Ancestry24

Smallpox

The first recorded epidemic of smallpox in the Cape was in 1713 and later 1735 and 1767. However many people seem to forget the outbreak in 1755 which hit the small settlement very hard – a quarter of the White inhabitants died in the first epidemic, and nearly half the slaves. Further smallpox epidemics occurred at the Cape in 1767, 1807, 1812, 1839, 1858 and 1881. That of 1881 was the most virulent.

Typhus

In 1867 a Typhus epidemic broke out. Typhoid is a disease of unsanitation, spread by contaminated human excrement. During this time it was not unusual for people to throw sanitary waste into the streets as well as carcass remains and other unsavory remnants of human and animal waste. The only serious epidemic of this disease occurred in South Africa at the beginning of the century as a result of the disorganisation brought about by the Second Anglo-Boer War. The mortality among civilians and military personnel was severe. Fairly high incidence continues in primitive, unsanitated communities.

A Cholera epidemic broke out in 1869 not long after the Typhus one a few years prior. These epidemics still occur in Southern Africa every few years.

Poliomyeltis epidemics occur periodically in South Africa. The public tends to be gravely frightened of this disease because of the pitiful crippling of children that so often results. The total number of cases occurring has, however, been relatively small compared with the other diseases that occur in epidemic form. There were epidemics in 1918, 1948 and (the worst one) the summer of 1956-57. `Epidemics’ of some hundreds of cases occurred in 1960 and 1966. In epidemic years vast numbers of children became infected without showing any sign of the disease. Such children are naturally immunised, but this is a very risky method of acquiring immunity, as the paralytic form may so easily be triggered off; e.g. by violent exercise or trauma of any kind. Subsequent crops of babies will not acquire such immunity and will provide material for the next epidemic unless submitted to vaccination.

Influenza

Some of the entries for one day (15 Oct. 1918) at the Maitland Cemetery, Cape Town, when the influenza epidemic was at its peak.

Epidemics of influenza or grippe occur at intervals. In South Africa extensive pandemics were experienced in 1918 and in 1957, which swept through the country within two months. The 1918 epidemic caused nearly 140 000 deaths in the Union of South Africa, mostly among the Bantu and Coloured sections of the population, although the death-rate among Europeans was also unusually high. The 1957 pandemic was not nearly so severe: most patients had a relatively minor illness and there were very few deaths. Epidemic outbreaks occur frequently in Southern Africa, but do not present unusual features as compared with epidemics elsewhere, although the illness tends to be more severe in the Bantu than in persons of European descent, and complications involving the lungs tend to be more frequent.

South Africa experienced outbreaks of influenza in not only in 1918 but also 1836, 1854, 1862, 1871, 1890 and 1895. The 1918 epidemic first manifested itself in Europe, where so many German and Austrian soldiers fell ill that a German offensive was delayed until March. It spread to Spain, where 8m people were affected. The death-roll in Europe was comparatively light however, and in Spain only 700 people died. The disease was spread by carriers, and it was soon contracted by British, French and American troops in France. Outbreaks were reported as far afield as Norway, Switzerland, Hawaii, China and Sierra Leone. There is little doubt that ships brought the epidemic to South Africa. At first it affected the ports and principal towns. It was reported in Durban on 14 Sept., in Kimberley on the 23rd, and in Cape Town and Johannesburg on the 25th.

Like the earlier epidemics, the 1918 `flu’ attacked men rather than women, and all races alike. There the similarity ended, for whereas previously the very young and the old were more prone to contract influenza, now adolescence and old age seemed immune, and the special incidence fell on the group between 25 and 45 years of age. The epidemic spread rapidly, following the lines of communication: the railways and roads. Hundreds of thousands of people fell ill, and the economy of the country, including the mines, was nearly brought to a standstill. Coal was no longer being produced, and factories closed their doors. Commerce almost ceased, only food-shops remained open, and transport was more precious than gold. The railways operated a skeleton service, trams ran spasmodically, and motor-cars were short of petrol. In the towns essential foodstuffs were scarce – no bread, since the bakers were ill; no milk, since the farmers were unable to bring it to town. The greatest shortage, however, was of people – hands to nurse the sick, feet to bring essentials of life when whole families lay ill.

