THE SWISS MISSIONARIES' MANAGEMENT OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION IN SOUTH AFRICA (1873-1976) by BENNETH MHLAKAZA CHABALALA MASUMBlE submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION in the subject HISTORY OF EDUCATION '- at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTOR: PROF IA COETZER NOVEMBER 2002 Ill Ill Ill ' Ill 0001947414 3o3.4 MASU ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Social research is all about identifying people's problems and systematically working towards their resolution through intense investigation. Social research thrives through interaction with other people and the environment. Isolationism does not yield research results that will go a long way towards improving the living conditions of the citizenry. The very nature of social research compels the investigator to extend his heartfelt thanks to all humanity, departed or still alive for the priceless meaning their existence on this planet gave to his own life. One's contribution can assume different forms. It could be personal contact with other humans or through written or published works. It is mainly the latter that shaped the researcher's perspective on life as documented in this historical­ educational research. Admittedly, some of the sources of information were penned locally and internationally afore the novice researcher saw the light or started crawling. First and foremost, the researcher pays homage to his deceased father, Samuel Msisinyane Masumbe Chabalala (died 20th April 1979) and his surviving mother, Khubani Chabalala for all the parental education they provided to their son. The counselling words of the father afore he met his Creator are worth citing: "You may reach the apex of education even when I am no more. Correspondence is the route to the top to those who do not possess money for full-time study''. The researcher is also highly indebted to his wife, Evelyn and son, Justice Vincent Masumbe for all the unwavering support and resources put before him. This thesis is dedicated to them unreservedly. Outside the home setting, there are friends and acquaintances who ceaselessly offered their encouragement. It is not possible to numerate them all. But the following automatically come to the fore: Stanley Chauke, Joseph Chauke, Eric Chauke (all Ndabazizwes) and Risenga Johannes Mahlaule of Chavani village. Not to be left out is Mr Justice Manganyi of the Limpopo Province Premier's Office, Giyani Regional Archives. This man's hospitality towards the researcher was invigorating. He offered what he jokingly proclaimed as "the researcher's desk" and huge volumes of files laden with primary sources. To the many interviewees (including one who chose anonymity: 17th March 2002), accept the researcher's gratitude untrammelled. Some of you have been at it since the "academic war" started with the MEd dissertation in 1999. iii To Dr Charles Daniel Marivate of Valdezia Mission Station: many thanks for allowing the researcher to encroach upon your precious time for the interview and the notes on the training of African doctors courtesy of the generosity of the Swiss missionaries from 1967. The same holds for the information provided by Mr JHM Khosa of Elim Mission Station about staffing at Elim Hospital and bursaries. Mr and Mrs Alfred Elias Mugari also did a lot by providing data about Bungeni village, their second home after their Elim Mission residence since 1958. Although Mr Mugari has passed away, Mrs Christine Mugari should receive the researcher's sincere gratitude on his behalf. The following gentlemen had a hand in providing the researcher with topical data as well: HA Nkonyani (retired school principal, GS Maluleke (Principal ofMukhono HP School), RW Ndzovela (Principal of Njhakanjhaka Primary School), MP Mathye (Principal of N'waxinyamani Combined Presidential Primary School), PK Chauke (ex-Principal of Masiza High School, N'waxinyamani and present lecturer of the University of Venda: issued a print out on the EPCSA split from the Internet), David Mahwayi (Hluvuka High School teacher, translated French documents into English), Willie Shirinda (Elim Senior Secondary School teacher, disclosed the availability of SMSA archival records at William Cullen Library, WITS to the researcher), ME Mashimbye (Lemana lecturer, assisted the researcher by giving him copies of Lemana Newsletter), Mr & Mrs MH Bandi (Shirley cum Blinkwater residents, supplied the researcher with additional information on the Ngove settlement and environs), Mzamani Willima (Masaka) Hon'wana (born in 1918) of N'waxinyamani village supplied information about Dr Jules Liengme's influence in the village; and Obed Makhubele (Mabodlhongwa, Bungeni Village), who provided information pertaining to the relocation of Samarie School