Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

DURBAN LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUMS ISSUE 4 | DECEMBER 2013 Conserving Our Heritage • Caring For Our Future

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2 UMLANDO 2013 CONTENTS UMLANDO issue 4 First Published 2011 by the Local History Museums - Durban ISBN: 978-0-620-59557 contributors Director: LHM Sinothi Thabethe

Editor Steven Kotze [email protected] tel: 031 311 2239

Editorial Contribution Anthee Ramlucken Bheki Mchunu Bonginkosi ‘Rock’ Zuma regulars heritage month Hlengiwe Mzolo Ian Smith 05 Editorial 27 eThekwini Living Legends Jenny Catin 06 Local History Museums: Director 29 Cultural Diversity Festival Khanya Ndlovu Book Reviews LHM Passbook Competition 38 30 Rebecca Naidoo Maypher Mngomezulu historic moments commemorations Mohau Qalaza 07 1913 Natives Land Act Centenary 32 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Nhlanhla Nkobi 35 Freedom & Workers’ Day Rob Luyt events 36 Heritage Month Stacie Gibson Thevan Harry 10 1913 Land Act Speech Contest 37 Reconciliation Day 11 International Museums Day Photographer Human Rights Day Seminar 13 features Mlungisi Shangase 14 Youth Day Dialogue 45 LHM Trust 17 Inaugural Victoria Mxenge Lecture 47 SANS Designer 18 Umkhumbane 48 Interview with Professor Jeff Guy Zimana Bashe exhibitions 20 International Library of African Music All material is copyright protected. All rights reserved. Queries should be 22 1913 Natives Land Act directed to the Editor. However, the 24 Nat Nakasa: A Native of Nowhere views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reﬂ ect those of the Publisher or Editor. While every care has been taken to ensure Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela accuracy of information, the Publisher

�� After 67 years in public service, Nelson Mandela assumed the role and Editor cannot be held responsible for any errors or views expressed. of a revered elder statesman, a familiar ﬁ gure of love and respect for © Copyright 2013 South Africans. Vanishing from public view for the last three years, the image of a frail, grey-haired old gentleman became the lasting impression of Madiba. Our commemorative cover shows another view of him, depicting the traditional Xhosa tribal dress he wore on the ﬁ rst day of the Rivonia Treason Trial, 15 October 1962. The �� radical statement he made with his clothing was that the apartheid �� state had no legal jurisdiction over him as an African; he had made ��

1 �� no choice in “white” laws.

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4 UMLANDO 2013 EDITORIAL From the Editor’s Desk

The various heritage sites within eThekwini are truly representative of the thriving diversity of cultures to be found in this “jungle port city” of ours.

s a new member of staff at Local Museum in Groutville, Mr Thabethe joined History Museums, I considered it the museums’ staff when he took up his an honour to be given responsibility post at KwaMuhle in August 2013. Those for the 2013 edition of our journal of us based at that museum with him have AUmlando. One of the privileges that came grown accustomed to his habit of popping with the assignment of putting the articles into our offi ces for a quick chat to discuss together was an opportunity to learn projects or ask an opinion on some matter more about the fascinating programmes relating to local heritage. In addition to a conducted by my colleagues. The various very smart dress sense, he is fond of heritage sites within eThekwini are truly making a joke whenever he can, like a representative of the thriving diversity of sharp-suited comedian. Thank you for all cultures found in this “jungle port city” your assistance in bringing together this of ours. The articles that the museums’ publication sir, siyakwamukela Thabethe. team have assembled provide an enriching In sad contrast with a happy welcome, snapshot of the variety that can be found is of course the painful farewell we among the interests and research projects made to our beloved former president in encouraged by museum staff. Thanks to December. After a long illness that should Zimana Bashe, the designer who laid out have prepared us better for the news when the magazine and Mlungisi Shangase who it fi nally came, the entire country was still took the pics. driven into tearful shock on Thursday 5 Although not directly related to the December when the announcement of his Durban-based focus of Umlando, November death was made. A mark of his distinction in 2013 marks a signifi cant milestone in the the world is the fact that every single front history of South Africa’s government with page of any newspaper in the world carried the centenary of the Union Buildings in the notice of his passing the next day. While Tshwane. One of the pre-eminent architects the world stood still briefl y to honour a of Britain’s empire, Sir Herbert Baker, used life lived to the top of any expectation, the design of the buildings’ two wings to our nation held a great personal grief close symbolise unity among the Boers and British to our own hearts – as if a family of 40 after the recently concluded South African million had lost their grandfather. Mourning War in 1902. One hundred years later that together for that tragic week, Madiba symbolism remains relevant as we celebrate gave us one fi nal, amazing gift. His death 20 years of freedom and the unifi cation of all reminded us all, once again, of what it truly South Africans under one non-racist, non- feels like to be a nation. sexist and democratic government. On behalf of all of us who work at the seven different sites of the Local History Museums, the Umlando editorial team would also like to take this opportunity to extend a public welcome to our new-ish director Mr Sinothi Thabethe. Coming down the coast from his former position at the Luthuli

Local History Museums - Durban 5 LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUMS: DIRECTOR Message from the Director

he year 2013 would go were the Land Act exhibition order in South Africa and the world. down in history as a most launch; International Museums Day; There is no doubt that Madiba memorable year, not only JT Gumede dialogue; Passbook touched many and made an for South Africa, but the competition; Freedom Day and indelible imprint in our memories Tworld. It was the year of various Workers Day seminar; and a cultural and hearts. He had taught us lessons commemorations marking the 100 diversity festival. of ubuntu, peace, forgiveness, years of the passing of the infamous Furthermore, the year also compassion, love and reconciliation. Land Act of 1913, which restricted marked the passing of the father of As we bid farewell to our hero the right of the majority of South our nation, the ﬁrst democratically and gradually march towards African black people to own land. elected president of our country, Dr the 20 years of our ‘embryonic’ This year also marks the 17th Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela. He has democracy, it is incumbent upon us anniversary of the most signiﬁcant been hailed as the stalwart of the to ensure that his legacy does not constitution of our country, which South African struggle for liberation vanish but continues to be upheld is a blueprint for our human and the founder of a united, non- and realised. We need not forget rights and values and serves as a sexist, non-racial and democratic that the struggle for a better life cornerstone for our democracy. South Africa in which all persons continues. Through its interactive In pursuance of its vision, mission live together in harmony, with equal programmes, LHM will continue to and objectives, Local History opportunities. As the towering ensure that the legacy, teachings, Museums continued to stage various giant of the world has fallen, the human values and principles that interactive public and educational burden is now left with all of us to Nelson Mandela lived for and programmes throughout the year. pick up the spear and soldier on in espoused throughout his life are This serves our aim of enlightening, preserving the memory of the great realised and advanced. commemorating and teaching South man. This can best be achieved if Africans about the rich tapestry of we further develop and enhance Sinothi Thabethe our history and heritage. Among his vision and philosophy of a non- Director: Local History Museums the many programmes staged racial, peaceful and democratic

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6 UMLANDO 2013 HISTORIC MOMENTS Centenary of the 1913 Land Act

he year 2013 marks 100 years since the enactment of the 1913 It is definitely not a time for white South Africans Natives Land Act (hereafter, the to look back and feel guilty, nor for black South Land Act). This was the law that Twas testimony to the harsh realities in Africans to look back and feel like victims. our history. Different commentators have found themselves in the trap of word NHANHLA NKOBI play while trying to describe what the Land Act really was. Words and phrases used include: notorious, perpetuating with the intimate details of the Land Act, Although referred to as squatters, the suffering to Africans, merciless, atrocious, for the benefit of South Africa. This article black farmers rented the land from white mischievous, a pitiless yoke, a cruel will provide a glimpse into the Land Act, farmers or gained access to land as share operation, antagonising the native its short and long term impacts and how croppers by giving white farmers half feeling, causing untold hardships, vicious, South Africa has responded to its after of their produce as rent. Alternatively, iniquitous, a poison, the most cruel, and effects. labour tenants subjected some of their 1 a constant, caustic irritant . In his State family members to working for white of the Nation Address in 2013, President The 1913 Land Act farmers in return for using the white Jacob Zuma described the Land Act as one The Natives Land Act, No. 27 of 1913, farmers land. The fact that black farmers which turned black people into wanderers, was promulgated to law and commenced therefore had access to land they used for labourers and pariahs in their own land. on 19 June 1913. The Land Act was a keeping cattle and for the cultivation of For many commentators it appears response to, inter alia, the complaints put crops meant they were self sufficient and trivial to delve into the “nitty-gritty’s” of forward by the Members of Parliament did not need to work for white farmers the Act, as long as people get the gist, about African tenant farmers who lived to survive. In a nutshell, even without which appears to cement the mind-set and farmed on white-owned land, and thus that the Land Act was downright ruthless did not provide labour for white farmers. and inhumane, specifically to Africans. But should the centenary of this law be about that? Should it be about describing the ruthlessness of the Land Act? I think there is a need to move past that and engage

Local History Museums - Durban 7 HISTORIC MOMENTS

owning it, for an African land meant self sufficiency. It was an almost impossible mission to force these accomplished farmers to end their way of life and demand they provide labour for a white man instead. The promulgation of the Land Act was a step towards solving this problem that white farmers faced. The Land Act apportioned 7% of all the land in South Africa as reserves for the Africans and excluded them from ownership in the rest of the country, which was made available to white people who consisted of less that 20% of the South African population2. This was done through prohibiting Africans from buying land outside the so-called ‘scheduled areas’. The ‘scheduled areas’ consisted of reserves and a few farms that were owned by blacks outside the reserves, and were mostly situated in infertile areas of the country. The Land Act also prevented ‘non-natives’ buying land in the ‘scheduled areas’. Furthermore, an anti-squatting provision in the Land Act saw an exodus regain their land or access to enough land reform will be largely based on of black farmers who were renting white land for their needs. Even the Freedom willing buyer, willing seller arrangements’. farms. The Land Act further stipulated Charter is crafted around these principles. It further stated that ‘expropriation will that black people could live outside their However, the problem of equitable be used as an instrument of last resort ‘scheduled areas’ only if they could prove distribution of land still persists in the where urgent land needs cannot be met, that they were in white employment. democratic South Africa. for various reasons, through voluntary Based on the above, it is easy to tell For African people land is closely tied market transactions’. The concept of that the substance of the Land Act was to their spiritual beliefs; it is their cultural willing buyer, willing seller principle hinged to ensure that white people, especially heritage. This is the reason why, in his on a voluntary transaction, based on the farmers, had more than enough land to speech at the adoption of the Republic of market value of the land. Regardless of work. Furthermore, the Land Act broke South Africa Constitution Bill, entitled ‘I these problems, however, the government the cycle of self-sufficiency for black am an African’, Thabo Mbeki stated that set itself a target of redistributing 30% of people. After the promulgation of the he owes his identity ‘to the hills and the land by the year 2001. Land Act, Africans became dependent valleys, the mountains and the glades, the In June 2001, the period over on white farmers for employment rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, which transfer of the targeted 30% of and economic survival. Finally, the the seas and the ever-changing seasons agricultural land was to be completed, was implementation of the ‘scheduled areas’ that define the face of our native land’. extended to 15 years. The government fostered segregation of Africans from Based on this, it is justifiable to argue that has subsequently blamed the willing buyer, white areas. Thus, whether aware of it or stripping Africans of this valuable cultural willing seller approach as a hindrance to not, the Union government, through the heritage is tantamount to stripping them of the acceleration of land reform. Upon Land Act, ensured the overpopulation and their identity. Thus, regaining land can lead this basis, the government has come up impoverishment of Africans in the reserves to the rejuvenation of black identity. with the National Development Plan when their economic spine, the land, was Vision 2030 which is crafted around taken away from them. Restitution the principle of alleviating poverty Post apartheid, the South African and exclusion, and at the same time, Before and after 1994 government has tried to address the issue nurturing economic growth. Although the immediate aftermath of land. I will not dwell on each and every of the land act was dire poverty and the attempt but I will focus on two, one which paralysis of economic development for has been declared a failure and another black people in their ‘scheduled areas’, one which has been proposed. In a nutshell, even vestiges of its impact are still felt today, 19 The Reconstruction and Development years into the democratic dispensation of Programme of 1996 (RDP) was an attempt without owning South Africa. This is despite the struggle to rectify that land issue in which the for liberation from colonial and apartheid ruling government set itself the target it, for an African domination being based on the objective of transferring ownership of 30% of all of regaining land. The hope of black agricultural land within five years. The land meant self people was that post-apartheid, tables RDP informed the drafting of a White would be turned, and they would finally Paper which stated that the ‘redistributive sufficiency

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The NDP acknowledged the staggering black beneficiaries without distorting Africa’s ability to solve its problems. The poverty rate of rural communities in South land markets or business confidence in Land Act centenary ultimately warrants Africa. A solution proposed by the NDP is the agribusiness sector. Secondly, offer South Africans to measure our capacity to create a million jobs through agricultural white commercial farmers and organised to solve the controversial obstacles that development based on effective land industry bodies the opportunity to history bestowed on us. reform and expansion of irrigated contribute to the success of black farmers The government thus has a challenge. agriculture. This sector is one of the few through mentorships, chain integration, This is the time to take stock of its remaining areas of goods production that preferential procurement and meaningful policies on land. There is a burning need can establish strong direct and indirect skills transfer. This ensures sustainable to understand why its attempts at land economic employment for the rural poor. production on transferred land by making reform have failed so far, and what must The NDP is based on the framework that sure that human capabilities precede land be done to redress the legacy of the past land reform is not only about taking land transfer. while taking cognisance of the socio- from a white person and giving it to a economic realities of South Africa. The black person but to do so within the socio- Conclusion NDP seems to be the answer, but its economic realities of South Africa. In other The Land Act centenary is a complex implementation is critical as it can only be words, that distributive land should be historic event. White South Africans done the right way. given to black beneficiaries who will play a cannot look back and applaud their role in bridging youth unemployment, the forefathers for engineering the Land Act, (Footnotes) alleviation of poverty and in ensuring food while blacks obviously cannot celebrate 1 Feinberg, M. H. 2006. Protest in South Africa: Prominent Black Leaders’ Commentary on security for South Africa. either. It is not a time for mourning, the Natives Land Act, 1913-1936. Historia 52 For land reform to work, NDP though. It is definitely not a time for white (2): 119-144. 2 It should be pointed out that 7% of the total principles demand two major points be South Africans to look back and feel guilty, land surface was equal to approximately 25% addressed. Firstly, establish institutional nor for black South Africans to look back of agricultural land in South Africa, allowing white farmers the remaining 75% of farm land arrangements to monitor land markets and feel like victims. The problem of land – Editor. against undue opportunism, corruption is not a white or black problem, it is a 3 The document can be accessed from: and speculation. This will enable a more South African problem and the failure to http://www.npconline.co.za/medialib/downloads/ home/NPC%20National%20Development%20 rapid transfer of agricultural land to address it only reflects badly on South Plan%20Vision%202030%20-lo-res.pdf

Local History Museums - Durban 9 EVENTS 1913 Native Land Act Speech Competition

o commemorate one hundred years of the Native Land Act being passed In honour of the devastating effect of this law that into law in 1913, the Local History forced many Africans to become wage labourers Museum hosted a speech contest for the first time, museum staff felt that learners Twith learners who are incarcerated at at Westville prison would benefit the most from a Westville Correctional Services. It was speech contest. decided that this year the museum would HLENGIWE MZOLO reach out to these learners as not enough has been done to accommodate them in our past programmes, despite the fact that A speech contest consists of two main Most black farmers moved out of their land they are part of the community we serve. elements, the content of what a speaker says and whilst they were on the road Sol Plaatjie To remember the devastating effect and their ability to convey this accurately went to them and tried to gather evidence so he of this law that forced many Africans to and clearly. Unless the person is already a could write a book about these farmers which become wage labourers for the first time, confident speaker, competing in this way were evicted. The title of the book was Native the museum felt that learners at Westville can be a challenge for any learner, so it is Life in South Africa. Some farmers had to move prison would benefit the most from a impressive that 10 people took to the stage to the cities because they were not well off and speech contest. The event was arranged to to speak on the topic. The learner who this forced them to become wage labourers. take place in March 2013, and participants won the contest was Eager Phahla, and he Black farmers were having trouble because they were given an opened-ended topic to had the following to say, ‘This Act which was were moving from province to province trying to discuss, namely: The 1913 Native Land Act implemented in June 19, 1913 brought a lot find a permanent place to stay. and its aftermath. Volunteers then took of pain and shame on the black people. This Nelson Mandela passed the Restitution of their turn at the podium in front of the Act which was passed by the government Land Rights in 1994. This law allowed all land audience to talk about their personal views focused mainly on oppressing black farmers. which had been confiscated to be returned to of the Land Act and what its effects have As a result land was taken away from these the black farmers. Taking land away from the been on South Africa. farmers and they were forced into poverty and black farmers had been very easy, but when it an unstable lifestyle. was time to give it back it was difficult. Some people didn’t get it back, but at least with the assistance of our great Nelson Mandela we were able to get our freedom back from the Europeans. Land is still largely in the hands of the minority whites, but with time we do hope that justice will be done and our land will truly be returned to its rightful owners!’ Clearly from these passionate words Mr Phahla has recognised the great burden that the 1913 Land Act placed on the development of South Africa. Providing equitable restitution for the injustice has not yet been achieved. For this reason the issue of land in South Africa still remains an area for debate, and has become one of the issues over which politicians attempt to surpass one another. How the land issue will be resolved in our country, and at what point, remains to be seen, but learners at Westville prison benefited from this debate.

