THE RACIAL DIVISION OF GORDONIA, 1921-1930 Author(s): MARTIN LEGASSICK Reviewed work(s): Source: Kronos, No. 25, Pre-millennium issue (1998/1999), pp. 152-186 Published by: University of Western Cape Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41056432 . Accessed: 05/02/2012 17:01 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact
[email protected]. University of Western Cape is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Kronos. http://www.jstor.org THE RACIAL DIVISION OF GORDONIA, 1921-1930 MARTIN LEGASSICK Universityof the Western Cape In 1921 a petitionsigned by 259 Bastermen fromGordonia was submittedto Parliament.1They asked Parliament"to restoreour previous rightsin the settlementof Gordonia" given by the Imperial governmentin "perpetual Erfpacht".A demandfor restitution of land,the petition became re-interpreted by successiveSouth African governments in line withpolicies of segregation.It catalysed,in fact,the racial division of the territory of Gordonia. In the Gordonia settlement,established in 1880, Basters had been grantedfarms along the northbank of the OrangeRiver from the Aughrabies