The publication of Proclamation No 180 of 1956 in September 1956 meant that the Xhalanga district would repeat some of the processes it had undertaken from the beginning of 1956. Section 10, for example, required that heads of Tribal Authorities be elected. Repeating this process clearly caused a lot of confusion. It is interesting that the person behind this confusion, the Magistrate, observed that the “Natives” were “confused by the fact that they have had meetings in the past and made their choice and yet fresh meetings had to be held”.38 However,
while it may be the case that the repetition caused a great deal of confusion, especially amongst ordinary rural residents, it is argued that some influential people in Xhalanga were much clearer about their target: their rejection of Tribal Authorities. Soon after the Magistrate informed Xhalanga headmen and councillors on 7 September 1956,39 the Magistrate reported that “great pressure
(had) been brought to bear on (headmen) by other Natives whose identities are unknown to me”. At Emnxe: “the adult males … were unanimous that Bantu Authorities not be established and that the location does not form part of a community authority”.40
In Manzimahle, a meeting that was organised at headman Tofile’s residence “to help in explaining things (Tribal Authorities) to the people” was disrupted.41
The leader of the anti-Tribal Authorities group, Sineke Edward Tyaliti, was one of the signatories to the pro-Sabata petition in April 1956. At his meeting, Tyaliti is alleged to have questioned the presence of Councillor Mrwetyana at the meeting, strongly arguing that councillors be expelled from the meeting. One of the participants, Silumko Ntamo, seconded Tyaliti, adding: “these coun- cillors were the people responsible for bringing all manner of oppressions to the
38
Umtata archives, file 66/27/1D. Letter to the Chief Magistrate, dated 1 October 1956.
39
Umtata archives, file 66/27/1D.
40
Umtata archives, file 66/27/1D. Letter from the Magistrate to the Chief Magistrate, dated 1 October 1956.
41
CMT 3/1484. Affidavit by Robert Msengana (date not clear, but should be around September 1958).
people … all they wanted to bring and talk about was Rehabilitation”. Once again, it is evident from Ntamo that the association of Tribal Authorities with the Rehabilitation Scheme was at the heart of resistance to their establishment. Ntamo is supposed to have “stood up and said that at this meeting no books should be read, and that any person attempting to read a book or report of the Recess Committee should be assaulted”.42 He then ordered the councillors to
leave, threatening them with assault. The councillors then left and, as a result of “this agitation, the meeting broke up”.43
However, these protests, as elsewhere, did not stop the government from going ahead with its plans.44 The urgency to set up Tribal Authorities was
heightened by the fact that District Councils were to be terminated on 31 December 1957.45 Obviously concerned about this date, the government acceler-
ated the process towards the end of 1957. For example, Government Gazette number 1149, issued on 2 August 1957, established four Tribal Authorities in Xhalanga. The Tribal Authorities were made up of KwaGcina, emaQwathini, eHlathini and eQolombeni, with Gecelo, Stokwe, Msengana and Mvinjelwa as the respective heads (see Map 2).46 The next step was the election of council-
lors, whose appointment involved the head of the Tribal Authority, Magistrate and, most critically, the general taxpayers.
Unlike eHlathini and eQolombeni, it would seem as if elections took place in KwaGcina and emaQwathini without major problems. Interestingly, these Tribal Authorities (KwaGcina and emaQwathini) happened to fall under the deposed chiefs. It will be seen, though, that as opposition to Tribal Authorities grew, especially in the early 1960s, some administrative areas in these Tribal Authorities were affected. On the other hand, it took a lot of effort and struggle for ‘elections’ to be conducted in the Tribal Authorities of eHlathini and eQolombeni. The first meeting at eQolombeni was held on 27 August 1957. No elections took place at this meeting. According to the Cala Magistrate, the people asked for an extension of time “in order to consider the matter”. Abel Mavandla Ntwana was undoubtedly the leading figure in the struggle against Tribal Authorities in Xhalanga. It does seem as if he is the one who exerted pressure in order that the meeting be postponed. He protested that ordinary rural residents were forced to accept Tribal Authorities without any knowledge of
42
This refers to the decision of the Recess Committee of the United Transkeian Territories General Council in Umtata accepting Bantu Authorities. See Chapter 3.
43 CMT 3/1484. Affidavit (date not shown). 44
For example, Sekhukhuneland, Pondoland and Tembuland (see Chapter 3).
45
NTS, 9037, 269/362(3)A – 271/362.