At first the death-rate was low – then suddenly it began to rise. Doctors, many of them ill themselves, could not cope with the flood of patients, emergency hospitals overflowed, the supply of coffins gave out, and people were sometimes buried in mass graves. Nor was there safety in the country, for refugees spread the epidemic far and wide. The Transkei, with practically no medical assistance available, was particularly hard hit. The authorities did their best to cope with the situation, but thousands died without ever seeing a doctor. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the epidemic ceased.

Mr. CHARLES S. BAM, born in 1868, and educated at Blythswood, where he passed the Teachers’ Examination. Joined the Civil Service and was stationed at Qumbu as clerk and interpreter. Was promoted and transferred to Tsolo where he remained in service until he retired. He is a man of great influence and popular among the people of Tsolo. On retiring he was appointed treasurer of the Bantu Bank-a society inaugurated on the lines of the Rafael  German Banks of the middle classes. Mr. Bam is also a member of the Territories General Council.

Nabotsibeni, a princess of the Mdhluli section of the Swazi Nation, was the wife of Ngwenyama Mbandeni, King of Swaziland, and mother of Bhunu, Hell Mahlikhlo Ngwane III., and grandmother of the present Ngwenyama of Swaziland, Sobuza II. She was proclaimed Ndhlovukazi after the death of her husband, Mbandeni, in 1889. She ruled for 36 years, first as Queen Mother and then as Queen Regent during the minority of the Ngwenyama Sobuza. Her son, Ngwane III. reigned only for a short time and died, leaving as heir the present ruler for whom the Ndhlovukazi acted. She was a wonderful woman; a good, wise and tactful ruler, and acknowledged by all the representatives of the British Throne as one of the cleverest rulers in Africa. She was a skilled diplomat and cleverly avoided many difficult and dangerous issues which certainly would have been very disastrous for Swaziland. She had great faith in the late Queen Victoria and the British Government. Though uneducated, she was highly respected by all the High Commissioners and other British representatives for her wisdom and ability to handle with courage and tact a difficult national question. She was. not a Christian herself, but always welcomed all missionaries who visited her country. She did much for education in Swaziland, and actually sent her grandson, the present ruler, and other young members of the Royal Family to Lovedale, the South African Native College and other educational institutions for higher education. She was the founder of the Abantu-Batho, an English-Bantu weekly newspaper printed and published in Johannesburg. Since her death some trouble arose between the Europeans and the Swazi Nation which necessitated the sending of a deputation to His Majesty the King of England. The deputation was headed by the Ngwenyama Sobuza himself. There followed a case before the Privy Council which the Swazies lost.
Nabotsibeni was never known to don European clothes, although she had many presents of fine clothing sent to her from the good Queen of England. In order to regain lost rights over certain tracts of land in possession of European settlers she raised £40,000 with the object of redeeming the land, but failed to establish her claim. She died in Swaziland at the age of 80 years.

Mr. SAUL MSANE. Born in Natal, where he received his early education. Later he was sent to Healdtown Institution and there completed his education. Was a good musician, and possessed a deep bass voice. While touring Europe with the Zulu Choir in 1892, he made many friends, especially in England. On
his return to South Africa, he was appointed compound manager of the Jubilee & Bali:bury Gold Mining Company, Limited, in Johannesburg. After many years he retired and took an active part in politics. Was Vice-President of the African National Congress. Also a member of the I9I3 deputation that was sent to England to protest against the 1913 Lands Act, then a Bill. Was a very progressive man, and took great interest in the education of his people.
At one time was editor of the Abantu Batho newspaper in Johannesburg, and one of the best of Zulu writers. A man of sound judgment, many seeking his advice on important matters. In the Wesleyan Methodist Church he took prominent part, and in addition to being a local preacher, he was also choirmaster. Had a devoted wife to whom he owed many of his successes. In the latter part of his life he was a labour-agent. It was while he was engaged in this work in Zululand that he took ill and died.