LHM Curator, Khanya Ndlovu, handing over a certiﬁcate to the winning participant, Eager Phahla, at Westville Prison during the 1913 Land Act Speech Contest.

10 UMLANDO 2013 EVENTS International Museums Day: 18 May 2013

ne of the joys of a museum Durban’s Local History Museums is its ability to make a visitor feel as if this is a place that celebrated International Museum Day on spent centuries accumulating 18 May 2013 by presenting an education Olayers of history, patiently waiting just for programme with drama students from the them to pay a visit. Visitors can find refuge Chesterville High School. in exhibitions, education programmes and REBECCA NAIDOO & ANTHEE RAMLUCKEN workshops as fascinating and rewarding as any other amusement or attraction. Museums provide a calm, unhurried way celebrated International Museum Day on Museums (memory + creativity) = social to take in the city’s history, conveying an 18 May 2013 by presenting an education change was aimed at increasing awareness account of the times gone by, filled with programme with drama students from of museums as agents of social change. oddity and charm as well as providing the Chesterville High School. This was The respective programmes kicked off details of suffering or success, and thus held in conjunction with a Lecture and with a visual presentation of the seven build awareness and understanding. Dialogue event hosted by the Museum’s different sites that form our Local History Durban’s Local History Museums Education Department. The theme of Museums: Old Court House Museum, KwaMuhle Museum, Maritime Museum, Old House Museum, Cato Manor Heritage Centre, Bergtheil Museum and Pinetown Museum. The Chesterville students were then introduced to play, acting concepts for educational, informative and entertainment purposes. They picked a theme related to time travel into history in order to develop a concept, while a storyboard led to the building of characters, and ultimately to the production of a play by the students. Introducing creative techniques to these students initiated a lot of energy in the room. Some very intense conversations and great ideas evolved. The result was a fun-filled morning of entertainment and stimulation. Meanwhile, at the Lecture and Dialogue event, another element of social change was the focal point of discussion, namely the role of civil society organisations. A diverse audience ranged from members of the Centre for Civil Society at UKZN to civil society organisations for workers and students’ representatives, as well as educators, political organisations and members of

LEFT: A poster design for IMD 2013 by ICOM themed: Museums (Memory + Creativity) = Social Change.

Local History Museums - Durban 11 EVENTS

the public. The topic under consideration was, ‘The role of civil society organisations as represented by SANCO in the context of the Tripartite Alliance’, with the objective of identifying NGOs or NPOs that uplift and transform our society by inculcating self-sufficiency and service delivery and donating services and time to nation building. With the JT Gumede exhibition at KwaMuhle Museum as the backdrop, a lively argument proceeded between the various members of the audience. Why was the Josiah Tshangana Gumede exhibition a fitting location? He was a forerunner in the fight to free working class people from exploitation. In his capacity as President of the ANC he gave a powerful speech at the ‘International Congress Against Imperialism’, in Brussels on 10 February 1927. This inspired a resolution to be passed, which included the following statement: ‘Realizing that the unity of all workers irrespective of race, colour or creed is essential to the successful issue of the fight against exploitation and imperialism, this Congress calls upon the workers of South Africa, both white and black, to strive for that mutual understanding that will bring about working class unity and solidarity in their own interests and those of all other workers and oppressed peoples of the world.’ Central to our discussion was an issue of whether unions should encourage their membership to effectively contribute in our political, economic and social system beyond their union-based activities. Questions were raised over the need for a culture of participation and involvement in addressing the country’s challenges as part of social responsibility by workers, PHOTOS, FROM TOP DOWN: Students from Chesterville High School especially to help decrease the socio- Students from Chesterville High School play acting, using a theme of ‘time travel economic and political challenges the completing a worksheet based on the into the past’. country is facing. What ensued was an Anton Lembede Exhibition in the Old Court inspiring discussion that engaged the House museum. audience in a sound argument relating to poverty, crime, workers’ issues and the engage with diverse audiences. Thought- to open new channels of communication government’s success or failure to address provoking and refreshing ideas were put between different sectors of society. these issues. forward, encouraging and inspiring both The important role museums can play in Heated disputes extended over the young students and seasoned adults to use society by nurturing students cannot be role of civil society organisations, and museums as an important tool in culture underestimated. International Museums whether or not they simply duplicated and heritage education. Day made it stimulating to engage in, and the services of the Tripartite Alliance. Ultimately our discussions could not question the right and wrong beliefs of Similarly, can the SACP or Cosatu really resolve how civil society organisations the past, as they reflect on the present. work independently of government to fulfil and the workers’ movement can best Critical thinking and lateral and creative their social visions, or where do they draw build stronger partnerships between ways were engaged in both programmes the line in terms of participation? Creative society and government, but it was not to generate thought processes and methods were used by the museums intended to. Rather, the debate hosted by encourage dialogue between different to transfer knowledge among audience the Local History Museum was intended sectors of our community. members, and to encourage new ways to

12 UMLANDO 2013 EVENTS Human Rights Day Seminar

ocal History Museums of eThekwini Municipality, alongside Government Mob Justice: ‘Crime Committed, Wrongly Communications (GCIS), Community Accused, Social Disorder’ - Human Rights Participation (CPASU), Community LSafety and Liaison and Intergovernmental and the Rule of Law.’ Relations (IGR) hosted a seminar in honour of Victoria and Griffiths Mxenge, a couple who MAYPHER MNGOMEZULU dedicated their lives to the fight for human rights. On 20 March the museum hosted a Lindelani Township in Ntuzuma was exists of a false witness. Fights often stem dialogue to observe 2013 Human Rights Day once engulfed with political tensions and from religion or over accusations of witchcraft, with an open platform on challenges posed intolerance, an image which fortunately has although conflicts concerning tradition and to the rule of law by mob justice; questioning been transformed over the years. Among politics are also common. Emotions are raised whether or not ‘mob justice’ or ‘mob injustice’ other incidents, in 2011 an elderly couple for the wrong reasons, sometimes to avenge is a denial of basic human rights. was accused of witchcraft and burnt to another person’s vendetta. People who take After successfully hosting 2012 Human death in their home by members of the the law into their own hands end up becoming Rights Day, the Local History Museum community. One of the reasons our Mob criminals themselves and in some cases they kill decided to provide more information about Justice / Injustice Seminar was taken to breadwinners too. the rule of law and mob justice to ensure the township was this history of political One of the members of the community that this social illness is eliminated. For a intolerance, and gross human rights violation raised the issue that ‘rape and crime are deeper understanding of the root causes of in the past, linked to criminal activity. prevalent in the area’ and that structures the problem, political parties and affiliates The dialogue was designed to exchange in place to deal with offences do not work were encouraged to use this debate in views with Lindelani residents, with the to the community’s satisfaction. As a result campaigns and consider them in their aim of assisting them to resolve their children tend to be aggressive; schoolwork political policy implementation for the future. own social issues, rather than dictating or suffers and they behave badly at home. Similarly, schools and other educational prescribing to them on challenges they Victims are affected psychologically and it institutions should use discussions of this face. The community is keen to receive affects their performance at work, which will nature to sensitise learners about this any constructive advice, and willingly co- eventually affect our economy. The panel malady. Participating newspapers and radio operates to advance development and pleaded for people to report crime to SAPS, stations are able to reach a broad audience alleviate poverty. According to statistics especially drug dealing. The community must and were asked to feature issues concerning supplied by Cooperative Governance and also report police who don’t do their work. human rights and mob justice. Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Lindelani is a It was recommended that continued The objective of our 2013 Human Rights place plagued by a high unemployment rate dialogue would decrease mob killings by seminar was to conclude the process started of over 80% of residents unemployed. having structures in place to alleviate this the previous year, ensuring that basic rights are A panel of experienced professionals from problem. Various agencies and departments never violated as they were under apartheid. diverse fields was invited to offer guidance on need to work together and create The seminar reinforced human rights as the subject of ‘Mob Justice’. Panelists included programmes to assist communities, and inherent rights for everyone, irrespective of Holson Mbhele from Community Safety in particular Community Policing Forums political affiliation or religious denomination. and Liaison, Mpume Thusi from KZN Social should be revisited and restarted. Parents The theme ‘Mob Justice: ‘Crime Committed, Development, Brigadier Mngonyana from were advised to report an incident of rape Wrongly Accused, Social Disorder’; Human eThekwini Law Enforcement, Sibongile Mkhize to SAPS immediately, and thereafter visit the Rights and the Rule of Law’ encouraged the from the Justice Department to advise the doctor and a psychologist. The Department community to avoid blaming ‘our justice system audience on prosecuting processes, and Rev S P of Social Development offers assistance to or law enforcement agencies, but rather to Msomi who provided a spiritual perspective of traumatised individuals through counselling. look inwards and find their own remedies for the topic. In conclusion, the team returned to assist this terrible violence’. Healing society requires Crucial facts highlighted at Lindelani the community in the formation of structures a joint effort by all community members and were that crowds seeking ‘mob justice’ don’t to take these resolutions further. The onus was, engagement with difficult issues to come up always have all the facts and the possibility however, left with the community to ensure with solutions. the reputation and image of Lindelani was enhanced. As Local History Museums we leave Among other incidents, in 2011 an elderly it in the community’s hands to continue the dialogue. We would like to acknowledge and couple was accused of witchcraft and burnt convey our sincere gratitude to the community to death in their home by members of the of Lindelani for their cooperation and assistance, which permitted this successful and meaningful community. commemoration of Human Rights Day.

Local History Museums - Durban 13 EVENTS Youth Day Dialogue

June 16 Youth Day Dialogue: Attacking the blight of the 1913 Natives Land Act

NHLANHLA NKOBI

his year on the 18th of June, the ownership, consequentially dispossessing Whatever minor causes Local History Museums (LHM) black South Africans of the land they once there may have been joined the rest of South Africa owned. At that point, white people made commemorating the June 16 Youth up less than 20% of the South African for the many Bantu- TDay, through a Youth Day Dialogue hosted population. The act further prohibited at Port Natal Maritime Museum. June 16 black people from ever acquiring land in European wars, the is a day when South Africa remembers so-called ‘white’ South Africa, thereby and respects the youth of 1976 for their robbing black South Africans of their desire for land was the activism and contribution in the struggle citizenship. The dispossession, which was against apartheid. The day, however, also coupled with dire poverty of black South fundamental cause investigates the role of today’s youth in Africans, was exacerbated by the 1936 (Lewin, 1944). shaping South Africa’s future. June 16 Native Trust and Land Act that cemented 1976 is remembered as the day when the grip of the white government on land. numbers of peacefully demonstrating The 1913 Land Act was immediately students were shot dead in Soweto by challenged by the South African Native police ofﬁcers. The day, also known as National Congress (SANNC, which the ‘Soweto uprising’, was precipitated later became the ANC). In 1914, the by the requirement that black students SANNC submitted a petition to members be taught in Afrikaans, the language of of the British Parliament and Imperial their oppressors1. The ideological role Government asking in vain for intervention of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction to stop the Act. Land was to be the major at selected black schools was merely the cause of all clashes between black and catalyst of the uprising; the real causes white in South Africa during the 20th are the long-term political questions century3 as this notorious Act penetrated considered below2. and negatively affected every sphere of The commemoration of Youth Day by black South African life. The dichotomous MAIN PHOTO, STANDING – LEFT TO the Local History Museums also relates to handling of blacks and whites perpetuated RIGHT: Sabelo Ntuli (NYDA), Sarah Downs the centenary of the 1913 Land Act, a law by the 1913 Land Act, in which blacks (ACDP), Ntokozo Zama (ACDP), Nhlanhla that served as a long-term cause of the acquired less security and resources than Nkobi (LHM), Xolani Ngwezi (IFP), Njabulo June 16 uprising. This Act was the basis of whites, spiraled into schools. This law was, Mlaba (NFP), Siphokuhle Dludla (ANCYL), the ‘Bantustan’ policy that reserved 87% in schools, complemented by the Bantu Bheka Ntuli (DA). of South Africa’s land exclusively for white Education Act (1953) which saw a large

14 UMLANDO 2013 EVENTS number of black students cramped in very few, under-resourced schools while white Post apartheid, and 19 years into democracy, counterparts enjoyed a better education black South Africans are yet to get a fair share of in their well resourced, under-populated schools. There was a dire shortage land; youth unemployment is yet to be addressed of classrooms and teachers for black children, and many of the teachers were and education is still in shambles. under-qualified. By 1976, there were 257 505 African nurturing economic growth. pupils enrolled in Form 1 at high schools, Kwandiwe Kondlo5 has argued that South The 2013 Youth Day Dialogue was which had a capacity for only 38 000. Africa lacks what he calls ‘deserving youth’ envisioned within the context of these These conditions led to the 1976 Soweto – the youth that is conscious of its dignity issues. The gist of the dialogue was three- uprising, a sign that black youth were fed and destiny; it is a youth that has gotten fold; to investigate the role of the youth up by injustices such as the 1913 Land right the essentials of life’s philosophical in South Africa today, find out what the strategy and is therefore able to both Act, which cost black people their land youth thinks about land reformation and discover and fulfill its mission; it is a youth and forced them to work for whites. unravel their views on the proposed that has gotten to know the spiritual value The Bantu Education Act was crafted to policies of NDP land reform. embedded in emancipatory praxis and that reinforce the social and economic class freedom consists of discipline and selfless structure of the apartheid system, where Discussion – Youth Day Dialogue: service to others, the kind of youth that black students were prepared for a life embraces the ‘absurd’. By this I refer to Role of Youth in a Democratic of labour for white people. Within this the ethic of compassion and the ethic of South Africa framework, it can be argued that the 1976 respect. On this topic, the discussion suggested uprisings were a struggle for, inter alia, a The kind of youth instilled with the that government is best positioned to help better education, land and decent jobs. aforesaid values, according to Prof. the youth realise their potential to have a Post apartheid, and 19 years into Kondlo, will have something positive role in shaping South Africa. Njabulo Mlaba democracy, black South Africans are to contribute to our participatory of the National Freedom Party (NFP) yet to get a fair share of land; youth democracy. A question was posed to argued that the South African education unemployment is yet to be addressed the youth present on the sentiments of system needs modification to empower and education is still in shambles4. One Prof. Kondlo. Sipho Dlula of the African youth to be productive citizens and of the numerous attempts to address National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) participate in the mainstream economy. the problem of land in South Africa responded, He argued that ‘the unemployment rate was through the Reconstruction and The professor was over-generalising. The in South Africa is directly proportional Development Programme of 1996 (RDP). vast majority of youth has potential to to the education system in the country. grow, we need an enabling environment In June 2001, the period for completing The curriculum needs to change. SA for young people to create employment the goal of redistributing 30% of is producing graduates that are not for them and not rely on the state. Our agricultural land was extended to 15 years. relevant to the South African job market’. education too must be able to produce Subsequently, the government has blamed This assertion found agreement with a competent youth. the so-called ‘willing buyer, willing seller’ number of youth present who underlined Ntokozo Zama of the African Christian approach for delaying land reform. Now the need for quality education, relevant Democratic Party (ACDP) argued that the National Development Plan Vision to market demands. youth need to come together from all 2030 has been devised by government While investigating the role of youth parties to raise issues with one voice. He to alleviate poverty and exclusion, while in participatory democracy, Professor emphasised the need for people to acquire skills without waiting for the government to do something for them. But is the environment conducive? Sarah Pies from the ACDP argued that our government has played with education changing from policy to policy. Who is choosing for us [youth] when these policies are changed? We as the youth have one of the biggest roles to play. We need to start now rather than when we are older. Start campaigns, make submissions to government. In the same vein, Bheka Ntuli of the Democratic Alliance (DA) argued that ‘the current youth are despondent about politics and do not participate in the formation of policies. The youth will never develop through the policies developed from the apartheid system’. The overall discussion revealed that the youth do not

