How the Boers responded to the British presence at the Cape Colony

How the Boers responded to the British presence at the Cape Colony

The early Dutch settlers did not fully welcome the new British rulers. By 1835 the Boers on the Eastern and Northern frontiers were very dissatisfied with the British administration at the Cape.

There were rebellions by the settlers in Graaf Reinet, Stellensdam, Slagter Nek 1815-16 and Stellens Bosch where the Boers wanted to be independent.

They also disliked the British administration, which demanded taxes from them yet they gave them few services.

In 1815, the frontier Boers rose in revolt after the shooting of a Boer resisting arrest under Court order. The revolt failed and the rebels then surrendered and five were publicly hanged at Slagter's Nek.

In the prosperous years that followed for the eastern frontier Boers, the rebellion was soon forgotten, but its memory was revived over 60 years later as part of a tradition of anti-British bitterness.

They also accused the British of providing no protection against the new freed African slaves mainly the Khoisan and the Bantu.

The Dutch hated the laws, which the British introduced because they gave greater equality between the whites and the non-whites, for example the 50th Ordinance of 1828.

There was abolition of slavery in 1834 and this caused conflict between the Boers and the British; the Bantu also continued to steal cattle and burn down Boer houses as a way of revenge on earlier raids.

They also complained that the British did not give them protection against the African raids.

The Boers disliked the British Missionaries especially the Moravians because they tempted labor away from the Boer farms and instead gave the Khoisan and the Bantu education.

Missionaries such as Dr. John Philip and Van Der’ Kemp advocated for the freedom and education of the non-whites. All these were to cause dissatisfaction of the Boers.

Lord Charles Somerset and Sir Benjamin Durban had pressed the Boers so hard and advocated for African liberty, equality and fraternity in all circles.

The Boers also hated English to be used as an official language in schools, public places and parliament. They hated the law Courts, which were heard in English.

British changes- policies or reforms affected the Dutch settlers greatly and favoured the non-whites.

How the British changes affected the status of African slaves at the Cape

The effects of these changes were mainly good for the slaves.

Slaves were allowed to attend Sunday church services and they were protected from all forms of harsh treatment. Slave trade was abolished.

The slave Boer owners were compensated in London hence freeing the slaves.

After the 50^th Ordinance 1828, Africans were now free to move from one place to another without restrictions.

The 50^th Ordinance also allowed the Africans to own land in order to practice agriculture.

The slaves got freedom as the British prevented recruitment of more slaves in the Colony.

The abolition of slavery in 1833 liberated African slaves. They now became people who could determine their future without interference of the Boer masters.

The former slaves became free people whose dignity was being protected by law.

The Africans were now free to sell their labour to whoever met their financial demands.

There were slave protectors who protected African slaves. This was enforced by the labour laws of 1809, 1812 and 1828 .

The slaves were accorded education as a school was opened up for registered slave children. The working hours of the slaves were reduced, as conditions became conducive.