46
Government GazetteNumber 676 of 8 May 1959 modified the kwaGcina Commu- nity Authority in the District of Xhalanga, to include “the Native-owned farm Mbenge”.
them.47 Indeed, Evans (1997: 271) has stated: “The most frequently cited objec-
tion was that chiefs and headmen had accepted the new system without adequately consulting their people”. In subsequent meetings, Ntwana chal- lenged headman Mvinjelwa of Sifondile, who was also the head of eQolombeni Tribal Authority, when the latter pursued the issue of electing councillors. At one stage, Ntwana warned Mvinjelwa that he should “never care to come and hold a similar meeting in Emnxe Location where he, Ntwana, lives”.48
According to Mvinjelwa, Ntwana “also had a lot to say and stated those in favour of this appointment are sellers out of their country”. He alleged that in one meeting, Ntwana threatened him with assault, at which stage he
Map 2 Map of the Xhalanga District showing the four tribal authorities
Cala
47
CMT, 3/1484. Affidavit, William Namba.
48
CMT, 3/1484. Affidavit, William Namba. Namba claimed that after the meeting where the election took place, Ntwana threatened him.
(Mvinjelwa) left the meeting “as I saw that I was going to be assaulted”.49
Despite the resistance shown by Ntwana and his supporters, councillors were, in the final analysis elected.
It has not been possible to establish at which meeting the elections were held, or what process was followed. What seems clear is that opposition to Tribal Authorities was most pronounced at Emnxe, where Ntwana resided. It is also important to note, as the above affidavits show, the growing militancy on the part of those who resisted Tribal Authorities.
A more sustained and confrontational resistance took place at the eHlathini Tribal Authority. The first meeting at eHlathini was held on 29 August 1957, two day after the one at eQolombeni. Here, too, no elections were conducted. Unlike eQolombeni, where residents required more time, opponents of Tribal Authorities bluntly told the Magistrate that they “would not nominate”.50 One
Michael Nyovane, from Tsengiwe location, led the attack. As will be seen below, Nyovane became one of the leading figures in the struggle against Tribal Authorities in Xhalanga, especially in the years 1957 and 1958. Informants who knew him described him as short in stature and exceptionally brave (uphuma silwe). Others who had already established themselves as anti-Tribal Authorities at eHlathini were Tyaliti and Ntamo. Nyovane was once again the chief spokes- person at another meeting held in November 1957 at Ndumdum Store, Upper Lufuta Location. He vehemently opposed the election of councillors on the grounds that “these councillors would bring them rehabilitation”.51 According to
Councillor Mrwetyana, Nyovane was “seconded by” Silumko Ntame and Sineke Tyaliti. Mrwetyana alleged that Nyovane accused him of being “paid by the Bunga to sell the people at cost price”.52 No representatives were elected at
this meeting, although headman Msengana claimed that “these two men (Nyovane and Ntamo)” intimidated people who wanted to “ask questions”.
Nyovane was not intimidated by the presence of the Chief Magistrate at a meeting at eHlathini on 13 November 1957. In typical fashion, Nyovane reiter- ated his earlier position that the residents “refused to elect”. In his affidavit, Mrwetyana stated that Nyovane told the Chief Magistrate “that the people will not vote and told the people to disperse”. According to Mrwetyana: “All the people got up leaving the Chief Magistrate”.53 Over a year later, the Resident
Magistrate confirmed this incident. In his recollection, the meeting “was
49
CMT, 3/1484.
50 CMT, 3/1484. 51
CMT, 3/1484. Affidavit (date not shown) by headman Robert Msengana. As already indicated, associating Tribal Authorities with the Rehabilitation Scheme was at the heart of resistance.
52
CMT, 3/1484.
53
characterised by the unruly and insulting behaviour of the people towards the Chief Magistrate and myself. Michael Nyovane, spokesman for the people, refused to give any reason for their refusal to elect at this meeting”. According to the Magistrate, “it was Michael Nyovane who was responsible for the people mounting their horses and riding away, when the Chief Magistrate was addres- sing them”.54 Given this kind of resistance, the Chief Magistrate, it seems,
solicited the assistance of Chief K.D. Matanzima.