Local History Museums - Durban 15 EVENTS

feel they can influence policy, which can prompt one to argue that youth related There is no doubt, in concluding, that the views policies are implemented in a top-down of South African youth need to be taken into manner without youth themselves really taking part. consideration when government policies are being This raised the question of whether the National Youth Development implemented. South Africa needs to put youth at the Agency (NYDA) was the best platform forefront of the land issue and its reform. or vehicle the youth can use to become entrepreneurs and address some of their problems without leaning on government. Youth and Land Reform as land is the economy of Africa, and Most arguments about the NYDA were An objective of the discussion was youth unemployment can be the damning, as it was accused of failing the to investigate what South African youths thing of the past if land is reformed youth (Ayanda Khumalo) and assisting think about land reform. It is not common to addresses the economic challenges only ANCYL affiliated people (Mjabulelwa to find the views of youth on the land that South Africa faces. Still on this Mngadi). According to the NYDA Branch question in many media sources, unlike topic, Sipho Dlula mentioned that the manager in Durban, Sabelo Ntuli, some of the airspace given the ANCYL about a ANCYL formerly adopted an extreme the problems faced by his agency are as year ago. Their former president Julius policy of expropriation of land without follows: Malema maintained that expropriation compensation, but this policy changed at “We should understand that the purpose without compensation simply means white the 53rd ANC National Conference at of the NYDA is to link people with farmers with more than one farm need Mangaung, and is not policy of the ANCYL opportunities, we don’t employ anyone to keep one and give away the rest to but point you to the right direction. Our any longer. budget is being cut on annual basis and our the people who previously lost their land. There is no doubt, in concluding, impact will never be the same in relation This provoked reactions from different that the views of South African youth to the number of people unemployed. It is corners, with some commentators arguing need to be taken into consideration not NYDA that has failed the youth, but the that land reform is not merely about when government policies are being government has. We are a conduit, we don’t grabbing the land from a white person implemented. South Africa needs to put have factories. As youth formations, you and giving to black people, but in so doing youth at the forefront of the land issue and have to come up with ways on how you can taking cognisance of the socio-economic its reform. Youth need to be empowered advise the government to assist the NYDA. realities of South Africa6. Nevertheless, through skills to work the land, and be Since 16 June 2009 we have dispersed is ‘expropriation of land without R97 million in loans. Not everyone in this given a chance to work with people whose room will benefit but people do benefit on a compensation’ the general perspective of land is productive. regular basis”. South African youth? Not everyone present was convinced Bheka Ntuli (DA) mentioned the National Development Plan, that the NYDA is the solution in aforesaid ‘willing seller, willing buyer’ Vision 2030 and Land Reform addressing the problems faced by the strategy the government employed in The dialogue focused only on the youth of South Africa, though. distributing land, and argued that, by its sections of the NDP that specifically Xolani Ngwezi of the Inkatha Freedom nature, the policy excluded the youth. He concern land and land reform. The NDP Party (IFP) echoed the Youth Brigade of elaborated further that he is not against was created around poverty alleviation the IFP as a member who will be serving the ‘willing buyer, willing seller’ policy, and economic exclusion, while nurturing in the NYDA KZN board, but they but added ‘people should be allowed to economic growth at the same time. The have elaborated countless times to the buy shares in productive land so that they NDP acknowledges the staggering poverty government that South Africa needs a Youth can acquire skills from the people who rate mostly in the rural communities of Ministry. Such a ministry, he explained, will already have experience, so that when South Africa. ensure that problems faced by the youth are they have their own land, their land can The economic and social legacy of tackled and the youth are given a voice. be productive’. By the same token, he colonialism and apartheid mean South We must not run away from the fact that argued, the NYDA needs to assist youth Africa’s rural areas are characterised NYDA is not a solution to the problems to buy shares from productive land too. by unusually high levels of poverty and joblessness, with very limited employment facing the young people in South Africa. A Lastly, if only 3% of land contributes to Youth Ministry that deals with the issues in agriculture. The apartheid system forced the GDP of South Africa, it should not much of the African population into rural of young people in South Africa needs to be taken from people who work on it be created. reserves. The result was an advanced as giving it to people with no skills. This and diversified commercial arming This assertion was welcomed by the is why 90% of the 5.9 million hectares sector relying on poorly paid farm labour, youth present. Young South Africans allocated to emerging farmers is no longer and impoverished, densely populated appreciate that education is a tool they productive. The lack of skills to work communities with limited economic can use to become productive citizens, the land was the major concern among opportunities and minimal government and play an active role in South Africa. As the youth, and was perceived as a ticking services. it is, this tool is not working, it needs to time bomb for both food security and One of the solutions the NDP proposes be improved. Youth feel they should play unemployment. is the creation of a million jobs through a role in crafting policies for their sector, Richard Chawanikwa from Zimbabwe agricultural development based on effective while not holding much hope for the argued that expropriation without NYDA as an institution. compensation could be detrimental continued on page 34...

16 UMLANDO 2013 The Inaugural Victoria Mxenge Annual Lecture

urban has produced a number of struggle heroes whose contribution Victoria Nonyamezelo Mxenge was a led to the birth of freedom and democracy in South Africa. One fearless freedom fighter and has been Dsuch hero is Victoria Nonyamezelo Mxenge, immortalised as a struggle icon. most notable in that she paid the ultimate price for the freedom of others. She was a HLENGIWE MZOLO woman many people described as fearless. Indeed Victoria Mxenge was a fearless freedom fighter and has been immortalised venue named in her honour, the Victoria workers were declared illegal; the Black as a struggle icon. According to a confession Mxenge Indoor Sport Centre in Umlazi. Jacks at Lamontville were wreaking havoc; by one of her murderers at the Truth Victoria Mxenge owned a house in Umlazi the Security Police were arresting political and Reconciliation Commission, after the where she practised as a nurse and later activists and members of the Congress of South African Students Congress and assassins first fired five bullets into her body a lawyer, and she mentored lawyers such South African Workers Union (SAAWU). she remained standing; stubbornly unshaken as Linda Zama, Advocate Bulelani Ngcuka Demanding political trials were steadily and fearless even when death was staring her and several others. The lecture was well increasing. However, she held on and went in the face. attended and included representatives from beyond the call of duty as a lawyer to make According to the murderer, this is what various churches, community organisation sure that families of detained clients had forced them to finally kill her with an axe and the principals, educators and young food and their children went to school. in front of her young children. Less than women from Umlazi high schools. Among She comforted and encouraged mothers of five years earlier this brave woman had political organisations present were the ANC political prisoners who were sentenced to been widowed by the Vlakplaas hit squad Women’s League, ANC Veterans, and ward long term imprisonment and those whose sons were sentenced to death. Through led by Dirk Coetzee, Butana Nofomela councillors from Umlazi. all these demands she remained a loving and others. When apartheid propaganda The lecture was presented by well mother to Mbasa, Namhla and Viwe, spread misinformation that her husband, known local lawyer, Ms Linda Zama, who not forgetting her great friends, the dogs Griffiths Mxenge, was murdered by her own was a protégée of Victoria Mxenge. Some of including “Ask-Him”, a dog that adored organisation, the African National Congress, the key points raised by Linda Zama in her her. Those dogs were poisoned on the eve Victoria brushed aside those false rumours moving address were: of Griffiths Mxenge’s assassination. They as propaganda and vowed to continue from I must disclose that to me Victoria became casualties of a merciless and brutal where her husband had left off. She was the Mxenge is not history or a memory. I regime. embodiment of a stalwart in the struggle experienced her. Her philosophy was that continued on page 41... against oppression, segregation and human “angikwaziukuhlulwa into engakhulumi” rights abuse. (lit. “some thing that cannot speak will never defeat me”). At her office, candidate MAIN PHOTO: Standing – Left to Right To celebrate her role in the struggle, attorneys understood the importance of after the lecture: Local History Museums both as a woman and as a fearless fighter, researching the law, professional courtesy Director, Sinothi Thabethe, Old Court House the Local History Museum initiated a series and reporting progress to clients. Every museum Education Officer Hlengiwe Mzolo, of annual lectures which will be held during matter was handled in a professional guest of honour and speaker Linda Zama, Women’s Month in different parts of our manner, even matters of indigent clients. along with Mrs Yingwana and Ntombodidi Metro. The inaugural Victoria Mxenge The now defunct Black Administration Makhanya. lecture was held on 16 August 2013 at a Act was causing pain and suffering as

Local History Museums - Durban 17 EVENTS uMkhumbane Freedom Park

he history of uMkhumbane-Cato Manor, with settlement dating The Umkhumbane Freedom Park from the early Iron Age, offers an important perspective on the history Project offers the region a unique Tof Durban and the country’s colonial and heritage resource. apartheid past. uMkhumbane-Cato Manor grew to become the second largest urban ROB LUYT African community in South Africa by the mid-twentieth century and was at the centre of struggle and conflict in Durban. In recognition of its potential as a The vision for the project was Significant upheavals such as the riots of heritage and educational hub saturated conceived more than 10 years ago when 1949, subsequent forced removals, and with tourism and commercial potential, an architectural competition laid the the 1959 Cato Manor riots reverberated eThekwini Municipality embarked on the foundation for the project. Central to across the county and beyond. Some have development of uMkhumbane Freedom the design by Choromanski Architects, suggested that the killing of nine policemen Park. The master plan comprises various the master plan incorporated the vision on 23 January 1960 was tenuously echoed elements and offers unique and iconic of a heritage facility integrated with in the Sharpeville massacre of March facilities presenting the history of Cato commercial concession spaces, but just that year. uMkhumbane was also a place Manor in a way that identifies with the a stone’s throw away from residential of convergence, boasting a rich cultural, shared experiences of people removed properties. Municipal and Lotto funding social, political and religious life just a from places throughout South Africa, such offered financial stimulus for the project, stone’s throw away from the centre of as District Six, Sophiatown and Weenen. which was also supported by the donation town. of land by the University of KwaZulu-

Umkhumbane Freedom Park

18 UMLANDO 2013 EVENTS

Natal, under the auspices of the National Department of Education. King Goodwill Zwelithini with the Mayor This site of the ‘uMkhumbane of Ethekwini Cllr James Nxumalo at the Freedom Park’ on the banks of the Annual Queen Thomo Wreath Laying ceremony uMkhumbane River gained additional on 17 August 2013 significance, as it was chosen by King Goodwill Zwelithini for the reburial of the remains of his late mother Queen Thomozile Jezangani KaNdwandwe Zulu. The reburial ceremony took place on Saturday 7 May 2011 and was attended by the State President, His Excellency Jacob Zuma; KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize; the Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Cllr Obed Mlaba, as well as other dignitaries and senior members of the provincial legislature. In his address at the unveiling of the tombstone on 8 May President Zuma said: It is also fitting that the Queen Mother’s remains be laid to rest here as she also lived in Cato Manor during her last days and this contributes to the historic significance of this location. The government, through the eThekwini Municipality, has undertaken to establish an interactive cultural museum and heritage centre, with the aim of acknowledging and celebrating the role played by the Zulu Monarchy in the country’s liberation struggle. This centre will be linked to associated commercial, retail and other complementary activities under the Cultural Renaissance Programme of the eThekwini Municipality.” In recent months construction on site has lead to the completion of the Queen Mother’s resting place and the associated landscaping complete with on-site parking. In describing the Queen Mother’s resting place, Rodney Choromanski emphasised that the structure was never intended to be seen as a tomb or crypt, but rather as a sculptural marker in the landscape. To some its abstract free form resembles a stone, while to of the Heritage Center was completed by Naidu (Structural Engineer); Nirvana others a scalloped womb-like enclosure, the professional team with tenders being Loutan (Civil Engineer); Shepherd characteristic of a traditional homestead called for in late 2013. Nkosi (Electrical Engineer); Dave Ward or umuzi. According to tradition the Special recognition should be made (Mechanical Engineer); Dave Knight (Fire Queen Mother rests lying with her feet of the dedicated professional team Consultant); Joanne Lees (Architectural in the east and head in the west, a free including: Ian Rout (Project Manager); Department). Their contribution and spirit under natural light which falls Rodney Choromanski (Architect); Ian commitment to the project has been through the parametric structure of the Hayes-Hill (Quantity Surveyor); Sada critical to its success. roof, a metaphor for her love of craft and beadwork. This site of the uMkhumbane Freedom Park on The uMkhumbane Freedom Park project offers the region a unique heritage the banks of the uMkhumbane River gained resource. Under the leadership of the Head of Parks, Recreation and Culture, Mr additional significance, as it was chosen by Thembinkosi Ngcobo, and with support King Goodwill Zwelithini for the reburial of the from Councillors, the City Management and staff of Cato Manor Area Based remains of his late mother Queen Thomozile Management, work on the detailed design Jezangani KaNdwandwe Zulu.

