Learn about the Dutch settlement at the Cape in 1652, motives for settlement, effects of Dutch rule, British occupation, reasons, tactics and effects.

DUTCH SETTLEMENT AT THE CAPE, 1652

The Dutch came from Holland (Netherland) and settled at the Cape in Table Bay in April 1652 under the leadership of JAN VAN RIEBEECK.

The Dutch sometimes are called BOERS, a term which refers to the Dutch farmers.

When they settled at the Cape they called themselves by the name of AFRIKANERS, which means the whites of Africa.

And over the years they developed language known as AFRIKAANS.

The Dutch who settled at the Cape owned a trading company which had been trading with Indians and other parts of Asia.

The name of the company was DUTCH EAST INDIA COMPANY (DEICO), which was under the leadership of JAN VAN RIEBEECK.

On arrival at the Cape, DEICO traded with the Khoikhoi exchanging tobacco and alcohol for cattle.

MOTIVES FOR THE DUTCH SETTLEMENT AT THE CAPE

The following were the reasons for the Dutch decision to settle at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

i. They wanted to use the Cape as a convenient place for resting

They wanted to use the Cape as a convenient place for resting after their long journey to and from the Far East.

ii. Good climate and fertile soil

The Cape had a good climate and fertile soil for white settlement and for growing vegetables, fruits and other kinds of food crops.

iii. Source of fresh water and refueling

They wanted to use the Cape as a source of fresh water and a convenient place for refueling their ships.

iv. Control of trading ships

In the Cape they would be able to control the trading ships from Europe.

This would enable them to collect dues and control the trade.

v. Supply base for European sailors

They wanted to make the Cape the supply base for other European sailors.

The descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of South Africa are also known as Boers or Afrikaners.

THE IMPACT OF DUTCH SETTLEMENT AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

i. Loss of land by the Africans

As a result of Dutch settlement in the Cape, the local people lost their land and cattle.

The white settlers needed land for agriculture, cattle raising, and settlement.

But the Cape was under the occupation of the local people called the San and Khoikhoi (sometimes referred to as the Khoisan).

In order to get the land, the settlers expelled the local people from their areas and they also forcibly took their cattle.

ii. Introduction of apartheid policy in South Africa

Dutch settlement in the Cape sowed seeds for the future emergence of apartheid in South Africa.

The Dutch believed that blacks were inferior and Europeans were superior.

This belief resulted in the introduction of racism or color bar, which led to the establishment of discriminatory laws.

iii. Introduction of a new culture

The settlement of the Dutch in the Cape also led to the introduction of a new culture in South Africa.

This culture comprised the Afrikaans language, the Dutch dressing style and the Dutch Reformed Church.

iv. Expansion of European settlement

In 1652 Jan Van Riebeeck arrived at the Cape with just a few people about 120, in 1685 the population had increased to 150 people.

Dutch activities also caused other Europeans to come to South Africa, including the British and the French.

v. Enslavement of Africans

The Boers established large plantations were they kept animals and grew crops such as potatoes, pumpkins, pineapples.

Africans were forced to provide labor in these farms.

vi. Introduction of new diseases

The Europeans bought with them foreign diseases to which the Africans had no natural immunity.

E.g. small pox reduced the Khoikhoi population from 200,000 in 1652 to 20,000 by 1767.

vii. Increase of warfare

Dutch settlement at the Cape resulted in conflicts and a series of wars between the Dutch and the local people.

The Dutch called these wars Kaffir wars.

There were three Kaffir wars.

The first one was fought between 1779 and 1781.

The second one was fought between 1789 and 1793.

And the last one was fought between 1799 and 1803.

These wars caused insecurity, loss of human lives, the destruction of property and the displacement of some of the local people, especially the Xhosa.

THE BRITISH AT THE CAPE

The British were the second Europeans to settle at the Cape of South Africa after the Dutch.

The British came from Britain under the leadership of FRANCIS DRAKE.

Their occupation came twice, first in 1795 to 1802 and second occupation was in 1806 after the collapse of the Dutch Batavian government.

REASONS FOR THE BRITISH TO OCCUPY THE CAPE

i. Compensate for the loss of American colonies

British had to compensate their loss of American colonies after American independence of 1776 by occupying South Africa.

ii. Strategic location of the Cape

The South Africa Cape was strategically located.

It was an appropriate place for British ships to stop during their voyages to or from India.

They could get fresh supplies and water for the remainder of their journey.

iii. Reduce unemployment in Britain

The British wanted to reduce unemployment in Britain.

Some of the unemployed people in Britain were sent to and settled in the Cape.

The British government gave them capital to open farms in the Cape.

iv. Contain or avoid French influence

The British wanted to contain/ avoid French influence in South Africa.

The French had shown a great desire to drive the Dutch out of the Cape.

By controlling the Cape, the British hoped that they would take full control of the Indian Ocean trade, especially the cotton from their colonies in India.

v. Military and strategic significance of the Cape region

The military and strategic significance of the Cape region.

