek episode (Unpublished MA thesis, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA), p 84. South African Studies 4, Nelson Mandela Speaks, p 42. 10 G.V. Mqingwana, The Israelite movement and the Bulhoek episode (Unpublished MA thesis, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA), p 83. 11 See R.R. Edgar, Because they chose the plan of God: The story of the Bulhoek massacre. Militaria 26(2) 1996 99 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 26, Nr 2, 1996. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za THE INDUSTRIAL AND THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMERCIAL WORKERS UNION OF REACTION SOUTH AFRICA (ICU) The news of the Bulhoek massacre shocked the Apart from the support received from the ANC, the Union Government. There were diverse reactions Israelites also received tremendous support from to the incident. Following the news on the incident, the ICU. The Supreme Executive of the ICU passed General Smuts made a statement in Parliament. a resolution stating "...that they wish to place on He stated that no one regretted what had happened record their strongest protest against the unpro- more than the Government. He further outlined the voked wholesale massacre of a defenceless and various measures taken by the Government in deal- peaceful people at the instigation of the capitalist ing with the Israelites. He pointed out that the posi- class, and also in pursuance of an autocratic policy tion had been made perfectly plain to the Israelites propagated by the Union Government as indicated not only by General J.L.
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