Local History Museums - Durban 19 EXHIBITIONS For Future Generations - Hugh Tracey and the International Library of African Music

he sounds and rhythm of Africa reverberated through the courtyard Founded in 1954 by Hugh Tracey, ILAM at KwaMuhle museum on 12 September 2013 when a fascinating is the greatest repository of African music Ttravelling exhibition designed by the in the world. International Library of African Music (ILAM) at Rhodes University opened to STEVEN KOTZE the public. Titled For Future Generations - Hugh love or nostalgia, but students have also devoted to the study of music and oral arts Tracey and the International Library of updated the makhwenyana repertoire in Africa, it preserves thousands of historical African Music, the exhibition presents by including songs with current political recordings going back to 1929 and is recordings, film, and photographs from references and allusions to HIV/AIDS. currently digitising its collections. ILAM aims material that was captured between 1928 The student performances were to discover, record, analyse and archive the and the early 1970s during excursions followed by the legendary Umkhumbane music of sub-Saharan Africa, with the aim made by Tracey as far north as the Belgian Jazz Ensemble, with music by Madoda of establishing a theory of musicmaking in Congo, as DRC was then known. It Mtshali and Nhla and Barney Bophela. The Africa while assessing the social, cultural, and displays a selection of African musical entire audience was swaying in its seats artistic values of African music. instruments and features exhibits related as these veterans of the stage presented Hugh Tracey began studying African to Tracey’s field research, films and audio their irresistible, magical harmonies. The music in 1921, when he arrived in recordings. The exhibition and catalogue skill and diversity of talent on display Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) from published by ILAM to accompany it was a fitting reminder of precisely why Devonshire, England, to farm tobacco with demonstrate an ethos of respect for the Hugh Tracey first began to research and his older brother Leonard who had been music and culture of the sub-continent document African music more than 90 allotted land as a serviceman wounded by preserving and documenting it with years ago. His motivations and insights in the First World War. He learned the scientific precision, using the best available were summarised by the current director Karanga dialect of the Shona language recording methods of the time. of ILAM, Professor Diane Thram, in her by working with Karanga-speaking farm Before the formal opening of the opening address. She explained how the workers in the fields. He soon developed exhibition by Hugh Tracey’s son Andrew, work initiated by Hugh, then continued by a love for their music and was convinced the audience enjoyed a unique musical his son Andrew and the rest of ILAM staff, of the enormous value of music in their performance that combined both was bravely undertaken despite ridicule lives. Almost immediately, however, he traditional and contemporary forms. Dr from bigoted critics, as well as some fears became aware of the resistance of the Patricia Opondo, of the Music Department that preserving such musical heritage colonial community, in particular those in at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, could hinder the progress of African education, the church and government, introduced students currently studying music into the modern era. Both critiques to any suggestion that Africans had any and composing songs for accompaniment proved unfounded though. culture or music that was worthwhile. He by traditional instruments such as the Founded in 1954 by Hugh Tracey, knew from personal experience that this makhwenyana bow. More traditional ILAM is the greatest repository of African attitude was mistaken, and this was the arrangements concerned topics such as music in the world. A research institution trigger for his life’s work. When he wrote the introduction to The largest obstacle in the project was a the catalogue of his major publication from his field recordings, Sound of Africa in 1973, pervasive attitude that regardless of how well he described the origins of his work in the following way, or thoroughly recordings of African tribal The history of this collection of authentic African music, songs, legends and stories music were made, they could not possibly have is in many ways a personal one. It dates back to the early 1920s when I first sang any commercial value. and wrote down the words of African songs

20 UMLANDO 2013 EXHIBITIONS

Local History Museums Shops

JENNY CATIN

he KwaMuhle Museum recently hosted the opening of an exhibition Ttitled For Future Generations’to showcase the historic musical recordings Guests at the opening of For Future Generations exhibition are seen discussing film footage, images made by Hugh Tracey in the Music and objects from the International Library of African Music collection. of Africa series. The exhibit, which is currently on display, is hosted in I heard in the tobacco fields of Southern African Society in London, a grant by the conjunction with the International Library of African Music (ILAM), based at Rhodes Rhodesia. Several years later [1929], I Nuffield Foundation established a non- University. made a number of discs with a visiting profit research organisation under the The musical recordings were recording company [Columbia, London] title ‘The International Library of African when I took fourteen young Karanga men documented by Hugh Tracey over a Music’. The following year ILAM came with me to record in Johannesburg, five period of decades from the 1920s, and hundred miles south. These were the first into being as an independent institute include many tracks that have never items of indigenous Rhodesian music to when the South African mining industry been heard before. The complete be recorded and published. generously doubled the Nuffield Grant. series preserved some of the foremost th Hugh Tracey faced a setback in terms The current exhibition forms part of traditional African musicians of the 20 century. The original LP records were of complete public apathy by the white the outreach and education component sold publicly from the 1960s and were of a cataloguing and digitising project population, who could not understand presented by Hugh Tracey according to funded by the Rand Merchant Bank his motives or passion for the ‘social the type of instrument and geographic and artistic value of the music for future Expressions Fund. It includes 20 musical region or, in the case of Princess Magogo, generations of Africans’. The largest instruments from the Tracey instrument to feature an exceptional musician. obstacle in the project was a pervasive collection, with richly illustrated Many of the recordings made by attitude that regardless of how well information panels including a time-line Tracey and his team are now available or thoroughly recordings of African covering the scope of Tracey’s work, his on CD in the Old Court House museum tribal music were made, they could not field research in South Africa, Zimbabwe, shop, along with publications about the work of ILAM. These recordings are possibly have any commercial value. and Mozambique. Each panel is equipped usually sold at a retail price of R130 with an audio station offering a wide Setting out to prove his critics wrong each, but are available at the Local variety of Hugh Tracey’s field recordings Tracey first acquired the broadcast History Museum shop for R115 per CD. and recording skills he needed for this for listening, making this a truly Titles available include African Dances highly technical research subject, and integrated sensory exhibition display. of the Witwatersrand Gold Mines then slowly took every opportunity to Finally, four video stations feature which includes a book with 2 CDs for introduce the elements of African music footage of South African mine dancing, R450, although the book is also available to the South African and other radio Chopi xylophone music, Shona story- without CDs for R250. audiences. telling and Andrew Tracey’s film, System Finally, the International Library of African Music also publishes the journal With Dr Winifred Hoernle, in 1948 of the Mbira, with a brief historical African Music with volumes for sale overview of ILAM’s history and current he established the African Music Society at R200 per issue. In addition, those projects. Visitors will also enjoy a 1939 as an anthropological study group. By who are interested are also able to 1953 it became clear that an independent film made during a Zululand recording purchase a Kalimba for R450. Please organisation was necessary for the excursion, projected on big screen, and visit the Old Courthouse Museum at financial responsibilities the project showing traditional Zulu singing. 77 Samora Machel Street for these and required. After Hugh Tracey gave a series other items for sale in the Local History of lectures in British universities in 1953, Museum shop. including an appearance for the Royal

Local History Museums - Durban 21 EXHIBITIONS

Act 27 of 1913

‘To make further provision as to the purchase and leasing of Land by Natives and other Persons in the several parts of the Union and for other purposes in connection with the ownership and occupation of Land by Natives and other Persons’.

19 June 1913

One of the very worst symbols of the racist segregation and discrimination the Land Act allowed was the Group Areas Act of 1950.

KHANYA NDLOVU

o mark the centenary since the land during the 19th century. It the 1913 Natives Land Act was also, however, a new departure was passed, the Local History for systematic social classification and Museums mounted an injustice based on racist prejudice. A Texhibition at KwaMuhle Museum, consequence of the Act stipulated which opened on 8 August 2013. It that African people could live outside was officially opened by Councillor the reserves only if they were in Diana Hoorzuk, who represented white employment, which reinforced eThekwini Mayor Councillor James the migrant labour system that Nxumalo. Councillor Hoorzuk disrupted stable African family units in gave the keynote address, which rural areas. was followed by a speech given Together with a series of other by our guest Advocate Bheki Mbili laws and regulations passed by of the KZN Department of Rural successive white governments during Development and Land Reform. the first half of the 20th century, Advocate Mbili shed some light the Land Act created the basis for on the history of land dispossession, apartheid after 1948. One of the dating back to before the Land Act very worst symbols of the racist was actually passed in 1913, and the segregation and discrimination the repercussions thereof. He alluded Land Act allowed was the Group to other, subsequent acts of law that Areas Act of 1950. A great deal were passed, which also aimed at of human suffering was caused by disempowering the African majority this, such as the forced removals of who resided within the borders communities like uMkhumbane-Cato of South Africa. Advocate Mbili Manor and the creation of townships described the 1913 Act as a crucial based on racial or ethnic categories. piece of South African law that stood Exclusion of diversity within these as a cornerstone of government urban settings remains part of the segregation policies and racial South African landscape even two discrimination during the 20th century. decades after the end of apartheid. It should be remembered that this A further injustice inflicted on the law did not stop Africans from getting poorest communities in our nation is access to their land on its own. that opportunities for employment Conflict over territory has raged in were normally located far away from South Africa for a very long time, apartheid-era townships. Even today, so the 1913 Land Act served as a the people who are least able to afford culmination of those wars fought over the cost of transport are forced to

22 UMLANDO 2013 EXHIBITIONS spend hard earned salaries on travelling to work. Expenses for travel are added to the useless time spent in commuting, and the loss of opportunities to spend quality time with family. Finding ways to redress such problems has not been easy. Advocate Mbili’s address clearly highlighted measures taken by the democratic government of South African to rectify these imbalances of the past. With the introduction of the land restitution programme, the stated purpose was to provide equitable redress to victims of racially motivated land dispossession. The ultimate result of this process was defined by provisions of the Restitution of Land Rights Acts in 1994 (Act No. 22 of 1994). The objective of the programme was to resolve restitution claims within the target period through negotiated settlements that restore land rights or award alternative forms of equitable redress. This simply meant that claimants who were disposessed of land rights after 19 June 1913 in terms of racially discriminatory laws and practices are Student Intern at LHM, Siyanda Xaba, entitled to restitution of that right or equitable next to a painting of Sol Plaatjie he redress. In his speech, Mbili did however painted as part of the Land Act Exhibition. acknowledge that despite the fact that the government attended to a great number of land claims, there are still outstanding claims. This has resulted from the high cost of acquiring land for land reform purposes, which has rendered the restitution process very expensive for the state. In addition, there are cases that are still before the courts due to disputes over the merits of those cases. Issues in this respect include conflict about the validity of specific claims and community disputes over various boundaries, which have prolonged the process of settling land claims. Both the comments made at the opening of the exhibition and the content within our displays demonstrated the crucial place of land in South Africa’s continuing development. After 100 years, legacies of the 1913 Natives Land Act remains part of South Africa’s debate on how to foster national ABOVE: Head of PRC, Thembinkosi Ngcobo, Cllr Diana Hoarzuk of reconciliation, social cohesion and stability eThekwinin together with Adv Bheki Mbili of the KZN Dept of Rural and yet stimulate economic growth and Development and Land Reforem offically opened the exhibition. development at the same time. It is clearly a debate that will feature in our society for some time to come. Conflict over territory has raged in South Africa for a very long time, so the 1913 Land Act served as a culmination of those wars fought over the land during the 19th century.

Local History Museums - Durban 23 EXHIBITIONS A Native of Nowhere: Ndazana Nathaniel ‘Nat’ Nakasa

t an address to the South African National Editors forum He craved a world in which history had in Durban during November nothing to do with present attitudes, and 2012, the then Premier of everyone was judged by their abilities and AKwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zweli Mkhize, committed the provincial government contributions to society, regardless of race. to the repatriation of the remains of BONGINKOSI ROCK ZUMA highly esteemed journalist, Nathaniel Ndazana Nakasa. Nat Nakasa is hometown for good. In 1958 Nakasa expected to be reburied at Heroes Acre joined the staff of DRUM magazine in in Chesterville, Durban, alongside the Johannesburg. graves of other renowned citizens and Nat Nakasa had little time for what public figures. This is fitting, as Nakasa he regarded as ‘tribalism’ – any attempt was born in Chesterville and worked he discerned to endow his African as a local journalist before moving identity with essentialism. He craved to Johannesburg where his career a world in which history had nothing flourished as part of the celebrated to do with present attitudes, and Golden City Post and DRUM magazine everyone was judged by their abilities teams of yesteryear. and contributions to society, regardless In conjunction with the reburial of race. The views he once described process, the Local History Museum at a Wits English Academy lecture were has prepared an exhibition at the Old regarded at the time as heartbreakingly Court House museum that celebrates naive by many of his contemporaries the life and achievements of this and even by some of his friends. prominent literary figure. Though he Consider the story of two young men completed his schooling at Eshowe with a Bohemian bent. The one is white High School, a Lutheran boarding and the other is black. Both wander the establishment in Zululand, Nakasa streets of Johannesburg, squandering arrived back in Durban in 1955. Aged their youth and generally enjoying the 18, he became part of a circle of writers business of flouting the city’s social and intellectuals in the city. This group conventions. The black character is of friends saw themselves politically a bold, reckless youth with voracious reading habits and a passion for the as liberals and fervent supporters of city’s looks by night. So the two often ‘multiracialism’ as they saw it. They also go out on long walks by night from the regarded themselves as writers, and suburbs to the city and back. It is during took the work of writing and reading one of these walks that there is trouble. seriously. The police catch up with the couple. The career Nakasa sought as a Largely curious over the combination, writer thus began in Durban, in 1956 the police stop the African and ask him when he joined the staff of the Zulu for his pass. It is late and the policeman language newspaper Ilanga lase Natal. wants to know why the black man is not in his location among his own people. At the age of 21, three years after he Dramatically the black man asks: Who returned to Durban, he left his former are my people?

Aged 18, he became part of a circle of writers and intellectuals in the city. This group of friends saw themselves politically as liberals and fervent supporters of ‘multiracialism’ as they saw it.

24 UMLANDO 2013 EXHIBITIONS

New York City. Until 1994, it is reported, there was nothing to mark the place where Nakasa lay buried, far from home. Lew Clapp, who worked for the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University tracked down the grave and organised a plaque. The initiative by the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) in 1998 to name their esteemed Award for Media Integrity after Nat Nakasa had the effect of bringing this humble writer into the public spotlight and conferred on him the status of a media icon. This award was followed in September 2007 by the posthumous award to Nakasa of the State President’s Order of Ikhamanga in Silver, Among all his other activities, Nakasa the statute book, or all the racial prejudice thereby ensuring Nakasa’s inclusion in still managed to ﬁ nd time to found and edit in this country. He did not calculate the the post-apartheid pantheon of literary a literary magazine named Classic Quartely. population as sixteen millions or four luminaries. This brought him into frequent contact millions, but as twenty. He belonged not The Old Court House museum with the novelist Nadine Gordimer, who between two worlds, but to both. And in exhibition serves as a suitable honour for him one could see the hope of one world. became friendly with him and described one of Durban’s less well known heroes, He has left that hope behind; there will be the young writer in the following way, others to take it up. making his long awaited return home. The truth is that Nat Nakasa was a new Nat left South Africa in 1964 on a kind of man in South Africa. He accepted without question and with easy dignity and Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University PHOTO (COURTESY OF BAHA): natural pride his Africanness, and he took but, in the process, was forced to Nat Nakasa eating a meal with an unidentiﬁ ed equally for granted that his identity as a relinquish his South African citizenship. man among men, a human among fellow Nat died tragically the following year and person. The same photo is used in the exhibition humans, could not be legislated out of was buried at Fern Cliff cemetery in the housed at OCH Museum under the subtitle: existence, even by all the apartheid laws in hills of Westchester County, north of Who are My People?

Local History Museums - Durban 25 ��

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26 UMLANDO 2013 HERITAGE MONTH

very year since 2008, during Heritage Month celebrations the Parks, eThekwini Municipality celebrates the lives Recreation and Culture unit of of outstanding individuals who have a eThekwini Municipality has celebrated Ethe lives of outstanding individuals who have positive impact in the city. a positive impact in the city. People named as eThekwini Living Legends are recognised NHANHLA NKOBI by the Municipality through this award for their sterling contribution to Durban served in numerous executive academic better treatment for herself and other – with this prestigious honour presented positions, culminating as Vice-Chancellor employees. Realising changes in conditions during their lifetime. Living Legends of UKZN. President Jacob Zuma honoured of employment could be negotiated, categories include Arts and Culture, Sport, him with the Order of Mapungubwe for she challenged racial oppression in the Hospitality and Tourism, Human Rights, contributions to the ﬁeld of science and workplace. Mkhwanazi is respected for being Music and Entertainment, Media, Academic, medicine. a founder member of the South African Environment or Science and Technology Domestic Workers Union. fraternity. Award winners for 2013 are:

Sam Draai, who was born in 1922, has been a member of the Sparks Estate Internationally acclaimed photographer Joseph Shabalala who was born in Community Centre management since it was Ranjith Kally spent 15 years working in a Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, 1941, and is founded in 1958, and has run more than 10 shoe factory before his big break into the well known for his role in the evolution of Comrades marathons. His most signiﬁcant world of photo journalism. While working as isicathamiya music. His group, Ladysmith activism, though, is his involvement with the freelance photographer he covered weekend Black Mambazo, has collaborated with Boys Brigade. ‘Captain’ Sam Draai founded social events for local newspapers. Kally international stars such as Paul Simon in their the 1st Durban Brigade of the Boys Brigade went on to work full time for the foremost now-famous song, Homeless, and has won 78 years ago and has been leader of this publications of the time and was admitted two Grammy Awards. Shabalala still sings with group ever since. as an Associate of the Royal Photographic the group and has set up a foundation to teach Society in 1967. isicathamiya music to young South Africans.

Velisiwe Mary Mkhwanazi, who is 81, began her activism in the 1960s when Reverend Sue Brittion is an Anglican priest Professor Malegapuru Makgoba received she was a young domestic worker in who has trained in many ﬁelds, including an MBChB degree from the University of Durban. Unhappy with the decrepit conﬂict handling, direct non-violent action, Natal Medical School in 1976. In addition mattress provided to her, she demanded reconciliation, peace monitoring and social to a distinguished medical career, Makgoba

Local History Museums - Durban 27 HERITAGE MONTH

action. As a feminist theologian, Brittion was active in the successful Movement for the Ordination of Women (MOW) in the Anglican Church. Brittion is still deeply committed to a life of activism and now concentrates her efforts as a very active environmental activist.