It is important to note that Chief K.D. Matanzima was already involved in the debates around the establishment of Tribal Authorities in Xhalanga. He was never happy with the decision to set up four Tribal Authorities in Xhalanga. He preferred that two Tribal Authorities be established in the district. In terms of his vision, the deposed chiefs Gecelo and Stokwe would head these Tribal Authorities. Former headman Mazibuko of Askeaton has stated that Matanzima worked hard in ensuring that Gecelo and Stokwe were installed as Chiefs. By creating two Tribal Authorities in Xhalanga under the two Chiefs, Matanzima wanted to ensure that no part of the district would be outside the control of chiefs.55 As with Sabata, Matanzima was disregarding the decisions of the
people of Xhalanga who rejected the division of the district along ‘tribal’ or ‘ethnic’ lines and preferred to retain the demarcation of the District Council. Matanzima had manipulated his supporters to reverse this decision. This was at a meeting of “headman and people” that was held on 28 June 1956. This meeting “unanimously decided that the district of Xalanga be divided up into
two instead of four Bantu Authorities, to be known as Kwa-Gcina and
EmaQwthini respectively”.56 The Magistrate is recorded as having supported
this decision, thus demonstrating his bias in favour of Matanzima.
The Chief Magistrate, though, was suspicious of this decision. In his letter dated 19 March 1957 to the Secretary for Native Affairs, he remarked that it was to his “very great surprise” that the Magistrate intimated that those attend- ing the meeting of 28 June 1956 had “unanimously decided to have two tribal authorities”. The Chief Magistrate could not understand why “the numerous Hala and Fingo in the district had agreed to be included in tribal authorities bearing the names of two clans whose discredited chiefs … would presumably be the heads”. It turned out “that this decision was not taken at the quarterly meeting held by the Native Commissioner but at a meeting held immediately afterwards which he did not attend”. The Magistrate only received a report from Councillor Mrwetyana, without any clarity as to how representative the meeting
54
CMT, 3/1484. Letter to the Chief Magistrate, dated 6 October 1958.
55
Interview with headman Fani, Cala Reserve, 15 March 2000; and former headman Mazibuko, 25 January 2001.
56
Umtata archives, file 66/27/1D. Letter from the Magistrate to the Chief Magistrate, dated 30 June 1956.
was.57 At a meeting held in Cala on 14 November 1956, it was decided that the
original idea of having four authorities in Xhalanga should be followed. The meeting was between the Chief Magistrate and supporters of Sabata in Xhalanga, led by Councillor Qamata.58 It is worth noting, though, that the Chief
Magistrate’s objection was on the process followed by Mrwetyana. In the letter to the Secretary, he pointed out “the arrangement seemed admirable and (he) was prepared to support it”.
The first recorded meeting that Matanzima addressed after the failed election at eHlathini, was on 7 December 1957.59 At this meeting, Councillor Mrwetyana
told Matanzima that the “people” of Xhalanga had rejected Tribal Authorities. According to him, the “people were so disobedient, recalcitrant and rowdy that they did not wish to give the Chief Magistrate and Mr. Pierce a hearing” claiming “(t)hey cannot hang themselves” (quoted in Evans 1997: 271).60 In his
notes on this meeting, the Magistrate alleged that Nyovane told Matanzima that he was one of those who opposed Bantu Authorities. According to the Magis- trate, Nyovane continued:
These elections do not help us in anything. They have been coming here and we have told them the same thing. Now they have decided upon calling you (Chief Matanzima) to come to us.We are being put into a postion where we shall fight amongst each other. There was an occasion when we asked the present Magistrate if this is not stabilisation and he said ‘Yes, it is’. We cannot destroy ourselves and our sons. We do not want the Bantu Authorities.61
(emphasis in the original)
This suggests that the Magistrate took the remarks seriously. In the same notes, he claimed: “I heard from the trader in the Manzimahle location some time later that Michael Nyovane and his group were, in fact, prepared to fight.” In the light of how previous meetings were conducted at eHlathini, I would not regard the remarks by the Magistrate as an exaggeration. The mood at eHlathini and eQolombeni was indeed militant.
It is not clear whether a meeting that Tsotsi referred to was the same as the one mentioned by the Magistrate above. In his manuscript, Tsotsi (1989: 93)
57
Umtata archives, file 66/27.
58 Umtata archives, file 66/27/1D. 59
CMT, 3/1484. Notes by Native Commissioner on Michael Nyovane, 6 October 1958.
60
Evans incorrectly referred to Mrwetyana as a Chief.