Mr. STEPHEN B. MPAMA was a Zulu by birth, but his home was in the Transvaal. After he completed his. education he was employed as a clerk, and later became a clerk and interpreter in the Magistrate’s Office, Potchefstroom, Transvaal. After some years he retired from the Civil Service and became clerk at the Robinson Deep Gold Mine. In Johannesburg, Mr. Mpama soon became popular. Was a member of the Bantu Men’s Social Centre, Joint Council of Europeans and Natives, and a great lover of music. He died in Johannesburg in 1927.

Born on the 7th December 1924 in Durban; at present (1983) in London. University lecturer in Bantu Languages and Ethnomusicology, instrumentalist and music teacher.David Rycroft comes from an exceptionally musical family. His father was an organist in Durban,and Johannesburg; his sister (Mrs Lynette Neilson) is also an organist; his cousin, Eric Rycroft, lectures in music at Stellenbosch University and is a violinist, and his uncle, Prof. H.B. Rycroft (formerly Director of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens) introduced him to the accordion (in 1936). The next generation too, is musical – Eric Rycroft’s daughter, Anne, played the viola in the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Rycroft himself started to learn the piano when he was seven, and continued in Johannesburg under G. Barclay Donn when the family moved there in 1933. His father, who was organist of the Rosebank Union Church, taught him the organ, and by the time he was sixteen he was able to deputise at various churches. He was organist of Christ Church, Hillbrow from 1946 to 1952.

Rycroft’s interest in wind instruments, too, began in his childhood with a harmonica and a penny whistle. He advanced to the tenor saxhorn at school (Parktown High) and played in the cadet band. Thereafter he studied all the usual brass instruments and taught himself to play the flute, piccolo, recorder and oboe. He played the oboe in both his school orchestra and later in the orchestra of the University of the Witwatersrand, which he attended from 1942-1946. His studies (in Bantu languages and phonetics) were briefly interrupted by war service. At the completion of his university course he became Cultural Recreation Officer in the former Johannesburg Non-European Affairs Department and involved in many interesting aspects of music: he promoted Black cultural activities, including adult education in music, became a member of Hugh Tracey’s African Music Society and of the Bantu Music Festival Committee, and played the accompaniments to the Xhosa song recitals of Todd Matshikiza (composer of King Kong) on the SABC’s English programme (1950). In 1952 David Rycroft and his wife emigrated to England where he took up a post as lecturer in Bantu Languages and Ethnomusicology at London University ’s School of Oriental and African studies. Since then he has frequently visited South Africa on field trips. He has published much of his research, which centres largely on the music, language and literature of the Swazi and Zulu peoples, and he has broadcast on the BBC, Radio Belgium and Radio Swaziland. He has also presented many conference papers and has lectured in the USA, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Ghana, West Germany, Belgium, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

In the meantime he has continued to be an active musician, in an unconventional way. He was a co-founder of the Guild of Gentlemen Trumpeters, which is called on to play fanfares at historic events; and he also co-founded the New Melstock Band (a name derived from the church band in Thomas Hardy’s book Under the greenwood tree). In the Band he plays period instruments such as the baroque oboe, early bassoon clarinet, serpent, ophicleide, cornet, cornopean, keyed bugle, natural horn, slide trumpet, trombones, helicon and tuba. They perform at old churches, stately homes, colleges and museums. In his spare time, Rycroft teaches brass instruments at a local school, directs pupils in a wind ensemble, and plays the accordion at village fetes or country dances when required. His four adult children have all inherited his musical talent.