Desmond Makhanya matriculated from Tich Smith was born in 1951 and, while Adams College in 1954. He began writing playing rugby for Natal, represented his history of Adams College in 1998, using Natal and South Africa in cricket until in reference materials from the Killie Campbell his retirement in 1983. Since 2007 Tich Africana Library to substantiate his own and his wife Joan have run an organisation experiences and the oral histories he has called Lungisani Indlela, feeding over 2 000 collected. His unpublished manuscript children in over 30 crèches, and paying Jackie Branfield is the founder of covers categories of music, health, theology, for the schooling of 600 orphans through Operation Bobbi Bear. Branfield first took education, agriculture and sport. a charitable trust. In January 2009 Smith action against sexual crimes against children developed a programme building a much in 1992, concerned about treatment very needed residential facility for orphans young rape victims were subject to, often called the Lungisa Indlela Village. ‘If we are without a kind word or professional help. known as a province and as a country that Kits, which Branfield developed, include a looks after vulnerable children’ he says, ‘the marker and a Bobbi Bear, which are used to heartbeat of the nation will change. The point out where the child has been hurt. perception of South Africa in the eyes of the global community will also be altered’. Sizwe Nxasana was born in 1958 at Lamontville in Durban, and is one of the first 10 African Chartered Accountants in South Africa. In 1996 he became the founding partner of NkonkiSizweNtsaluba, the first black-owned national firm of accountants and in 2010 Nxasana was appointed as CEO Mkhuluwe Cele is an expert inyanga of the FirstRand Limited, in the process (traditional healer), who specialises in becoming the most senior black executive in paedatric remedies. He has done remarkable the African banking industry. work on the conservation of indigenous plants used for medicines, encouraging RIGHT: The eThekwini Living Legends Trophy that is healers to cultivate their own indigenous presented to each legend on the night of the Awards Ceremony gardens and plant nurseries for medical BELOW, FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Appreciation Awards ingredients. The greatest concern in this Recipients for 2013 were Inanda Seminary, received by the regard is traditional medicine’s reliance on Principal, Judy Tate stocks of wild plants, but these are often BOTTOM RIGHT: Joseph Shabalaba from Ladysmith Black slow-growing and are being harvested at an Mambazo recieved the Appreciation award on behalf of the unsustainable rate. group.

28 UMLANDO 2013 The opening act was rendered by the KZN Burundian Drummers. Cultural Diversity Festival

urban is an African city with a rich cultural diversity. Apart We have people from all continents, from being a home to millions of Zulu-speaking people, and beliefs, creeds and other persuasions DAfricans from all over our nation, Durban living in our city. is also a home to one of the largest Indian populations found outside India. We have HLENGIWE MZOLO people from all continents, beliefs, creeds and other persuasions living in our city. The biggest mosque in southern Africa The festival was a morning event and drivers on the streets. Among the is found in Durban. We are a home to and was scheduled to start at 10:00am, other activities of the day, performers people from Nigeria and the Great Lakes, lasting until 2:30pm. It is estimated that included praise poems (izibongo), traditional as well as boasting a sizeable Jewish around 1200 people were in attendance, African dancers, izangoma (Zulu diviners), community alongside Chinese ex-patriots. and the crowd was welcomed by Mr Guy izayoni (Zion Christian Church members), Populations from virtually all parts of the Redman, Deputy Head for Libraries and isicathamiya, amahubo, traditional Indian world are found here. Heritage. In his speech he emphasised the dancers and Afro-gospel groups. Part of the vision of eThekwini importance of museums as agents of social In his closing speech Mr Sinothi Municipality is that by the year 2030 the cohesion, and then welcomed all those Thabethe, Director of the Local History eThekwini Municipality will enjoy the who were present to the first of the many Museums, thanked all those who reputation of being Africa’s most liveable city, Cultural Diversity Festivals to come. participated and again emphasised the where all citizens live in harmony. In line with In her capacity as Education Officer role museums play in fostering social this ambition, in 2013 an idea was initiated at the Old Court House Museum Mrs cohesion. The event was a great success for an annual Cultural Diversity Festival Hlengiwe Mzolo was programme director and a good start for the many others yet which would be hosted by the Local History for the day. The opening act was rendered to come. The aim of future festivals will be Museum during Heritage Month. The first by the KZN Burundian Drummers. This» to identify the ‘home grown’ artistic talent of these events took place in the Old Court was arguably an international showstopper of Durban, to demonstrate our vibrant House gardens on 19 September 2013. as it attracted even casual bystanders cultural diversity.

Local History Museums - Durban 29 Local History Museums Passbook Competition

espite outstanding collections in museums that lie beyond Once a hated symbol of apartheid oppression, in the established tourist routes of the context of museums ‘passbooks’ were transformed to inner city, sites such as Old House DMuseum, Cato Manor Heritage Centre, change the perception that they embodied. Bergtheil Museum and Pinetown Museum face challenges such as competition with MOHAU QALAZA more well-established museums, limited funding and resources, and the difﬁculty of use these sites as part of their curriculum. turbulent era of segregation. Passbooks building a wider audience. In response to Two decades ago, the Local History controlled the movement of African these issues, a ‘Passbook’ competition was Museums initiated a ‘dompass’ contest, people as they moved from one place to launched in 2013 to increase recognition as the Native Administration ‘passbook’ another in search of work, and learners of such sites. forms a big part of our Local History experienced that process in a positive A key task of our local museums Museum permanent exhibition housed and educational manner. The competition is to capture the enthusiasm of young at KwaMuhle Museum, titled the Durban serves as a yardstick for promoting values people, and the ‘Passbook’ competition System. It was thus decided to adapt of tolerance, empathy and respect, as well was conceived as a strategic catalyst for the original idea into a competition that as achieving social cohesion and nation addressing this concern. Furthermore, this would be unique to the respective sites, building through public institutions. concept included building collaborations as well as relevant to the content of our The possibility of prizes at the end of with private sector partners to promote museums. a competition increases interest among less well known Local History Museum Once a hated symbol of apartheid learners, and encourages teachers to sites, along with participating Heritage oppression, in the context of museums come to the museums. By collaborating Sites such as Mariannhill Monastery and ‘passbooks’ were transformed to change with partners, the process expanded Palmiet Nature Reserve. By honouring our the perception that they embodied. support for the Turnaround Strategy for duties as heritage practitioners, to increase Carrying the adapted passbook enabled these heritage sites. Launched ofﬁcially in visitor numbers by building new audience, learners to experience an important February 2013, the competition primarily the sites are made viably functional. This, aspect of African migrant life during the targeted schools around the Durban West in turn, will hopefully encourage schools to

30 UMLANDO 2013 HERITAGE MONTH

Community, but could be expanded. This ambitious project could not During the first phase a workshop was have been possible without the infectious MAIN PHOTO (PAGE 30): All the conducted for educators, to explain the enthusiasm of the Durban West winners with their prizes and certificates terms and conditions of the competition Community Tourism Organisation, and Mr together with PRC Head, Thembinkosi Ngcobo, Libraries & Heritage - Deputy and distribute materials such as posters Barry Livsey was eager to partner with Head, Guy Redman and Miss Ethekwini, and worksheets. Local History Museum from the start. Zama Xulu. The second phase was the actual This committed community organisation competition, which ran during the second was also the principal sponsor and BELOW: Pages taken out the unique term from March to end of June. Learners presented an IT equipment voucher worth passbook that was designed specifically were required to visit participating sites, R10 000 to the winning school, namely for the competiton. It includes The in order to get their individual replica Christianenburg Primary from Clermont. History of Passbooks as well as The ‘passbooks’ stamped at every site they Despite a few unexpected challenges Durban System. Learners were also visited and then write and submit an encountered during the second phase of encouraged to participate in a writing competiton in the same passbook. essay about their experience. Despite the event, the competition succeeded some practical complications such as the beyond expectations and achieved all its BOTTOM PHOTO: Barry Livsey from SADTU strike, the majority of learners primary goals and objectives. Strategic DWTCO presented the R10 000 voucher who expressed interest in the competition planning got schools and individual learners to the winning school, Christianenburg participated and, resolving any obstacles, into the museums, learning relatable Primary, here accepted by Samkelisiwe provided valuable guidance for the future. topics to supplement their academic Gcumisa. The last phase was a prizegiving knowledge. Young South Africans were ceremony which was held at Bergtheil enlightened on a personal level about Museum on 18 September 2013. The their heritage and the significance of occasion was attended by the Head of the preserving it. Most importantly, PRC Unit, Mr Thembinkosi Ngcobo, the the number of overall visitors Deputy Head for Libraries and Heritage, to these museums and heritage Mr Guy Redman, partners and principal sites was also increased. Finally, sponsors of the event, Mr Barry Livsey the principal sponsor, Durban from the Durban West Community West Community Tourism Tourism Organisation, the German Organisation, has given a Consul-General, Mr Horst Achtzehn commitment to a partnership and Ms Roshni Pather from Edgewood with Local History Museums Campus of UKZN. Related heritage sites again next year, when the second at Mariannhill Monastery and Palmiet instalment of the competition Nature Reserve were also represented. commences in 2014. As a whole, the event was considered a resounding success. Before the competition, with the exception of Pinetown museum, these sites received as few as 100 visitors a month. Cato Manor was the least visited site, sometimes recording as few as 30 visitors a month. During the competition, over 600 learners visited all participating museums and heritage sites. In total, twelve schools and three children’s homes from different backgrounds were represented in the event.

Local History Museums - Durban 31 “During my lifetime, I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I havNelsone cherished the id eRolihlahlaal of a democratic and free s ocMandelaiety in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013

32 UMLANDO 2013 COMMEMORATIONS A Tribute to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

outh Africans who adored Nelson Mandela during his life found it The best claim any of us can impossible to imagine anyone else could rightfully claim the title of make is that we lived in the time S‘Greatest Living Human’. As a nation we have a hard time being objective about of Nelson Mandela the position he occupies in world history. STEVEN KOTZE Now though, as we come to terms with our lives of freedom in his absence, we with others who grew up and lived their sent to live with the Thembu regent, Chief know that his formidable legacy is shared lives in the countryside. Jongintaba Dalindyebo. It was the regent with all of humanity. The pride of South Although his family lived in this remote who was the first to discern that his young Africa, however, is to know him better location, the circumstances of his birth relative possessed all the attributes of a than anyone else ever could, and love him were unlike those of his neighbours. leader and nurtured these talents. with unrivalled passion. The best claim any Mandela was born into the African His time at the University of Fort of us can make is that we lived in the time aristocracy and grew up as a prince of the Hare brought about his first political of Nelson Mandela. Thembu royal household. He was a direct transformation. Until the time he arrived This is because Madiba embodied descendant of King Ngubengcuka, but is to study there at the age of 21 in 1939, what South Africans accomplished related to that monarch through a minor Nelson Mandela’s future was still firmly in achieving democracy, and his life royal house known as the Ixhiba, whose linked to the old order of African nobility reflects the unique complexity of our role was to serve as advisors and political and service to the Thembu throne. Upon young democracy. South Africa is best counsellors to the king. embarking on his Bachelors degree at understood as a collection of competing The future political activist Fort Hare, however, he became friendly contradictions such as urban or rural life, experienced intolerance first-hand when with a student named Oliver Tambo. political militancy or moderation and the local white magistrate deposed his The two men became life-long friends social privilege or suffering. Naturally father as chief after accusing him of and partners in their shared desire to there are many other examples that insubordination. This event affected end the racist South African policies of describe the range of experiences known, Mandela’s life, as his father Gadla Henry segregation and discrimination. by South Africans. A large number Mphakanyiswa not only lost his title as The life of a migrant worker is of those ambiguities occurred within chief, but his fortune in cattle as well. still a very common reality for many Mandela’s own life, which partly explains Together with his mother, Nelson Mandela South Africans, and so it was fitting the singular attraction he holds over his left Mvezo and went to live in the village that Mandela made his way to the fellow South Africans. of Qunu. Although the place he was industrial heartland of the country after Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born born in is quite close to Qunu, that short he was expelled from university. His on 18 July 1818 in the tiny settlement migration also marked the beginning of a political career also began in earnest at of Mvezo, a collection of traditional very long journey that would take him all that time when he joined the African homesteads clustered on a high ridge the way to the office of President, and into National Congress in 1942. Despite overlooking the looping Mbashe River the hearts of the world. a later reputation for compromise, valley. The little settlement represents His teacher Miss Mdingane used a his reputation at this time was based thousands of others precisely like it that mission school convention that students on confrontation and conflict. In are scattered across rural South Africa. should have an English name too, and gave September 1944 a group of these militant The fact that Mandela was born in a place him one that belonged to a great British revolutionaries led by the firebrand like Mvezo gave him the instinctive ability naval hero. When Mandela’s father died Anton Lembede formed the African to understand the type of life he shared of tuberculosis, at the age of nine he was National Congress Youth League to pursue their aims without the perceived constraints of the old guard. Now though, as we come to terms with our lives Sadly, the decade after 1950 witnessed of freedom in his absence, we know that his the steady increase in state-sponsored violence against black South Africans and formidable legacy is shared with all of humanity. leaders of the ANC. began to advocate

Local History Museums - Durban 33 COMMEMORATIONS

for an armed resistance to these attacks. Mandela was at the forefront of such calls, and was involved in the formation of Mkhonto we Sizwe. It was his involvement as Commander-in- Chief of MK which resulted in his arrest and trial for treason. Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964, and would spend much of the next three decades behind bars on Robben Island. He was released from prison on 11 February 1990 to play a key role in the negotiations to bring about a new political dispensation in South Africa. After being elected as the ﬁrst democratic president of South Africa in April 1994, he served only one term in ofﬁce and retired. The long and tumultuous journey that had brought him there made him our greatest hero, and the road came to an end on 5 December 2013 when he passed away in his Houghton home at the age of 95. It is too easy to simply call him an icon, his power comes from being a person who put his ideals into action. It is what made him a true revolutionary, and a man for all the ages.

