In the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902, as much as a 100,000 black people fought on the British side. Also in some regions, local chiefs prevented the Boer Commandos from entering them for either shelter or food. The British, anxious for the African support, declared that they were fighting to liberate them from “Boer Slavery”. The black people generally supported the British as they were seen as many as the more liberal of the two belligerents.
However, after the war, all hopes of liberation faded away. By the treaty of Vereeniging, signed on May 31, 1902, it was agreed that the Boers would be able to keep their rifles and ‘the question of the franchise to the natives will not be decided until after the introduction of self government. The writing was on the wall, or rather on paper. Self government was to be a white minority affair.
Anglo-Boer ‘War’ on the Black People
Apart from breaking the promise of franchise rights and other promises to the black people, they were oppressed in numerous ways. In Natal, the best lands of the Zulus were confiscated and handed over to the whites despite the Zulu assistance to the British during the war. Tightened up pass laws, increased punishment for breaking labour contracts, evictions and increased taxes among other measures were applied to force the Africans into working in mines or white owned farms as low paid labourers.
Anglo-Boer relations remained strained for a few years after the war due to Lord Milner’s Anglicization policies. But in 1905, Milner was replaced and a Liberal government came to power in Britain. Thereafter, both the former belligerents moved towards increasing reconciliation. The British saw that Boer cooperation was essential for the continuation of the exploitation of South Africa. Boers on the other hand, sought to promote their economic interests and the separate identity within the British Empire. When Responsible Government was granted for Transvaal and Orange Free Colony, it became a platform for the promotion of Boer identity.
The Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal and Orange Free Colony were driven towards a Union mainly by economic considerations. But, it was not the only issue. The need to suppress the native peoples’ aspirations was also of essential importance.
In 1905, a poll-tax was introduced in addition to the hut tax the black people were already paying. This was meant to compel more Africans from leaving their lands to work in mines and white owned farms so that they could pay the taxes. The black people were angry at the treatment they received. This anger over the white oppression exploded in the form of an uprising in Natal.
Bambatha Rebellion
Bambatha was only one chief who resisted the poll tax. In February 1906, two white officers were killed near Richmond when they attempted to enforce the payment of the tax. In this area, the rebels were led by Majongwe and Makanda. The government troops killed some rebels and twelve others were put on trial and given death penalty. Majongwe was also captured and sentenced to death.
During this time, Bambatha, the Chief of the Lala tribe near Greytown area in Natal, fled north and found refuge with the Zulu paramount chief Dinizulu. He returned to his own area in April to find the government had removed him as Chief. Gathering his followers, Bambatha started a guerrilla type battle, using the Nkandla forest as a base. This continued for a few weeks, before his troops were surrounded in Mome Gorge Valley on June 10, 1906. The colonial troops were armed with machine guns and cannon while the Zulus were armed with assegais, knobkerries (fighting sticks) and cowhide shields. There was no doubt about the outcome of this uneven battle. The rebels were just mowed down.
The British cut off the head of the body they thought to be Bambatha’s and displayed it to shatter the myth of his invulnerability. However, many Africans believed and believe even now that Bambatha escaped death and lived till old age in hiding, most probably in Mozambique.
Significance of Bambatha Rebellion
Bambatha rebellion was the first and only armed rebellion by a traditional African tribe in South Africa after their nations were militarily defeated by late 1870s. Until the Umkhontho we Sizwe launched their armed resistance in early 1960s, there was no other African armed resistance in South Africa. Bambatha rebellion served as an inspiration for later struggles, such as the resistance by Umkhontho. Also, it emphasized the inadequacy of local resistance. New methods of struggle were to be sought to overcome the overwhelming military superiority of the colonials.
Author Sunil S.
However, after the war, all hopes of liberation faded away. By the treaty of Vereeniging, signed on May 31, 1902, it was agreed that the Boers would be able to keep their rifles and ‘the question of the franchise to the natives will not be decided until after the introduction of self government. The writing was on the wall, or rather on paper. Self government was to be a white minority affair.
Anglo-Boer ‘War’ on the Black People
Apart from breaking the promise of franchise rights and other promises to the black people, they were oppressed in numerous ways. In Natal, the best lands of the Zulus were confiscated and handed over to the whites despite the Zulu assistance to the British during the war. Tightened up pass laws, increased punishment for breaking labour contracts, evictions and increased taxes among other measures were applied to force the Africans into working in mines or white owned farms as low paid labourers.
Anglo-Boer relations remained strained for a few years after the war due to Lord Milner’s Anglicization policies. But in 1905, Milner was replaced and a Liberal government came to power in Britain. Thereafter, both the former belligerents moved towards increasing reconciliation. The British saw that Boer cooperation was essential for the continuation of the exploitation of South Africa. Boers on the other hand, sought to promote their economic interests and the separate identity within the British Empire. When Responsible Government was granted for Transvaal and Orange Free Colony, it became a platform for the promotion of Boer identity.
The Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal and Orange Free Colony were driven towards a Union mainly by economic considerations. But, it was not the only issue. The need to suppress the native peoples’ aspirations was also of essential importance.
In 1905, a poll-tax was introduced in addition to the hut tax the black people were already paying. This was meant to compel more Africans from leaving their lands to work in mines and white owned farms so that they could pay the taxes. The black people were angry at the treatment they received. This anger over the white oppression exploded in the form of an uprising in Natal.
Bambatha Rebellion
Bambatha was only one chief who resisted the poll tax. In February 1906, two white officers were killed near Richmond when they attempted to enforce the payment of the tax. In this area, the rebels were led by Majongwe and Makanda. The government troops killed some rebels and twelve others were put on trial and given death penalty. Majongwe was also captured and sentenced to death.
During this time, Bambatha, the Chief of the Lala tribe near Greytown area in Natal, fled north and found refuge with the Zulu paramount chief Dinizulu. He returned to his own area in April to find the government had removed him as Chief. Gathering his followers, Bambatha started a guerrilla type battle, using the Nkandla forest as a base. This continued for a few weeks, before his troops were surrounded in Mome Gorge Valley on June 10, 1906. The colonial troops were armed with machine guns and cannon while the Zulus were armed with assegais, knobkerries (fighting sticks) and cowhide shields. There was no doubt about the outcome of this uneven battle. The rebels were just mowed down.
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The British cut off the head of the body they thought to be Bambatha’s and displayed it to shatter the myth of his invulnerability. However, many Africans believed and believe even now that Bambatha escaped death and lived till old age in hiding, most probably in Mozambique.
Significance of Bambatha Rebellion
Bambatha rebellion was the first and only armed rebellion by a traditional African tribe in South Africa after their nations were militarily defeated by late 1870s. Until the Umkhontho we Sizwe launched their armed resistance in early 1960s, there was no other African armed resistance in South Africa. Bambatha rebellion served as an inspiration for later struggles, such as the resistance by Umkhontho. Also, it emphasized the inadequacy of local resistance. New methods of struggle were to be sought to overcome the overwhelming military superiority of the colonials.
Author Sunil S.
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