Henry Selby Msimang

Born in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg, 13 December 1886, died in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg, 29 March 1982), interpreter, clerk, journalist, farm manager, and especially politician.He and his elder brother Richard Msimang were the children of the well-known African preacher who founded the Independent Methodist Church, Joel Msimang, and his wife Joanah Radebe.

Msimang received his primary education at the Emakosini Primary School in Nhlangano, Swaziland. Between 1903 and 1907 he studied first at Kilnerton Institution, a Methodist college in Pretoria, then Edendale Institution at Edendale, and finally at Healdtown Institution, a Methodist boarding school near Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape. Though he was then a qualified teacher, he never taught. His career started in 1908 when he was appointed as interpreter in Germiston, Transvaal. He never stayed in any career for long but kept changing jobs and homes. Between 1908 and 1965 he had fifteen occupations and lived in ten towns or cities in three provinces (the Transvaal, the Orange Free State and Natal ). From 1942, however, he settled in Edendale near Pietermaritzburg.

His political career started in 1912 when he was a founder member of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC, African National Congress (ANC) after 1923). During the following 30 years he participated in a number of their meetings, deputations and other activities. For many years he undertook the labour portfolio of the congress, and was a prominent member of the committee established to raise funds to send a deputation to Britain to try to have the Natives Land Act of 1913 repealed.

In Bloemfontein, in 1917, he was the editor of a newspaper Morumioa Inxusa (Messenger) (the title of the newspaper varied) which only existed for two years. (It could not be established if a connection existed between this newspaper and the one with which D.S. Letanka was involved in 1911, i.e. Moromioa.) During his stay in Bloemfontein (1917-1922) his long relationship with the labour movement started when, as a labour organizer, he led a strike of municipal workers in Bloemfontein in 1917, for which he was arrested and detained. In 1919 he liaised with Clements Kadalie, founder of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU), about the organization of African workers. Together they planned the establishment of a national ICU and in 1920 held a meeting in Bloemfontein with this in mind. Msimang was elected president of the national ICU. When Kadalie failed to be elected to the executive he withdrew with his supporters. This led to increasing animosity between Msimang and Kadalie, resulting in Msimang’s resignation as president and distancing himself from the ICU until after Kadalie’s resignation in 1929. Msimang then rejoined and during the decline of the ICU he held the post of national propagandist. From 1928 to 1937 Msimang was a labour advisor in Johannesburg.

In 1922 Msimang returned to Johannesburg and became a member of the Joint Council for Europeans and Bantu. He was still involved in the activities of the SANNC/ANC and served on the national executive committee of the ANC during the terms of office of presidents J.T. Gumede (1927-1930) and Pixley Seme (1930-1937). In 1932 he was a member of the so-called revival committee that wanted to strengthen the organization from within to prevent its stagnation. Three years later, during the first meeting of the All-African Convention (AAC) in Bloemfontein in December 1935, he was elected as secretary.

In 1942 he returned to Natal and was elected provincial secretary of the Natal branch of the ANC, a position he retained until 1956. He was also a confidant of the Natal leader A.W.G. Champion. In 1948 he became a member of the Native Representative Council (NRC) although at that time it was no longer an active body. In December of the same year he attended the discussions with the AAC as delegate of the ANC during an unsuccessful attempt to reconcile these two organizations. During the annual congress of the ANC of that year Msimang was elected to the committee which had to draw up the Programme of Action. Early in 1949 he represented the ANC in discussions with prominent Indian leaders in an effort to reconcile Africans and Indians after bloody clashes between them in Durban and surrounding areas in January 1949. A year later Msimang and Champion’s political ways parted and Msimang lost his position in the ANC. However, when Albert Luthuli defeated Champion as president of the ANC in 1951, Msimang was reinstated as provincial secretary. But he lost interest in the ANC and even before the Defiance Campaign of 1952 he resigned as provincial secretary in Natal.

In 1953 Msimang became a founder member of the multiracial Liberal Party of South Africa. From 1956-1968 he served on the executive committee and in due course became the national vice-chairperson. His activities were, however, hampered in 1965 when the government forbade him to attend meetings for five years.