Youth Day Dialogue ...continued from page 16

land reform, including the growth of taking us to the service sector economy are not familiar with the contents of the irrigated agriculture and land production. and we are going to be selling, buying, NDP, which is worrying if the document The NDP acknowledges the high we are not going to be manufacturing seeks to shape South Africa and drive it unemployment rate of black youth, (industrialisation) and that’s the to a future the youth of today will spend who account for two-thirds of the problem’. their adult lives in. Platforms are needed unemployed below the age of 35. Based on these comments above, it for people to get a glimpse into the NDP, Unemployment rates are the highest in can be argued that land reform proposed to familiarise it among the youth who will the 15 to 24 year old group (46.6% in in the NDP protects the interests of deal with its effects in years to come. 2008) and second highest among 25 to white monopoly and imperialist capital, 34 year olds (26.2%). If youth fail to get taking us into a service sector economy. Conclusion a job by 24, they are unlikely to ever The purpose of the dialogue was to The youth dialogue hosted by the gain formal employment. Unresolved, give young South Africans a platform Local History Museum was a strategic this trend poses the single greatest to engage with policies that affect platform in which young South Africans risk to social stability. The agricultural their future, and express their views were engaged in self-evaluation. sector is one of the few remaining goods accordingly. Contrary to the belief that youth are best producers with strong direct and indirect Bheka Ntuli made it clear that the positioned to solve their own problems, economic links to the rural poor. Land DA supports the NDP. He argued the it is clear that young people are in dire reform is thus not only about taking land document has sound policies but the need of support from government. In from a white person and giving it to a problem will be in implementation order to realise their potential and be black person, but should play a role in since the ruling government ‘runs the productive citizens, the youth need to the alleviation of poverty and creating country as a spaza shop chopping and be included in policy making, especially jobs. changes everything’. He advised that in policies that directly affect them. An Though the NDP is government a strategy was needed to cascade the unintended effect of barring responsible endorsed policy, even Helen Zille7 of the contents of the document to the people youth from an active role in South DA wrote an article in which she stated so that they become familiar with it. African policy making leads to policies that the ruling party needs to take the Xolani Ngwezi also showed concern on that are insensitive to the plight of youth. NDP seriously in their bid to deal with the implementation of NDP policies, For instance, the ‘willing buyer, willing land reform. It hasn’t gone unchallenged. speciﬁcally that government obsessed seller’ policy automatically sidelines At various times NUMSA general with a ‘trial and error’ implementation youth who have no money to buy secretary Irvin Jim8 has poked holes in method, trying something and then land. Similarly, youth should familiarise the policy, saying it protects interests of another plan if that doesn’t work. themselves with the NDP, especially white monopoly and imperialist capital. Sipho Dlula, however, argued the ANC since some commentators have argued Instead, he called for the implementation believes the NDP is the solution to a that this document is based on neoliberal of the Freedom Charter as the quickest number of challenges South Africa faces, principles that exclude the majority of way of addressing inequalities. In and the ruling party is best positioned to South Africans and favours capitalists. addition, COSATU General Secretary, implement it. Zwelinzima Vavi9, said the ‘NDP is The general feeling was that youth

34 UMLANDO 2013 COMMEMORATIONS Freedom Day & Workers’ Day in South Africa: A Critical Reﬂection

he public holidays of 27 April and 1 May commemorate Freedom Day and It is ironic that while approaching the 20th Workers’ Day respectively; to celebrate anniversary of democracy in South Africa the country the first post-apartheid elections held has been dubbed ‘the protest capital of the world’. Ton that day in 1994 and pay homage to the working class of the nation, with an emphasis on the need for fair labour practices. While BONGINKOSI ROCK ZUMA these public holidays are regarded as ‘glorious’ within their historical context, with relevance to the struggle for freedom in South Africa, it is that they had ‘made more than 14 000 arrests though, that in 2009 Abahlali baseMjondolo also pertinent to reflect on their importance in at protests in the past four years’. It is ironic together with the Anti-Eviction Campaign, the the daily lives of ordinary South Africans. that while approaching the 20th anniversary of Landless People’s Movement, the Rural Network This notion owes its origins to certain democracy in South Africa the country has been and the eMacambini Anti-Removal Committee radical organisations that advance the idea dubbed ‘the protest capital of the world’. We supported the ‘No Land! No House! that South Africa’s freedom ‘was, has never have one of the highest rates of public protests No Vote’ campaign. Essentially this was a been or is not free’. Organisations that spring on earth, and the rate of protests has escalated gesture to say the letter of the South African to mind are Abahlali baseMjondolo and Anti- since 2004. Prior to 1994 some liberation Constitution is perfect, whereas its spirit is in Eviction Campaign, who coined an unofficial struggle tactics involved destruction of state shambles. Similarly, the Marikana massacre of ‘counter holiday’ as a day of mourning, property, but since 1994 these tactics have 2012 had the potential to erase the gains that called UnFreedom Day. In addition, 2013 continued. It has been a failure of liberation have been realised and dented the country’s has seen the mushrooming of groups that struggle icons to instill in protesters how the image of protecting worker’s rights. In this question whether South Africa really is a free new government is funded through taxpayers’ regard the celebration of Workers’ Day carries country. The apartheid regime ‘coupled with money – including protesters themselves. little meaning. its discriminatory practices against the black There is general consensus that a variety Obviously, South Africa’s democracy majority’; together with the post-1994 era of different political parties with resultant cannot be presented as a failure because the ‘coupled with its partial delivery of promised competition represents a healthy democracy. current government has affected a plethora of services’ are therefore viewed as having The mushrooming of political parties with good deeds to date. Critical questions around ostracised poor South Africans to the point that policy positions akin to that of the ruling issues such as access to land and income will protests become inevitable. party, however, results in a duplication of half attract individuals and organisations more While some political commentators argue implemented policies. It is in this milieu that concerned with successful implementation that current protests stretch back to the South Africans need to consider how political rather than formulation of policy. We need 1970s, the focus of this reflection is post-1994. anniversaries commemorate the improvement to be mindful of the placebo effect wherein Newspapers report that ‘about three quarters of their lives. In essence, the victory of the belief in our constitution becomes a cure, of South Africans aged between 20 and 29 democracy should be seen as a huge bill that rendering us incapable of measuring the impact did not vote in the 2011 local government South Africa has to repay to its people, including of programmes. It is incumbent upon all South elections’ and that ‘South Africans in this the poorest of the poor. If this bill is not settled, Africans to gauge the extent to which the South cohort were more likely take part in violent disaster looms. African government is prepared to couch these street protests against the local ANC than to Among reasons for the protests in celebrations and commemorations to the vote for the ruling party’. In fact, Freedom South Africa is the removal of people from benefit of all. Day celebrations occurred amid massive the land they occupy unlawfully, according For Freedom Day to receive the respect service delivery protests. The rate of protest, to government. Presumably, organisations it deserves there are three distinct but it is reported, ‘rose dramatically in the first like Anti-Eviction Campaign and Abahlali interrelated propositions that need to be eight months of 2012’. Gauteng Province, baseMjondolo seize the opportunity to ask embraced. It marks a milestone in the history for example, reported almost 550 protests questions around land redistribution, restitution of the nation and celebrates the journey that between 1 April and 10 May 2013. and tenure security to address imbalances South Africa has travelled to achieve freedom In September 2013 the police reported created by apartheid. It is to be remembered and democracy; we remember the heroes and heroines who sacrificed so much to ensure We need to be mindful of the placebo effect wherein the freedom for all; and we elebrate the Bill of Rights which guarantees all South Africans’ belief in our constitution becomes a cure, rendering us freedom from the repression and hatred which incapable of measuring the impact of programmes. characterised our past.

Local History Museums - Durban 35 COMMEMORATIONS Heritage Month

he beginning of September signals the start of Heritage Month. With 11 September witnessed a host of events official languages, a culturally diverse to highlight the importance of the population, beautiful natural landscape, Trich biodiversity and range of climates, Parks Recreation and Culture service South Africa is a popular tourist destination. unit in the City. Tourism contributes approximately 22% THEVAN HARRY to the national GDP. KwaZulu-Natal, in particular, attracts both domestic and foreign tourists, with Durban enjoying the lion’s Ngcobo, Hugh’s Tracey’s son Andrew and the showcased the city’s expanding repertoire of share of the domestic tourism market. Our director of ILAM, Professor Diane Thram. The cultural heritage, as one of the participants heritage is a major draw card and the Parks, audience was serenaded with music by Madoda was a group of drummers from Burundi. Recreation and Culture (PRC) service unit is Mtshali, the Umkhumbane Jazz Ensemble and Heritage Month would not be complete at the forefront of conserving and promoting Nhla and Barney Bophela, as well as students without a mention of the centenary of the city’s heritage. from the Music Department at UKZN. 1913 Natives Land Act. The Act and its September witnessed a host of events to The ‘Passbook’ competition attracted consequences had an enormous impact on highlight the importance of the PRC service over 500 primary school pupils, representing black South Africans and the heritage of the unit in the city. An annual feature is the Living 11 schools, while three child and youth country. In order to assess the impact of the Legends Awards which honours citizens of the care centres also participated. Passbooks, Land Act, the importance of land in African city for their contribution in various fields (as once a hated symbol of apartheid, were society must be examined. Land is sacred, documented by another article in this issue). creatively adapted by the Local History and intimately tied to African heritage and The ‘One City One Book’ campaign was Museums for this competition. The purpose culture. It is linked to African cosmology launched with a quiz on Nelson Mandela’s of the competition was to help learners and spirituality, for example in African autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. This develop empathy for victims of the pass communities that bury the umbilical cord annual storytelling competition, book quiz laws, as well as promoting the Old House and placenta at birth. Land is also critical and creative writing contest orchestrated by Museum, Cato Manor Heritage Centre and to ancestral worship. In times of death and the Heritage Department attracted a host of Bergtheil and Pinetown museums. Together bereavement fields are not tended until after schools from within eThekwini Municipality. with amended ‘passbooks’, worksheets the performance of a cleansing ritual. Land During Heritage Month the Local informed participating students of the pass formed the economic base of pre-colonial History Museum also hosted opening for the laws and the participating sites. A prizegiving societies, which saw women traditionally exhibition entitled For Future Generations. ceremony was held at Bergtheil Museum tend the gardens while men took care of This is a travelling exhibition that tells the on 18 September, which was attended by cattle. Wars of expropriation and alienation story of how the International Library of sponsors including the Honorary Consul- exacted a toll on pre-colonial African society African Music (ILAM) was established. It General of Germany, Mr Horst Achtzehn, and land dispossession was coupled with a reveals how Englishman Hugh Tracey came Ms Roshini Pather from UKZN and Mr Barry host of laws that contributed to the creation to work on his brother’s plantation in Livsey of the Durban West Community of an African migrant working class. Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), where he Tourism Organisation, in addition to PRC The history, heritage and legacy of developed a deep respect for the Karanga staff. Christianenburg Primary School won the migrant labour in the city of Durban music he heard in the fields. In an odyssey Grand Prize of R10 000 while the award for are found in the KwaMuhle Museum. which spanned 50 years, Tracey documented best essay went to Samkelisiwe Gcumisa of Exhibitions like the Durban System, together and recorded traditional music in various parts Khulugqame Primary. with the sculpture ‘Shadows of the Past’ of Africa. His great appreciation of, and affection eThekwini’s rich, vibrant heritage was and the courtyard mural articulates the role for African music is reflected in the exhibition, again brought to the fore at a Cultural Durban played in the migrant labour scheme. which opened at the KwaMuhle Museum on Festival held at the Old Court House Displays of Zulu beadwork, mblaselo, and the 12 September 2013. Guests included Deputy Museum on 19 September. Twenty groups Zulu medicine garden speak of the African City Manager Dr Musa Gumede, Head of participated in the festival and the audience working class’ contribution to the heritage of Parks, Recreation and Culture, Mr Thembinkosi was entertained with songs and dance that the city. It is therefore fitting that KwaMuhle Museum should host an exhibition depicting the character and consequences of the 1913 Land formed the economic base of pre- Natives Land Act. The exhibition was open on 8th August 2013. colonial societies, which saw women A truly broad and representative range of exhibitions, competitions and events traditionally tend the gardens while men was assembled by the PRC service unit for took care of cattle. Heritage Month in 2013.

36 UMLANDO 2013 COMMEMORATIONS Day of Reconciliation

econciliation Day symbolises how two opposing forces came together ‘The South African Native found himself, not to renegotiate the meaning of a brutal past for the purposes of building an actually a slave, but a pariah in the Rinclusive and democratic nation. The date land of his birth.’ Sol Plaatjie of this national holiday, on 16 December, is significant to both Afrikaans-speaking South THEVAN HARRY Africans and the African National Congress. For descendants of the Voortrekkers it symbolises a covenant with God which December 1941 Dr A.B. Xuma stated: the intended 24.5 million hectares of land to they entered into before the Battle of Blood The fundamental basis of all wealth and power African ownership. River. Voortrekkers who participated in the is the ownership and acquisition of freehold title On 8 January 2013 President Jacob battle vowed to build a church and keep the to land. From land, we derive our existence. We Zuma thus signalled a shift in government day holy if God granted them victory over derive our wealth in minerals, food, and other policy from the ‘willing seller, willing buyer’ King Dingane. On 16 December 1838, the essentials. On land we build our homes. Without principle to the ‘just and equitable’ principle commando of Andries Pretorius defeated land we cannot exist. To all men of whatever of expropriation. An important question a Zulu impi at eNcome River, resulting in race or colour land, therefore, is essential for arises over the impact this shift might have an enduring symbol of white supremacy in their wealth, prosperity, and health. Without on nation building. Is redistribution of land South Africa. land-rights any race will be doomed to poverty, enough to redress the imbalance in land For African National Congress members, destitution, ill-health and lack of all life`s ownership? Solutions to the land question the significance of 16 December lay in the essentials. In South Africa all our legislation must include rural development and the founding of their armed wing, Umkhonto aims at depriving the African of all right and empowerment of rural communities and weSizwe (MK). Together with a host of title to land, in both rural and urban areas. other consequences of the 1913 Natives oppressive laws under apartheid, Land Act also need consideration. the Sharpeville massacre made In order to answer these the formation of MK inevitable. Underpinning all political questions it is worth defining the On 16 December 1961, when terminology of reconciliation and Curnick Ndlovu, Billy Nair and conflict in South Africa nation-building. Bruno Mtolo placed a bomb at Social reconciliation is a the entrance of the Department process which addresses conflict of Bantu Administration – now was the land question. within fractured relationships and KwaMuhle Museum – it was is linked with nation building. It one of the first acts of sabotage He is made a perpetual and eternal tenant of includes activities such as: (i) Developing a committed by Umkhonto weSizwe. The the State and Municipalities so that he may shared vision of an interdependent and fair bomb caused minimal damage, though. forever be dependent for existence and wages society, despite different political beliefs; (ii) Underpinning all political conflict in South upon Europeans who are, alone, entitled to get Acknowledging and dealing with the past; (iii) Africa was the land question. This year marks as much land as they can use and even more Building positive relationships; (iv) Significant the centenary of the heinous 1913 Natives than what they can use but may hold it for cultural and attitudinal change; (v) Substantial Land Act, which was the culmination of 300 future speculation while Africans are landless, social, economic and political change. years of land expropriation. Initially 7% of homeless, destitute, and starving. Nation-building, like reconciliation, is a land (equal to approximately one-quarter of The Natives Land Act also provided a process and not an objective in its own right, available farm land) was set aside for African blueprint for the 1923 Native Urban Areas Act, defined as a diverse society being bound occupation. In 1935, the white government the Group Areas Act and the Bantustan policies together within a sovereign state under a increased land set aside for African of the Nationalist government which followed. unified constitutional and legal dispensation. occupation to 13%. African resentment South Africa has made significant gains Given South Africa’s painful and of the Act was succinctly expressed by Sol in building a nation through the process fractured history, and in the light of this Plaatjie when he stated ‘the South African of reconciliation since 1994. Those gains philosophical background, the importance Native found himself, not actually a slave, but could, however, be compromised if the of reconciliation, nation building and land a pariah in the land of his birth’. land question is not fully addressed. The restitution cannot be stressed enough. True The Act laid the social, economic and democratically elected government inherited reconciliation will only be achieved after a political foundation of 20th century South the vestiges of the 1913 Natives Land Act conscientious education programme has Africa, and led to impoverishment of people in 1994. Steps have been taken to redress been implemented, to inform the wider in the Native Reserves. It transformed many some of the imbalances of apartheid, but public of the history they may have been African peasants and proto-agricultural land restitution has been slow. Government ignorant of in the past. And this is the producers into exploitable wage seekers. mechanisms have only transferred 27% of function of our museums. In his ANC Presidential Address on 14

Local History Museums - Durban 37 ��

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�� 38 UMLANDO 2013 BOOK REVIEWS