The region had some economic, military and strategic potential.

vi. End Dutch monopoly on the Cape region

The British wanted to end Dutch monopoly on the Cape region.

By the end of the 18th century, the Dutch East India Company had imposed exclusive trade restrictions on non-Dutch European merchants, thus establishing a complete monopoly on trade in the area at the expense of other European nations.

The British wanted to end these restrictions.

vii. Request made by King Willium IV of Holland

The request made by king Willium IV of Holland for British intervention made the British to occupy the Cape.

viii. Protect British settlers and nationals

They wanted to protect the British settlers/ nationals e.g. traders and farmers who had settled at the Cape by 1806.

ix. Favorable climatic condition of the Cape

Favorable climatic condition the Cape.

The Mediterranean type of climate favored European settlement.

TACTICS USED BY THE BRITISH TO OCCUPY THE CAPE

The British used various techniques to occupy the Cape.

i. Introduction of a new land law in 1812

The British introduced a new land law in 1812.

This law was intended to limit the size of the land which an individual could own.

The law was aimed at discouraging the Dutch from acquiring and owning more land.

The Dutch opposed this law because the amount of land it provided for was insufficient for their livestocks.

ii. Introduction of the Black Circuit Court in 1811

The British introduced the Black Circuit Court in 1811.

This was introduced in order to reduce acts of violence committed by European employers against African employees.

According to this law, the Dutch and Africans were to be treated equally in court.

This irritated the Dutch, who considered themselves to be superior and natural masters to Africans and therefore could not be treated in the same way as them.

iii. Use of military force

The British used military force to occupy the Cape.

Because the Cape was rich in natural resources, the Dutch were not ready to surrender it to the British.

Hence, the British used military force to occupy it.

iv. Establishment of a large garrison

The British established and maintained a large garrison at the Cape so as to maintain peace and order, which were necessary for conducting trading activities and administering the territory.

v. Abolition of slave trade and slavery in 1807

The British government abolished slave trade in all their colonies and offered compensation for slaves but the money was only paid in London as a result the majority did not get their compensation.

However, freeing slaves endangered the economic survival of the Boers as they depended much on slave labor.

vi. Imposition of the English language as the official language

Imposition of the English language as the official language, of administering the law and justice and the medium of instruction in schools in 1822.

Hence, English language replaced the Dutch as the official language.

vii. Abolition of internal trade restrictions

Abolition of internal trade restriction imposed by the Dutch company officials on the farmers and other settlers at the Cape.

This created more trade opportunities as they could now trade freely without strictly control from the administration.

viii. Introduction of the pass law in 1809

Introduction of the pass law in 1809, to reduce the exploitation of African labor as the system required African workers to carry passbooks which indicated their residence and employment, and those who did not carry them were regarded as criminals.

The pass prevented the Africans from moving from district to district or moving into areas occupied by Europeans.

ix. Introduction of contract system

Introduction of contract system, through this the Boers were to sign contracts with their workers.

In those contracts, they were to mention the wages and other fringe benefits that they gave to their workers.

Therefore, the Boers regarded the contract system as British interference in the traditional Boer-Africans relationship of master-servant.

x. Encouragement of British immigration

The British government encouraged more of its citizens to immigrate to the Cape.

In 1820 some 300 British settlers arrived in South Africa, increasing the total white population by almost 12% within weeks.

The British government gave financial aid to these settlers.

xi. Introduction of English laws

Introduction of English laws as the basis of the legal system in South Africa.

EFFECTS OF THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION AT THE CAPE

i. Abolition of slavery

The British abolished slavery that was introduced by the Boers who were forcing the Khoikhoi to work as slaves in their farms to produce fruits and vegetables.

ii. Growth of English culture at the Cape

The British imposed English language as the official medium of communication at the Cape.

English had to be spoken by all people including the Dutch.

iii. Land alienation

British took land at the Cape for their settlement.

iv. Introduction of new manufactured goods

The British imported a lot of manufactured goods from Europe.

These goods changed the consumption pattern of the Khoikhoi.

African industries and hand craft lost markets.

v. Introduction of circuit court system

This was for the aim of creating equality at the Cape between the Africans and the whites including the Dutch.

vi. African reactions against the British

African reactions against the British began in South Africa, for example Anglo Zulu war in 1879.

This was a war fought between the Zulu and the British.

It occurred in 1879 and was characterized by two battles i.e. the battle of Isandhlwana and the battle of Ulundi.

In this war, the Zulu were led by Cetshwayo while the British were led by Bartle Frere.

vii. Disorganization of the ways of life of the Khoikhoi

The British disorganized the ways of life of the Khoikhoi.

They imposed the British ways of life and the political ways of life was controlled and dominated by the British.

viii. Boer Trek

The Boers never trusted the British administration.

They saw the British as enemies to their interest, thus they moved from the Cape to the interior of South Africa escaping the British rule at the Cape.