The purpose of this assignment is to help you to gain insight into precolonial Southern African societies, as well as the early colonisation of the Cape by Europeans in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Give two reasons why most of the conflict on the Cape eastern frontier occurred
in the Zuurveld region.
Most of the conflict on the Cape eastern frontier occurred in the Zuurveld region because
of the similar economies of the groups who lived there. Most of the inhabitants participated
in some form of stock farming, resulting in areas becoming exhausted or overgrazed.
Stock farmers tended to move frequently to other pastures. Due to this pattern of
migration, tension arose among the various groups of stock farmers during the
competition to gain control over grazing resources. The Zuurveld was the most sought-
after region, because it provided good grazing for livestock, but this grazing was limited.
For example, sweet grass provided good year-round grazing but was restricted to certain
parts of the Zuurveld and grew slowly during spring; sour grass, on the other hand, was
only suitable for grazing during spring and summer. What made matters worse, was that
rainfall was erratic, and that the area experienced severe droughts which contributed to
migration that heightened the potential for conflict.
Briefly explain why the VOC was unable to exercise effective control over the Cape
eastern frontier region during the last few decades of the 18th century. (10)
The VOC was unable to exercise effective control over the Cape eastern frontier region
mainly because the VOC’s authority over the frontier districts was nominal. The seat of
VOC government in Cape Town was a long distance away, which made it difficult to
control the situation on the frontier. In addition, the VOC only regarded the Cape as a
commercial asset and therefore did not want to spend money on a military force that could
keep the peace on the frontier. Moreover, the VOC was financially bankrupt by the end
of the 18th century. When it did try earlier to gain some form of control by declaring it
illegal and punishable by death for trekboers to trade with the Xhosa, the attempt had little
effect as the declaration was ignored and trading simply continued. Later, in 1778, the
Cape Governor, Joachim van Plettenberg, attempted to establish the Fish River as the
boundary between the Xhosa and the frontiersmen in order to limit their interaction and
conflict. Ultimately, he was unsuccessful, because he negotiated with minor Xhosa
chieftains who had no authority to speak on behalf of Xhosa society as a whole, thus
indicating that the VOC had no influence over the inhabitants of the Cape eastern frontier.
Following the First Frontier War (1779-1781), the VOC once again attempted to assert
greater control over the area by establishing the district of Graaff-Reinet in 1786.
However, there was no military support to enforce the VOC’s policy of separation. What
made matters worse was the increased hostility towards the VOC among the
frontiersmen, because they resented the VOC’s attempts to interfere in their relationships
with their Khoekhoe servants.
(Tutorial Letter 502, pp 50-51)
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