Theophilus Shepstone and the forging of Natal. Jeff Guy

Publisher: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, Place of Publication: Pietermaritzburg Date: 2013 Review By: Steven Kotze

as it provides a good perspective on the forces that deprived some Natal Africans of their land, but allowed others to remain on theirs. The contribution of Professor Jeff Guy to the historiography of Natal and the Zulu kingdom is considerable, providing insights on topics ranging from missionary bishops to the Zulu civil wars and the Bhambatha rebellion. Traced through all his work though, the principles and personality of Shepstone are constant themes. By addressing Shepstone’s career directly as the topic of his latest book, Guy is able to bring his understanding of this important personality to the fore in this very important book. Although Theophilus Shepstone was not born in South Africa, he arrived on the Eastern Cape frontier as a small child of a missionary family in 1820. For the next two decades he lived in the turbulent, war torn area of South Africa that was ravaged by conflict over land between Xhosa kingdoms and Boer farmers or British soldiers. It was on his father’s Methodist mission stations in the midst of war that he learned to speak the Xhosa language with the fluency of a mother tongue. Shepstone’s use of African languages Theophilus Shepstone and the Forging of extended beyond the mere comprehension of Natal: African Autonomy and Settler vocabulary and grammar, as he could express Colonialism in the Making of Traditional complex concepts of European thought in an Authority idiom or metaphor that Africans could fully grasp, and of critical importance, vice versa. His capacity he figure of Theophilus Shepstone loomed as the best translator available brought him to over colonial policies regarding African the attention of senior government and military Tcommunities and their land, besides many officials of the British administration, which led to other avenues of policy in Natal and the Zulu his full-time employment in 1836, aged 19. review kingdom for almost half a century from 1846. In After a decade of service in the Eastern Cape, the formidable office he carved for himself as the when the territory of Natal was annexed to the Secretary of Native Affairs, which he occupied Cape Colony, Shepstone applied for a transfer from 1846 to 1876, he sought personal control in 1845 and arrived at the colonial capital of of the process by which the amakhosi of colonial Pietermaritzburg early the next year. His title Natal interacted with the British government. was ‘Diplomatic Agent to the Natives’, which Shepstone’s endeavour to concentrate his became ‘Secretary for Native Affairs’ a few years authority, and thereby his prestige, among the later. It is essentially his role in this post that Jeff African population as well as the settlers was Guy dissects in great detail to uncover the many based on his lifelong experiences among black mysterious elements of Shepstone’s personality people along South Africa’s frontier regions and and actions. This task is more difficult than might his fluent ability to speak Zulu. be imagined at first, due to the secretive and Very few colonial officials made as much deceptive nature of the man in question. He was of a direct and significant impact on the way later described by one of his own superiors, the Africans engaged with white settlers and with British High Commissioner Sir Bartle Frere as ‘a British imperialism as Theophilus Shepstone. The strange, shrewd, silent, immobile man’. Professor timing of this new book on the centenary of the Guy deals with the both the causes and uses of book 1913 Natives Land Act is therefore fortunate this exaggerated talent Shepstone had for keeping

Local History Museums - Durban 39 BOOK REVIEWS

his facts and opinions to himself. achieve his aims, and how the institution on providing Africans (or at least certain Shepstone’s capacity for being devious of ‘Government Chief’ was created in Africans) with land. As a result, this is important, as Guy demonstrates that order to decrease the power of hereditary brought Shepstone into direct conflict with few things were as important to him as amakhosi in Natal. The bulging files the vast majority of colonists who were adulation and public praise. Time and of the Secretary for Native Affairs in racist and chauvinist towards Africans. The time again in his long career he obscured Pietermaritzburg’s archives have been generally prevailing view of white colonists facts as they were known to him, in order untangled, to the best of Guy’s ability, and in Natal was that no land at all should be to gain personal benefit. This was not the intentionally vague or legally intricate set aside for Africans. That Shepstone terribly hard either, as the African people cloaks put in place by Shepstone to mask was able to build his power base from the he dealt with could not read or write (on his deceit have been analysed. widespread allocation of land despite this is the whole), nor could they speak English. Overall, the book conveys a remarkable and a testament to his cunning. On the other hand, none of the British compelling account of this crucial era of A final distinguished feature of the administrators could speak or understand transition, when African independence book is the cast of characters surrounding Zulu. Shepstone therefore became the was forcibly exchanged for white rule in Shepstone that Jeff Guy has found and single means of communication between the southern half of what is KwaZulu- brought to life. These include the various the colonial authorities and Africans living Natal today. Although Shepstone’s izinduna and amakhosi who worked in the colony of Natal. While several later involvement with the British with him to implement his system of important examples of Shepstone’s invasion of the Zulu kingdom is perhaps administration, as well as those who dishonesty are demonstrated in Jeff better known, the use of military force opposed him and were punished for Guy’s text, one of the earliest is key to to intimidate and threaten African their courage. Many of these men were understanding how his career remains communities in the Mkhomazi and previously only given the smallest portions crucial in any analysis of land rights and Mzimkhulu river valleys is perhaps less of our historical record, but in this book land claims in KwaZulu-Natal. well known. Guy demonstrates how they become fully developed personalities. In brief, a few months after his arrival, Shepstone used his deep knowledge of Guy also identifies a tiny handful of white, Shepstone wrote a report on 26 April rural communities to precisely identify British-born colonial figures in Natal who 1846 in which he stated that various the weakest points of defence for attack: utterly disagreed with both Shepstone’s amakhosi as well as commoners ‘thronged civilian homesteads (imizi) and the policies and other white colonists’ my office’ and expressed their happiness livestock that families depended on. racist greed for land. Individuals like the at the newly established British authority. The system of identifying a certain ‘remarkable’ magistrate, George Ryder Shepstone claimed these Africans would nkosi as a threat, and then destroying Peppercorne or the radical liberal David all willingly become British subjects in the that leader’s power base by confiscating Dale Buchanan, founder and editor of colony if their land rights were protected. vast herds of cattle which were then The Natal Witness or Bishop John William Until recently Africans south of the distributed to ‘loyal’ government- Colenso are all proof that racism was not Thukela River had faced dual threats, appointed amakhosi is a perfect obligatory among white settlers. Indeed, first from the Zulu kingdom and more demonstration of divide and rule. The such people refute the tired argument that recently from the Voortrekkers who chapter in which Guy retells the history of somehow ‘things were different then’. claimed Natal in 1839. Unfortunately, Langalibalele kaMthimkhulu of the Hlubi Theophilus Shepstone and the Forging when that report was published in July people is the most chilling example of of Natal is undoubtedly a valuable 1849, Shepstone cut out the crucial what Shepstone was prepared to do in contribution to the history of both our provision that Africans were prepared to the pursuit of his objectives. For anyone province and the development of official accept colonial occupation in exchange for interested in current debates around land policies of segregation in South Africa. recognition of their land rights. Instead, restitution or how African land rights While Shepstone is the central figure the amakhosi and African communities are were undermined even before the 1913 in this account, Jeff Guy has carefully presented as wholly accepting of colonial Natives Land Act was passed, this book illustrated the story with a much larger occupation and offering their allegiance to will provide a welcome new exploration cast of Africans and other colonials. A Britain simply for protection or because of of how policies were implemented at the great deal of this book is painful to read, a perceived sense of European superiority, inception of colonial occupation in this as one comes face to face with the phase none of which is true nor does it occur in region. in which the vast majority of people living his original report. Another reason this book is an in Natal at that time lost their security Several other similarly subtle yet important addition to the historiography of tenure, but like medicine that tastes significant interventions by Shepstone of KwaZulu-Natal is for the snapshot it bad, the remedy is welcomed. Scholars of eventually determined the ‘Locations’ provides of settler society. Jeff Guy takes history have been anticipating this book policy that allocated land to black people the opportunity of this text to examine eagerly, but it is also recommended to who were living in this region before the how the first generation of British settlers anyone with an interest in the origins of arrival of white settlers. For the next came to view their African neighbours in our modern society. 30 years, from 1846 until 1877 when terms of a reluctant labour force of ‘recent Shepstone was sent to the Transvaal, his refugees’ who had no greater claim on AVAILABLE FOR R380 interactions with ordinary Africans and the land than someone from London or their amakhosi determined how black Shropshire. Many of the acts committed ADAMS BOOKSTORE people related to colonial occupation by Theophilus Shepstone are devious 341 DR PIXLEY KASEME STREET in Natal. Jeff Guy provides a fascinating or dishonest, but he was aware that the (WEST STREET) portrait of the office Shepstone used to power he personally craved depended DURBAN

40 UMLANDO 2013 BOOK REVIEWS bookreview Denis Hurley - Truth to Power. Paddy Kearney

Publisher: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, Date of Publication: 2012 Place of Publication: Pietermaritzburg Review by: Bheki Mchunu

responses were invariably gracious and of the church and a personification of unwaveringly honest and humane. In this decisiveness in an environment where book we are not only taken along one man’s extreme caution and fence-sitting reigned remarkable journey through life, but we are supreme. He is at heart a social activist with also made to appreciate the tremendous sharp antennae for detecting and dealing existential tension between principle and with injustice wherever it rears its ugly head. doctrine as embodied in Denis Hurley’s Humble in demeanour and hands-on in stand for social justice. Kearney chronicles orientation, he rolls up his sleeves to pitch both the tension between Hurley and the tents for evicted communities in Limehill and Roman Catholic Church, as well as the reaches out across cultural and socio-political broader tension between the church and a barriers. This is a story of a colossus rising society caught in the clutches of prejudice head and shoulders, both literally - because and gross social injustice.The principle of of his physique and figuratively - because of collegiality as opposed to the doctrine of the size of his heart, above the quagmire of papal primacy is the best way to describe injustice and bigotry. Hurley’s personality and vision. This is a Kearney tells the story of this giant with story of tireless determination by one person great incisiveness, which lays bare both opposed to conservatism inside and outside Hurley the extraordinary man of the cloth the church, as demonstrated in his diligent and Hurley the ordinary human being. To participation and input during the Second his own brethren, he was too radical and Vatican Council. to the government of the day, he was a With extraordinary skill Paddy Kearney personification of Die Roomse Gevaar. This n Denis Hurley – Truth to Power Paddy presents the life of Denis Hurley as a book is well-organised into a meticulous Kearney provides a candid, succinct and clergyman within the social milieu of his time. flow of Hurley’s exploits and his life’s great holistic account of the life of Denis Hurley Kearney’s depiction of Denis Hurley’s story milestones and turning points. For a better I leaves no doubt that Hurley was a true moral understanding of the role of the church, the in an easy-to-read and spellbinding narrative. The book is an instructive presentation, giant and a champion for social justice and Catholic Church in particular, during the dark not only of Denis Hurley’s complex and social harmony. Kearney is a great narrator; days of apartheid in South Africa, this book is challenging world, but most importantly, which makes this book a real page-turner, a must-read. It is candid, unpretentious, and of how he interacted with and responded written in an accessible yet rich language. insightful – a great pleasure to read. to that world. His worldly interactions and Hurley emerges as a worthy ambassador

The Inaugural Victoria Mxenge Annual Lecture ... continued from page 17

The lecture presented by Ms Zama the poet Mhligo, Green Berets Musical The event owed its success to was both informative and eye opening group from Mason Lincoln Special School the co-operation between a number about many details in the life and character for the physically challenged and Umlazi of units within the eThekwini Metro of a well-known personality, who many High School choir. Among dignitaries including Community Participation, Inter- people perhaps only know as a tragic who attended were the Deputy Mayor of Governmental Relations, Parks, Recreation name from the past. Entertainment at the eThekwini, Councillor Nomvuzo Shabalala, and Culture. Valuable assistance was also event was rendered exclusively by cultural who also made a brief speech before the provided by the Provincial Arts and Culture groups from Umlazi such as Ithemba, lecture, and a number of other councillors. Department.

Local History Museums - Durban 41 BOOK REVIEWS The Rise and Fall of the South African Peasantry. Colin Bundy Publisher: David Philip Date of Publication: 1979 Place of Publication: Cape Town Review by: Bonginkosi Rock Zuma

maintains that the political economy of mining and speciﬁcally the discovery of diamonds and gold in the 19th century is, among others, one of the main causes of underdevelopment that account for the demise of the South African peasantry. He emphasises that the mining industry needed labour and it had to come from African communities because there were not enough whites in the country. When Africans resisted recruitment into mining, the colonial government responded by imposing a tax system on Africans (the hut and the poll taxes and even the dog tax) and this could only be paid in cash. This started the migratory labour system and its dire consequences for rural African economies. When reading the book the reader realises that legislation such as the poll tax and the hut tax were strategic in the depletion of rural economies by making payments in cash mandatory, and forced Africans to leave their lands and seek work in the mines. Therefore, the synergy from the aforementioned acts was that Africans migrated to cities and white farms; and economic development was skewed in favour of mining, manufacturing and capitalised agriculture at the expense of the rural African economy. When reading Bundy’s book one wakens to the thread that runs through his argument n the analysis of peasant agriculture Bundy’s – that food security is the ability to access quality book demonstrates that South African u food on a continuous basis and is a function of capitalism brought about the centre-periphery I the economic status of individuals where persons structure of our economy. In simple terms, are assured of means to either grow their own capitalism divided the country’s economy into food or to have funds to purchase it. Where the centre (manufacturing, commerce, mining

this condition does not exist, the individuals review and capitalised agriculture) where the central concerned experience food insecurity. A reader economy grows rapidly, while peripheral could, therefore, safely say that food insecurity economies stagnate. Although 35 years have is a direct outcome of poverty, especially in passed since the ﬁrst edition was published, the South African context, given the history of Bundy’s book takes readers through well productive relations in the country. structured chapters that invalidate views held Bundy writes in a style that is easy to follow by both liberal and conservative South African and draws readers into the roots of both historians. Bundy categorically shows that the segregation and politics in South Africa. It is a present wretchedness of the Farm Reserve book that criticises the widespread view that areas (now Traditional Authority) of South Africa African agriculture was primitive or backward was hardly due to ‘backward’ farming practices and attacks the notion that poverty and lack of of black agriculturalists or their insensitivity to development were a result of ‘traditionalism’. improved methods. Bundy correctly introduces the idea that by A century after the Natives Land Act was late 19th and early 20th century capitalist passed, Colin Bundy asserts that segregationist development in South Africa was increasingly policies of South Africa were instrumental hostile to peasant producers and a massive in the state of underdevelopment of African onslaught was orchestrated against them.

communities, especially in rural areas. He book

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�� Local History Museums - Durban 43 FEATURE South African National Society

larmed at the destruction of the indigenous fauna and flora, as well as the perceived threat To cultivate a love for, and appreciation of, to buildings of note and of historical value, a the natural, historical and cultural heritage group of like-minded people came together Ain Cape Town in 1904 and a year later established the of South Africa and all its peoples. South African National Society (SANS). Chaired by the then chief justice, Sir Henry de Villiers, SANS rapidly IAN SMITH set about initiating legislation in the Cape to protect its fauna and flora. The advent of the Union of South Africa broadened their reach, for three years later legislation was passed to extend protection not only to fauna and flora but also to rock art. With the passage of the “Bushman Relics Protection Act of 1911” a start was made to protect this valuable heritage throughout the Union. Other legislation followed and SANS members collectively and individually continued to play a vital role in many of the early laws passed to set aside and develop nature reserves throughout the country. Many of their members also played a significant role individually, for example in the establishment of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. It helped to have the patronage of the Union’s chief justice, now Lord Henry de Villiers but people like J. H. Hofmeyer, F.S.Malan, Graham Botha as well as Mrs Koopmans de Wet held considerable sway at that time. But it was not only fauna and flora which attracted their interest and they saw that buildings and architecture required care and preservation. In the booklet published to mark their 25th anniversary, SANS claimed the preservation of Cape Town Castle from demolition Durban: Once Upon A Time as their single most significant achievement. Immediately after SANS’ establishment, branches A book entitled ‘Durban: Once upon a time’ has been were established in a variety of different centres. The published under the patronage of the South African Natal branch was founded in 1907 and after Union National Society and one of its members, who wishes was for many years chaired by the Administrator of to remain anonymous, made a considerable financial Natal. For the next several decades SANS was at the forefront of heritage conservation in KwaZulu-Natal, contribution to enable the publication to take place. in fulfilment of the original objectives outlined by its Professor Franco Frescura is a member of SANS and he founders. has written the book in association with Barbara Maude The aims of SANS are clearly spelt out in its Stone. Seen in the photo above are Ian Smith, left and constitution and a brief synopsis of its aims are: Professor Franco Frescura on the right with a copy of the • to cultivate a love for, and appreciation of, the book. Behind them is a poster for the book. natural, historical and cultural heritage of South Africa and all its peoples • to promote interest in, and appreciation of, those