61
CMT, 3/1484. Notes by Native Commissioner on Michael Nyovane, 6 October 1958.
has stated that a meeting was held in Cala Reserve62 and was attended by about
fifteen men.63 According to Tsotsi, Matanzima told those attending the meeting
that he was acting on the instructions of the Chief Magistrate to establish “what is happening here”. When Matanzima was told that there was popular opposi- tion to Tribal Authorities, he was apparently angry and shouted:
There are many agitators who are going to come to you and say all sorts of things. There are agitators in the A.A.C. (All-African Convention) who are going to draw your attention to Cape Town (where the whites-only Parliament meets). There are those who are going to draw your attention to the A.N.C. (African National Congress) whose leaders are in the Drill-Hall (where the treason trial was being held at the time). … Ask the Government for whatever concessions you would like to have made for you in a peaceful manner. … Boycott is a method employed by agitators and it has never been successful.64
No elections were conducted at this meeting.
As with eQolombeni, elections were ultimately forced on the residents of eHlathini on 23 December 1957. There are contrasting views, though, about the election process. According to the headman of Tsengiwe, Msengana, Michael Nyovane challenged Matanzima’s right to come to Xhalanga, as he was not their chief. While acknowledging Matanzima’s role in the establishment of Matanzima Secondary School, Nyovane, according to Msengana, was quick to point out that he did not want chiefs, as they would introduce the rehabilitation measures that they did not want. Msengana implicated Silumko Ntamo who “stood next to him (Nyovane), shouting ‘We all say so’”. Msengana does not explain how the election process took place. All he stated was that “the meeting proved successful”.65 Chief K.D. Matanzima’s version was that “acting on the
specific instructions of the Chief Magistrate of the Transkeian Territories” he held a meeting “of the male residents of the Ehlatini Authority Area for
62
It needs to be pointed out that Cala Reserve fell under the amaGcina Tribal Author- ity. It is thus not clear why a meeting that was to discuss the affairs of eHlathini would be held in Cala Reserve.
63
Tsotsi (1989: 93). He cites as his source minutes “which the meticulous Kaizer kept”. Kaizer refers to KD Matanzima. Tsotsi was also a lawyer who represented opponents of Tribal Authorities in Xhalanga, including, as will be seen below, Nyovane. It is thus possible that Tsotsi received some of his evidence from his clients.
64 Given that Matanzima and Tsotsi were close friends until 1955, it is possible that
Matanzima had him in mind when making reference to the A.A.C and to boycotts. Tsotsi was the president of the A.A.C at the time. The role of political organisations in the resistance to Tribal Authorities in Xhalanga will be explored more fully in the next chapter.
65
purposes of conducting the Community Authority Council elections”. Accord- ing to Matanzima,
Nyovane, Edward Sineke Tyaliti, Silumko Ntamo … and Mbope Mtshawule of Mtingwevu Location vehemently obstructed the proceedings of my meeting but because they realised that I was ready for any assault they did not go beyond persuading the men present to abstain from voting. The majority of the people refused to leave the meeting and proceeded with the elections. Nyovane actually incited his followers to assault one William Namba because of the support he gave to me.66
Tsotsi’s account suggests that the elections were manipulated. According to him, Matanzima read a letter from the Chief Bantu Commissioner in which the latter complained about the way he had been treated by the people of Xhalanga who refused to elect Tribal Authorities.67 Tsotsi (1989: 93) has written that
speaker after speaker reaffirmed that the people were not prepared to co-operate with the government. Leading the attack, Nyovane told Matanzima to “go back to Cofimvaba and leave the people of Xhalanga in peace”. Despite opposition expressed by Xhalanga people, two people were nominated and elected by fifty hands. A letter that was written on the same date, 23 December 1957, by the Xhalanga Residents Association (signed by Eleazor Masoka68 “on behalf of the
people”) to the Secretary of Bantu Affairs indicates how the voting process took place in this meeting. It is worth quoting from the letter at length:
(W)e beg with respect to inform you that the Chief Magistrate of the Transkeian Territories visited the Xalanga District to introduce the Bantu Authorities Act … at the Plantation Ward. The Xalanga people told the Chief Magistrate that the Bantu Authorities Act was not acceptable to them as it was a measure … calculated to diminish and/or deprive them of their rights. Subsequently Chief Kaizer Matanzima of Cofimvaba District visited the same ward and unsuccessfully persuaded the people to accept the Bantu Authorities Act … This meeting took place on 23 December 1957. From Cofimvaba Chief K. Matanzima came with a large retinue,