Msimang was also interested and active in local politics and problems. For many years from 1942 he was secretary of the Edendale Advisory Board Local Health Commission. He was the founder of the Edendale Benevolent Society and served as its secretary from 1946 to 1952, and from 1967 as honorary life president. In 1973 he was elected secretary of the Edendale AmaKholwa Tribe. In 1975 Msimang became a member of the national council of the Inkatha yeNkululeko yeSizwe. From 1974 to 1975 he served on the executive committee of the South African Institute of Race Relations. He was a Methodist and served in various committees of the church.

Msimang was a prolific author. Apart from numerous newspaper articles, including series of articles in several newspapers, he published a pamphlet The crisis ( Johannesburg, 1936) about the effect of the 1936 Land Act on Africans.

He was married twice and had four sons and four daughters. His first wife was Mercy Mahlomola King whom he married in July 1913. She died in September 1951, and in August 1952 he married Miriam Primrose Oldjohn.

Source and Image: New Dictionary of South African Biography

Rev. MARSHALL MAXEKE, B.A., was born on the 1st November, 1874, at Middledrift, Cape Colony, where he received his early education. Later he was sent to Lovedale Training College with the son of Chief Gonya. After some; years . his parents moved to the north and settled in Johannesburg, where he worked as a harness-maker with Mr. (now Dr.) Tantsi, who became a great friend of his. About that time the MacAdoo Jubilee Singers of America visited South Africa, and Mr. Maxeke was so attracted by their harmony that he resolved to follow them to America to study music. While working in Johannesburg Mr. Maxeke became a local preacher. At this time the lady who later became Mrs. C. M. Maxeke, was already studying in the Wilberforce University, America. In 1897 Bishop Turner, who was then chairman of the Missionary Board, paid a short visit to South Africa, and on his return he was accompanied by Messrs. Maxeke and Tantsi. On arrival in America they went straight to the Wilberforce University where they joined classes. Mr. Maxeke won the Rush Prize and passed the B.A. Examination with honours in Classics and Mathematics. After passing the Theological Examination he was ordained in 1903 as an elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

He returned to, South Africa the same year and married Miss Charlotte Manye who had already returned from America and was teaching in Pietersburg, Transvaal, and doing missionary work. A son was born to them. Both Rev. and Mrs. Maxeke continued their good work until he died at Boksburg, Transvaal, in 1928. He compiled the first Xosa A.M.E. Church Hymn Book. Rev. Maxeke was a powerful preacher and an eloquent platform orator. A good writer, and at one time editor of the Unateteli u a Bantu, a weekly publication in Johannesburg. He took keen interest in the politics of the country. Was a prominent member of the African National Congress. Rev. Maxeke was a real progressive man and played an important part in. the education of his people, especially in mission schools. He was a favourite of the African Chiefs in the Cape, especially in Tembuland where he and Mrs. Maxeke did much for the education of the Tembu children.

Mr. ALFRED MANGENA
Mr. Alfred Mangena was born at Estcourt, Natal, about 1879. He managed to acquire a little education, and thereafter took private studies at Capetown. He went to England and after matriculating lie studied Law at Lincoln’s Inn and was called to the Bar in 1909. In 1910 he returned to his home and was the first African Barrister at Law in South Africa. After some difficulty he succeeded in becoming a solicitor of the Supreme Court of South Africa, and opened an office at Pretoria with a branch office in Johannesburg. Commenced to practice and became very successful. There were Courts where natives could not gain admission except as prisoners or witnesses. All this Mr. Mangena fought. Mr. Mangena became very popular with the Africans throughout South Africa and received invitations from chiefs all over South Africa.  He was a fearless man, and his life was in danger more than once because of his success in cases where he defended natives against Europeans. In 1911 Mr. P. Ka I. Seme, B.A., arrived from Europe, being the second African lawyer. Together they set about defending their people in the Law Courts. In 1912 Mr. Mangena was appointed Senior Treasurer of the African National Congress. In the same year he published at Pretoria the first issue of the Advocate, a Bantu-English weekly. Owing to some difficulties this newspaper ceased to exist the following year. In 1916 Mr. Mangena married Nurse A. V. Ncobela, of Natal. In the same year he went into partnership with Mr. P. Ka I. Seme, the firm being known as Mangena & Seme, Solicitors, etc. He died at his home in Umtata, Cape Province, in 1924.