44 UMLANDO 2013 FEATURE

aspects of natural resources, history and culture which are important for all the South African people • to give general support and publicity to the S.A. Heritage Resources Agency and the Amafa/Heritage KwaZulu-Natal in their task of preserving the natural, historical and cultural heritage of South Africa, and to support any other body or organization engaged in, or faced with, a similar task. It is a difficult task to briefly pay tribute to the many people who have ensured that these aims have continued to be upheld over the years. One person stands out, however, and that is the late Dr Killie Campbell, who unsurprisingly was deeply involved in the local branch of SANS in Durban. Her Herbert Baker home, set in unique and botanically significant gardens, would be important in its own right, but until her death it also remained a home and her residence. To this informal research institution she continued to welcome and encourage people of all races and from many parts of the world to study in what remains one of Africa’s most significant libraries. Tea time at Muckleneuk was an education when scholars of all races could meet and exchange views and be enriched by this experience. Besides her patronage of people such as Barbara Tyrell, over many years Killie Campbell and her family counted the heads of the Zulu monarchy as friends. As a leading member of the Black Sash she was quite prepared to explain her views to the Nationalist President of South Africa when he came to call. SANS successfully persuaded the Durban City Council to preserve the Old Court House, now part of the Local History �� Museum, as well as the Robinson home, known as the Old House Museum. With Daphne Strutt as curator of the local History museum, SANS was pivotal in the collection and provision of many of the exhibits and old photographs for that and other local museums. �� The preservation of Drakensberg rock art together with the preservation of the Dlinza forest near eShowe are further examples of the work of the local branch of SANS. SANS continued to play a significant though diminishing role in �� the preservation of South Africa’s heritage in the 20th century.Sadly, �� as the century wore on branches faded and in 1980 the Cape Town �� branch closed, leaving the Durban branch as the sole remaining �� branch in South Africa. But since 1982 SANS has annually awarded �� the Killie Campbell Memorial Bursary to post graduate students to �� further their studies relating to KZN history in honour of her work. �� SANS continues to meet each month on the second Tuesday at 5 pm �� at the KwaMuhle Museum for talks and discussion, with occasional �� visits to places of historical interest. SANS also distributes a monthly �� newsletter thereby creating an awareness of our South African �� heritage which we endeavour to preserve. ��

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Local History Museums - Durban 45 FEATURE Durban Local History Museums Trust

he Durban Local History Museums • Trust was established in 1997 to The main function of the Trust is to raise assist the Durban Local History funds and manage these funds for the Museum in attaining its objectives. TIn November 2011 the Trust of 1997 beneﬁt of the Museums. was dissolved and a new Deed of Trust was formulated to succeed in title to and STACIE GIBSON continue with the aims and objects of the existing Local History Museums Trust. The Trust consists of not less than six Trustees part of the wealth and diversity of the To facilitate the development of who receive no remuneration for their region’s cultural heritage. historical heritage primarily within the services, which are considered to be • To promote regional pride in our Durban Metropolitan Region. charitable in nature. common past so as to play an effective • To develop the cultural heritage role in the process of reconstruction conservation message to preserve The objects of the Trust are: and reconciliation by providing for the unique elements of the Durban • To serve the people by collecting, informal and non-formal education Metropolitan Region’s urban researching, conserving and needs of the community. environment for the beneﬁt of this and interpreting for education, exhibition • To provide a focus for the future generations. and display, KwaZulu-Natal’s material dissemination of knowledge and • To develop partnerships with and historical evidence so as to information about the region’s past as educational institutions, cultural improve the knowledge, understanding part of a strategy to promote national associations, labour organisations, local and appreciation of artefacts that form and international tourism to the region. businesses to achieve these objectives.

Repairs to the decking of the tug ULUNDI

46 UMLANDO 2013 FEATURE

• To increase productivity through Museum staff in carrying out essential improved staff efficiency and to be maintenance and repair work to craft, financially cost effective and self artefacts and display items in the Museum. sufficient. • To share administrative, secretarial and To date, projects of the Friends have financial functions with other Trusts included: where and when it is desirable to save (i) the refurbishing of the ‘Port Natal costs and ensure efficiency. – Port of Durban’ Photographic The main function of the Trust is to Exhibition in the Britannica Room raise funds and manage these funds for (ii) making the mine sweeper SAS Durban the benefit of the Museums. Apart from waterproof and restoring the deck of this administrative function the Trust is the vessel to a safe condition also involved in various other projects (iii) cleaning and repairing the insides of in support of the museums, such as the the tug JR More and development and hosting of the ‘Explore (iv) an exhibition commemorating the the Durban Local History Museums’ grounding, fifty years ago, of the website www.durban-history.co.za and the American freighter Aimee Lykes on scanning of the museums’ photographic the Aliwal Shoal along the KZN South collection. Coast. In March 2012, members of the Trust Funding of approximately R 500 000 toured the nine LHM facilities, which has been donated by the Trust towards the This is Henry Paul, one of the included the Rank Xerox Storage Facility first three of these projects. guests at the 50 Years Anniversary and the Conservation/Technical Centre, The Trust is intended to be a of the Aimee Lykes Grounding and produced a comprehensive report on non-profit and wholly public benefit exhibition and seminar held on 26 their findings. organisation and gladly accepts donations of October 2013. Mr Paul was a The Friends of the Port Natal Maritime and bequests. young artisan who worked on the Museum was formed in June 2012, their ship in the Durban dry dock 50 primary purpose being to assist the years ago and he told the audience of 125 people of how, as a result To promote regional pride in our common past of the work that this ship brought him, he was able to buy his first so as to play an effective role in the process of ever house in Wentworth. He said he had to come to the seminar to reconstruction and reconciliation by providing relive the six months when a ship’s misfortune brought him a good for the informal and non-formal education turn of luck. needs of the community. www.durban-history.co.za

351 Langalibalele Street, Pietermaritzburg Tel: 033 394 6834/5 Fax: 033 394 6797 www.voortrekkermuseum.org.za Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00-16:00, Saturday & Public Holidays 09:00-13:00 Reference library and internet café Monday to Friday 09:00-16:00

Local History Museums - Durban 47

Msunduzi Museum (incorporating the Voortrekker Complex)

The museum was founded in 1912 and depicts the heritage of the different cultural groups of KwaZulu-Natal. Voortrekker history is displayed in the Voortrekker Complex which includes the Church of the Vow, Andries Pretorius House and E.G. Jansen Extension. The main building, formerly the Longmarket Street Girls' School, houses a variety of exhibitions including 'Tapestry of cultures – our diversity is our pride' exhibition, history of Pietermaritzburg' and 'Birth of Democracy' exhibition, supplemented by a Hindu Shiva temple, traditional Zulu home, herb garden and Discovery Centre. Displays on the Anglo-Boer War can be seen at the Voortrekker House in 333 Boom Street. The museum also offers a variety of educational programmes. An outreach programme in which various crafts are taught is offered.

Ncome Museum and Monument Complex

Ncome Museum is located 43km from Dundee on the R33 to Vryheid. The museum is named after the river known as Ncome in isiZulu or Bloedrivier in Afrikaans, meaning Blood River. The site witnessed a major confrontation between the Voortrekkers and amaZulu on 16 December 1838. The museum offers a reinterpretation of the 1838 confrontation and exhibits on Zulu and Sotho culture in general. The Museum regularly hosts cultural events in partnership with local communities. The facility is being upgraded to include a picnic site, library, restaurant, multi-purpose hall and Zulu huts for tourist accommodation. The museum also offers guided tours and educational programmes.

Tel: 034 271 8121 Fax: 034 271 8124 E-mail: [email protected] www.ncomemuseum.co.za Open daily 08:30-16:30 FEATURE

Interview with Professor Jeff Guy Shepstone, Africans and Land in KwaZulu-Natal

eff Guy has dedicated his entire academic career as a writer to the Land became a currency of power in the history of KwaZulu-Natal. Specifically, early days of the colony of Natal, and the the history of British colonial policies Jin this region and how the leaders of chief broker of that power, and of land, was various African and settler communities Theophilus Shepstone. interacted with those policies, as well STEVEN KOTZE as with one another in the period of transition between independent kingdoms and the segregationist state of the 20th century. Professor Guy has been a tireless inclination to obscure his intentions and how Africans gained access to land. advocate of detailed, methodical research present a vague or elusive record of his According to Guy, the argument in the archives of our province, and his actions. made by Theophilus Shepstone was that latest publication is yet another skilful Meeting with Jeff Guy to discuss this African communities of Natal had fled product of his own efforts in this regard. strange character who seems familiar to the terrible violence that surrounded Published late in 2013, Theophilus us through his legacy, and yet completely the establishment of the Zulu kingdom Shepstone and the Forging of Natal: African blurred in the historical record, it soon north of the Thukela River. When the Autonomy and Settler Colonialism in the becomes clear that the retired professor colonial government was created in Making of Traditional Authority takes on still has a great deal to say about both the 1840s, Shepstone maintained that the important figure who founded and Shepstone and the history of KwaZulu- Africans were still terrified of a shapeless then dominated the post of ‘Secretary Natal. Although his new book is not and general threat the Zulu king Mpande for Native Affairs’ in the Colony of Natal a biography of Shepstone, and does posed to their lives and their cattle. (reviewed in this edition of Umlando, not specifically set out to provide a In fact, Professor Guy asserts that the on page 39). Although Shepstone’s comprehensive account of the man amakhosi of Natal were intrigued to find career began more than 150 years ago, himself, it comprises over 530 pages a white colonial official who could speak his great significance lies in the fact that of well written and compelling text on their language fluently (Shepstone grew his generation of government officials the era that saw the formation of the up on the Eastern Cape frontier in an established the first relationships and Colony of Natal. Central to the history 1820 settler mission station). Being able legal principles with African leaders and he has compiled, and really central to to communicate directly in idiomatic communities in this region. In addition, Shepstone’s career too, is the issue of Zulu with a British official was a unique Shepstone’s personality and methods land for Africans. The whole basis of what experience for these African leaders. They of operation have made him a difficult became known as the ‘Shepstone System’ impressed on Shepstone their need for topic of analysis due to an underlying of administration was colonial control of security, in other words a deep desire to protect their families, livestock and crucially – their access to the land they The fact that Africans largely continued were already living on. Land became a currency of power their way of life despite the onset of colonial in the early days of the colony of Natal, and the chief broker of that power, and government bred the greatest frustration for white of land, was Theophilus Shepstone. One of the points Guy makes in conversation settlers, and Guy portrays that frustration as is that British policy for this early period the origin of the bitter racism that later took hold is not well written up yet, despite the attention of contemporary historians for among later generations of Natal settlers. the last 50 years. As befitting an academic

48 UMLANDO 2013 FEATURE who has consistently approached our history from a Marxist perspective, he believes an understanding of the economics of the situation is vital. Explaining the key problem he says, ‘a settler colony needed to pay for its own upkeep with the sale of Crown Land, and in order to make the most of this resource the land price was kept as high as possible’. This proved extremely frustrating for the settlers, who saw that Shepstone’s policies allowed Africans to have land ‘free’ as they saw it, while it remained expensive for whites who had to buy it. The second major issue settlers found with Shepstone’s land policy was that it permitted homesteads (imizi) to retain their independence of the colonial economy, and largely absolved Africans of the need to work. The racist majority of settlers believed that if Africans were forced to buy their land, this would drive them into jobs and thus allow whites to prosper. Of course, such bigoted settlers did not regard Africans as having any rights to their own land in the first place. The fact that Africans largely continued their way of life despite the onset of colonial government bred the greatest frustration for white settlers, and Guy portrays that frustration as the origin of the bitter racism that later took hold among later generations of Natal settlers. For Africans the access they gained to land came at a considerable price, namely their unquestioned loyalty to the Secretary for Native Affairs. Shepstone used the situation for his own benefit, says Guy, ‘you were left on the land if he was on your side’ as far as the amakhosi were concerned. While Africans in Natal were not defeated in cruel military campaigns Intimidation was the most effective military tool of subjugation, as Shepstone later devised for the Zulu kingdom in 1879, they were employed by Shepstone in his career, particularly given brutal examples of what happened to those communities whose leaders in cases that involved powerful hereditary “stepped out of line”. Intimidation was the most effective military tool employed amakhosi. by Shepstone in his career, particularly in cases that involved powerful hereditary Mbalo of the Ngwe and Matshana Another tactic employed by the amakhosi. kaMondise of the Sithole. Reading of how Secretary of Native Affairs was to create Jeff Guy has argued in his earlier these amakhosi and their followers were a base of power among newly established work that the punishment inflicted on stripped of cattle and potentially faced ‘government’ amakhosi, who owed their Langalibalele kaMthimkhulu of the Hlubi losing their land as well, it was clear that power and thus allegiance to Shepstone. is the best example of how any perceived Shepstone ran his administration along Guy explains that for certain Africans, threat to his power was severely dealt the lines of a vast protection scheme. In working for the colonial government came with. This new book contains detailed order to shield their people from even with enormous benefits. When cattle were accounts of other, prior uses of violent worse attacks by colonists, the hereditary distributed after raids against headstrong retribution levelled against leaders such amakhosi quietly toed the line as best they African leaders, large numbers of these as Fodo and Sidoyi of the Nhlangwini, could, hopefully to avoid the fates of those were awarded to Shepstone’s izinduna. Mdushane kaNgcaphayi of the Bhaca, foolish or brave enough to cross Shepstone. The most trusted men who worked

Local History Museums - Durban 49 FEATURE

for him not only amassed vast wealth in in 1858. The extensive Sithole territory in discussion ‘or accumulating followers, livestock, they ultimately became chiefs was awarded to none other than Ngoza were the overriding social and economic in their own right. In this respect none kaLudada ,who settled there with his goal in this society’. In a key passage of the are more famous than Ngoza kaLudada, numerous followers, by permission of text he expands further, who rose to become the most powerful Theophilus Shepstone. These were not societies to which ideas nkosi in Natal as a direct result of his Clearly this is an exceptional case, and concepts – buy, sell, marriage, wealth, unquestioned loyalty to his boss, and the but there was great benefi t in being a invest, for example – derived unconsciously system they both operated within. man trusted by Somtsewu (Shepstone’s and uncritically from a capitalist system, Ngoza was originally from the upper nickname, ‘Father of Whiteness’). Jeff Guy can be applied, except at the most reaches of the Mzinyathi River valley, did not set out to write a book about land, superfi cial level. We cannot merely transfer where his family fell under Nkosi Jobe but the way that land features in this new contemporary ideas of oppression and of the Sithole, says Guy. As a young man text is important to understanding how exploitation to our understanding of pre- Ngoza fought against the Boers at Blood the 1913 Natives Land Act and other laws conquest societies. River-eNcome, but later found himself of segregation were applied in Natal and This attempt to look at the experience in Natal after the British colony was the former Zulu kingdom. of how African land was lost, and how founded. Shepstone noticed Ngoza during In the fi rst chapter Guy offers an Africans faced the colonial occupation, the early actions he took against Fodo analysis of two entirely different views of from a perspective that is sympathetic of the Nhlangwini, and appointed him as the world that operated when Theophilus to African views makes this important a government induna. His further loyal Shepstone fi rst arrived in Natal. The book about far more than simply the service was later rewarded with a position chapter is entitled ‘People or Things’ and career of one man. As the rest of the title as a ‘government chief’ in the area around it serves as a philosophical departure claims, the ‘forging’ of Natal was deeply Table Mountain outside Pietermaritzburg. for understanding what gave Shepstone concerned with African autonomy and Ngoza was granted jurisdiction over a such insight, and hence subtle grasp of settler colonialism, and in the process community of refugees mixed together power in an African context. Jeff Guy Traditional Authority was transformed. by fate and by Shepstone’s orders. Finally, gives an important but brief explanation Like all important history, it remains as he returned to his roots in Msinga when of how he believes wealth and value were relevant to our region today as it was 150 Matshana kaMondise was deposed by ascribed, both by white settlers and in years ago. Shepstone and fl ed to the Zulu kingdom African communities. ‘People’, Guy says

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Local History Museums - Durban 51 ‘I may shut up for some time because of fear. Yet even this will not make me feel ashamed. For I know that as long as the ideas remain unchanged within me, there will be the possibility that, one day, I shall burst out and say everything that I wish to say - in a loud and thunderous voice’. Nathaniel Ndazana Nakasa, Rand Daily Mail, 30 May 1964

exhibition now open Old Court House Museum. 77 Samora Machel Street. Durban

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