from Bungeni to Mutsetweni settlement (Kruisfontein Farm). Mr Gezani Thomas Makhubele (N'waxinyamani) and his uncles Sikheto Solomon Ndabazabantu Makhubele and his younger brother, Gezani David Makhubele's generosity knew no bounds. Mr GT Makhubele, a traditional leader, always ensured that the researcher's vehicle received good service to cope with the rigours of the N1 North and South for purposes of collecting research data. The investigator is without words that can adequately encapsulate the depth of the Honourable N'waxinyamani's generosity. Mr Phillip M Mabasa and his family's hospitality during the researcher's sojourn into Pretoria and Johannesburg was always splendid. Research can be a very interesting adventure depending on the person supervising one's work. In Prof IA Coetzer of the Department of Educational Studies, University of South Africa, the investigator had found a person who leads from the front. Comments such as: "We should consider featuring this and that ... " rather than "You must feature this and that ... "dispelled the prospect of iv being lonesome. One could feel such incisive comments triggering the intrinsic motivation that is crucial for academic success. It was through his efforts that the researcher acquired the services of Prof E Lemmer and Mrs K Greeff to do the editing and typing that led to this final text respectively. May God bless all the personalities who had a hand in this research project! Benneth Mhlakaza Chabalala Masumbe (04844 793) v I declare that "The Swiss missionaries" management of social transformation in South Africa (1873-1976) is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. BMCMasumbe 2002 October 31 vi SUMMARY This research surveys the Swiss missionaries' management of social transformation in South Africa (1873-1976). It has as its major focus the management of schools, hospitals and churches as the primary institutions of social change in society. The researcher's realisation that more often than not, the changes brought to bear on proselytes by the change forces take time to manifest themselves vividly induced him to extend the scope to include the dawn of the new political dispensation in this country in 1994. This need not surprise the readership as the triadic approach, which is synonymous with historial analyses compels researchers to avail readers of what happened in the past, present as well as what is likely to occur in future. In other words, readers will encounter the ethnic nationalism engineered by different change agents in this country and the repercussions thereof, and the schism within the Swiss Mission in South Africa/Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa that started in 1989 and became reality by 1991. Finally, the thesis also appraises readers of what should be done in periods of rapid social change. KEY TERM§ Social transformation, the Laubach Method (method of inculcating reading and writing skills to adults), Christian norms and values, ethnic nationalism, schism, egalitarianism, differentiated education, democracy, sectarianism, non-formal education, informal education, technical education, management, leadership, Plakkerswet/Squatter Act, Social Darwinism, Third Year. vii ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE STUDY SAR South African Republic SAR Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (Variation of the South African Republic. Aiso known as the Transvaal Republic or Transvaan Boer Republic) SMSA Swiss Mission in South Africa TPC Tsonga Presbyterian Church JEPCSA Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa (name of the Swiss Mission in South Africa since 1982) PEMS Paris Evangelical Missionary Society, Basutoland (Church to which the early Swiss clerics were sent to serve their internship as from 1869. The Church started operating in Basutoland (Lesotho) dluring the reign of King Moshoeshoe in 1833) TED Transvaal Education Department NPH Native Primary Higher (Certificate) SACC South African Council of Churches WARC World Alliance of Reformed Churches wee World Council of Churches SAIRR South African Institute of Race Relations, Johannesburg UCCSA United Congregational Church in South Africa CCSA Christian Councin of South em Africa CISA Christian Institute of Southern Africa NAD Native Affairs Department SANC South African Nursing Councin JPCSA Pl!"esbyterian Church in South Africa BPC Bantu Presbyterian Church SADTU South African Democratic Teachers Union ANC African National Congress SACP South African Communist Party BC Before Christ LEALMA Lemana Alumni Association viii VERNACULAR PUBLICATIONS The following titles of publications have been translated into English for the convenience of the readership: Nanga ya ba-Thonga (Nanga ya Vatsonga): The Tsonga Trumpet. Nyeleti ya Miso (Nyeleti ya