Kgame II. was the Paramount Chief of the Ba-Mangoato. These people broke away from the main tribe of the Bakoena during the chieftainship of Mothibi, son of Ngoato-after whom the tribe is now called. Kgame found it necessary to appeal to the British Government for protection against invaders in his country, now Bechuanaland Protectorate. Kgame was a wise ruler-stern yet kind, strict yet sympathetic. He was a real father to his people, whose interest he had at heart. In 1882 Kgame II. introduced a law prohibiting the making of Kaffir beer and the selling of liquor in his country. He also abolished circumcision among his people.. Converted to the Christian faith, and was a strong supporter of the London Missionary Society. Kgame was very rich in stock and money, and he encouraged his people to breed stock. He discouraged outsiders from coming to his country to buv livestock and totally prohibited the selling of cows and heifers to outsiders. Produce could be sold to foreigners only with the permission of the Chief, who alone had the right to stipulate the price; thus Kgame was chief, statesman, soldier and agent all in one.
Kgame often had trouble with the northern tribes. On one occasion Mzilikazi sent forty warriors to levy a tax. Orders were given to his councillors to have these warriors arrested and killed. Mzilikazi, hearing that his men were killed at once despatched a regiment to subdue Kgame. Receiving information that Mzilikazi’s warriors were invading his territory he led his army to meet the foe. Mzilikazi’s army was defeated with heavy losses and had to flee. After this battle smaller tribes hastened to pay homage to Kgame and to seek protection.
When Kgame was converted to Christianity he married according to Christian rites against the wishes of h’s father, Sekgoma. By this act John Mackenzie, a missionary of the London Missionary Society earned the disfavour of the aged Sekgoma. In those days the head kraal (or capital) of the tribe was at Shoshong. It has since been removed to Serowe.
As we have already stated, Kgame was strict, and often imposed a fine of 30 head of cattle on those who insisted on brewing Kaffir beer after the prohibition. A good horseman and a lover of animals. He had hundreds of horses. On day while riding a stallion he was kicked on the leg by a mare and was crippled for a long time. He was also very fond of hunting big game, and is said to have been one of the best shots of his time. Kgame made much money by selling the skins of the lions and other big game he shot and also elephant tusks.By his first wife, Kgame had one son and five daughters. When she died he married again. His second wife gave birth to two children, one is now acting as Regent. On Kgame’s death his son Sekgoma, succeeded him, but did not live much more than a year. Sekgoma’s son, Kgame’s grandson and heir, is as yet a minor, therefore Tshekedi, Kgame’s only son by his second wife, is acting for him.
When the Prince of Wales visited the Ba-Mangoato tribe he was met at Palapye Road Station, a number of miles from Serowe, by a full Ba-Mangoato regiment, and travelled to the head kraal in one of the two wagons made on the order of Sekgoma, Kgame’s son, costing £500 each. These wagons are well furnished and contain a sitting-room, a bedroom and a kitchen. Kgame had a number of regiments wearing uniform. The Black Watch, a mounted regiment, was the Paramount Chief’s bodyguard. Kgame had built a large church of stones, wood and iron before he died. Kgame was one of those rulers who was liked and respected by the Boer, the Briton and the Bantu. He will not be forgotten by his people for many years to come.
Tsekedi recently visited England to interview the British Government in connection with the mineral rights of the Ba-Mangoato tribe in their territory in Bechuanaland Protectorate.