Europeans in southern Africa in the late 19th century: from where, when and why had

they come?

By: Madhavika Gopal and Racheed Mani

The Portuguese

The first European to land in Cape Town was Antonio da Saldanha in 1503.

When?- during the 15th century

Why?- They came into Southern Africa, not very interested in colonization but primarily to establish some trade down there.

The First to Actually Settle in Southern

Africa From Where: The Netherlands

When? They came in the 17th century, with the first settlement established in 1652.

Why?- South Africa was a region rich in resources, especially minerals, such as diamonds and gold.

The Dutch were primarily exploring the region and after a shipwreck (1647) of the Dutch Ship Nieuwe Haarlem they stayed for a year at a small settlement.

After returning to Holland, some of the shipwrecked sailors wanted to convince the Dutch East India company to open a trading centre here.

The company duly obliged and the first permanent settlement was founded in 1652.

The Dutch then started increasing their territory and continued, even with the presence of the Khoikhoi. Van Riebeeck, the Dutch colonial administrator and founder of Cape Town, started to expand slavery and imported large amounts of slaves in an expansion. There was an ultimate marriage between the Dutch and slaves, leading to the formation of the Cape Coloured population.

The British

From where- Great Britain

When- The British came in the 18th century, seizing control in 1795, returning it to the Dutch in 1803, but reclaiming it in 1806.

Why- Imperialism- or empire building. There was the European belief that Europeans were superior to others, and England was the leading colonial power. There was also the case of South Africa being rich in mineral resources.

Why the British Came?

Europeans, on a while, invaded Africa with the intention of instilling Christianity into natives, while introducing Western ideas in education, medicine and life.

Africa provided Britain manufactures with cheap labour, raw materials and a market for their products.

Situation between the British and the Dutch

The tension in between the British and the Dutch started in 1807, the British abolished slavery. But they did pass the “Hottentot law”, which made sure the blacks remained inferior to the Europeans.

The Boers didn’t really like British because they actually treated the Africans with some respect. They listened to the problems of the workers, eventually removed the Hottentot law and abolished slavery in the entire empire.

The British control forced the Boers to migrate to different places, first to Natal, then Orange Free State and then finally to Transvaal.

But then the British also started conquering a large amount of land, especially land that contained he diamond mines.

Diamond and Gold

Diamonds were first discovers near the Vaal River during 1867, triggering a ‘diamond rush. The population of Kimberly increased to 50,000 as people from all over the world came. The Boers and the English were not the only people interested in South Africa anymore.

Initially the local blacks and whites manages the mines. But as the mines grew deeper the locals didn’t have the expertise or the technology to extract gold and diamond, so business men (Cecil Rhodes) from outside cam and took over most of the mines,

In 1886, a second major mineral find was made along a large cliff thirty miles south of the Boer capital at Pretoria.

 These mining regions faces many problems relating to labor and cost.

Local authorities also passed laws limiting the rights of the black Africans. They couldn’t own mines or practice trade. They were only allowed to work as under the whites.

The few people who owned the mines eventually also gained control over South Africa.