Figure 1

More and more seafarers called at the southern tip of Africa, especially to replenish their stock of fresh water and also to introduce the “country” to the rest of the world.

Some people left their countries of origin to settle here permanently. People who settle in another country are called immigrants.

Figure 2

The first white people who came to settle here were a group from the Netherlands who came with Jan van Riebeeck to Table Bay in 1652. They had been commissioned to build a fort and establish gardens. The Dutch vessels that passed the Cape on their way from Europe to the East would then be able to take fresh water, fruit and vegetables on board for the sailors.

The task that Jan van Riebeeck had been set demanded very hard work. While the Khoina still possessed land and livestock they did not want to work for the Dutchmen. After the arrival of the first large group of slaves in 1658, the Dutch East India Company regularly supplied the authorities at the Cape with slaves. When the British took over the Cape in 1795 there were more slaves than free burghers. In 1834 new laws were passed that determined that all slaves were to be emancipated. At the Cape the descendants of the slaves intermarried with people from the other groups. For instance, many children had a white father and a mother who had been a slave. A new population group was created. They were neither Malay slaves nor Negro slaves; neither white people from Europe, nor Khoina.

The Cape coloured people are descendants of the Khoina: emancipated slaves, free blacks, whites and Muslims. These coloured people initially worked as farm labourers, fishermen and artisans. They were given the vote at the Cape in 1853.

Early settlers from Europe

SOURCE 1

Figure 3

SOURCE 2

One day some strange ships sailed into your bay. It did not seem as if the people were only going to load fresh water and then leave again, as previous ships had done. Most of them had long hair that reached down to their shoulders. Some of them wore huge hats, and one could see their hair sticking out from under these hats. Many of them also had hair on their faces. It was only when they started speaking to each other in their strange voices that one could make out that most of them were men.

Although it was sunny, they all wore clothes and leather shoes that covered most of their bodies. They looked much different from the Khoina. Most of these strange people were quite a bit taller than the Khoina, and their faces were red from the sun.

After this first encounter with the Khoina, the Dutchmen, too, were amazed by the Khoina’s clothing, eating habits, appearance and language.

Divide into your groups. The group leader will write. We are going to solve Van Riebeeck’s problems in four steps:

Step 1: What problems, do you think, will Jan van Riebeeck and his group encounter in this new country?

Step 2: Discuss all these problems and then select the most important problem. Everyone in the group must agree. Write this down: How will we …?

Step 3: How many possible solutions to this problem can you think of?

Step 4: Decide together what the best solution will be.

You have five minutes to practise before each group has to enact its problem and the solution. The group leader must start off by stating the problem briefly and mentioning how you intend solving it.

a) Here are some more examples of people who found a new home in South Africa. Start off by trying to discover as many as possible on your own, and then compile your own time-line.

Since the navigator, Diego Câo, went ashore here in 1485, the

P__________e (1) have been here.

The first s_____s (2) arrived here from Angola in 1658.

In 1652 the D_______ (3) arrived here with Jan van Riebeeck.

The F_______ (4) Huguenots came to South Africa in 1688 for the

sake of their religion.

In 1820 the B____________ (5) Settlers settled along the eastern border of the Cape Province.

About 400 G_________ (6) soldiers settled in South Africa after the Dutch administration had come to an end.

In 1860 11 G___________ (7) sailors deserted their ship in the Port

Elizabeth harbour and stayed here.

Quite a number of I_________ (8) soldiers who were detained here during the Second World War, remained here.

Supply your own two examples.

EARLY PEOPLE FROM THE FAR EAST

The Cape Malays were the first group of people from Asia to come to South Africa. They were mainly from the East Indies. They came to the Cape during Dutch rule. Most of them were Muslims. They were very good at baking bread and cakes, and there were many excellent builders, carpenters, cooks, washerwomen and fishermen amongst them. Some of them also grew vegetables and sold their produce at the market or in the streets.

Figure 4

Figure 5

This is the story of the Indians …

The first white farmers in Natal grew cotton. In 1847 the Milner brothers brought seed canes from Mauritius and that was the start of sugar cane farming in Natal. The first sugar cane plantations were established. More and more small mills, driven by cattle, were built. Large plantations and machinery followed. It soon became clear that cheap but trustworthy labourers were needed for the sugar cane farming to be successful.

The Zulu men were not really interested in becoming labourers. They were quite capable of making a living with what they owned. In any case, the men believed that agriculture was women’s work. In 1860 Indian labourers were brought to South Africa on contract. By 1910 more than 150 000 had already come here as part of the scheme. They were transported free of charge, worked nine hours per day, earned a wage of 10 shillings per month and would be free after five years. Some Indians also came here as ordinary immigrants, especially with a view to opening shops and businesses.

Because there was tremendous poverty and misery in India, very few Indians went back after five years. Most of them stayed in South Africa and got jobs. Many Indians started their own businesses – they became dealers, factory owners, fishermen and market-gardeners. They became remarkably successful.”

a) Design your own crossword puzzle with questions (3 down, 3 across) in which you summarise the most important information about the Indians. Swop with your friend so that you can fill in his/her puzzle.

Now that you understand more about the earliest inhabitants, we shall be studying their way of life in the next module.

LEARNING OUTCOME 3: INTERPRETING HISTORY – The learner will be able to interpret aspects of history

3.1 Be aware of more than one view of the past

Understand that different views of the same issue may be right or wrong.

3.2 Distinguish between fact and opinion.

Distinguish between a fact and an opinion.

Is able to access information from maps, charts, diagrams and graphs.

3.3 Reconstruct the past

Is able to reconstruct events and understand how people feel about them.

Memorandum

ACTIVITY 2 (a)