GHANZI

History of settlement in Gaentsii [1]

 

Background:

 

The first Khoi-Khoi / Nama herders arrived in Southern Africa at the end of the Later Stone Age (LSA) approximately 2000 years ago, bringing with them domesticated animals, pottery, metals and a system of hierarchical chieftainship, and they found the San roaming the then much wetter plains of southern Africa. New resources became available to the San through contact with these herders, changing their material culture to use stone tool and later metal technologies. Archaeological evidence of the existence of the Khoi-Khoi (or Khoekoen) in Ghanzi was found at Dqãe Qare farm, namely a piece of thin-walled pottery, but several excavations in Botswana provided evidence, such as Kuke, Tsodilo, Toteng etc.[2]

 

Early occupation of various groups of the Ghanzi calcrete ridge has been recorded, but according to the San themselves other people who resided there could only do it for short periods, while the three or more San groups – Naro, Ju|’hoansi (or ‡Au||eisi) and Dcui (G/wi) lived there more or less full time. Due to the survival skills of their hunter-gatherer lifestyle, they could survive without surface water during the dry months (which in drought years would stretch to nine months or more) as they kept no animals and knew how to get moisture from plants. Contrary to the notion that the San were nomads, they had designated territories but in times of scarce resources would share these and allow others in.

 

Pastoralists, explorers and hunters could not settle permanently in the vast, western Kalahari area of Botswana, however, not having the skills to survive without water, unless during a wet cycle, when pans in the Ghanzi area would hold water throughout the year.

 

Although Batawana, Ovaherero and Bakgalagadi leaders also claimed the area as theirs it was more probably for occasional use of the excellent grazing as extended pastures for their herds, and as the “Basarwa[3]” land use system was not considered by them as legitimate for land ownership. These groups, even though not permanently settled in this area still laid political claims to it[4]. However, they feared the San groups, who protected this area aggressively from settlement of black tribes[5] before they had to submit to the more dominant Batawana, who eventually submitted the entire Ngamiland under Batawana rule.

 

Ironically, even though Cecil John Rhodes’s move to settle white farmers and hunters from the south in Ghanzi, was planned to close off the route for German invasion from the then South West Africa to Tanzania, settlement of the white farmers opened the area for other groups’ permanent settlements as well, as the settlers introduced the skills to dig permanent wells and dams to capture water for longer periods. Over time they also provided a line of transportation for supplies as well opened access to markets and to cash and ammunition.

 

The fact that the Ghanzi ridge and the surrounding dry, sandy semi-desert area was mostly inhabited by the San was confirmed by many accounts of explorers, missionaries, the first white settlers as well as oral testimonies by the San themselves.[6]

 

 

Preliminary timeline of Ghanzi settlement history.

(from records of evidence of occupation)

 

Part One:

 

1700

Ghanzi occupied by San and Khoekhoen groups.

 

1750-1795

Bakgalagari groups, (Bangologa and the Babolaongwe), trek past Ghanzi to water their herds and to new pastures, probably a yearly occasion.

 

1830

Ovaherero and Ovambanderu cross Ghanzi with their large herds of cattle.

 

1830-1890’s

Batawana Chief Moremi’s son Letsholathebe consolidates all north- western groups under his rule. Sekgoma Letsholathebe and his son, Moremi II, spread Batawana influence southwards to the Okwa, eastwards to the Makgadikgadi, westwards into Namibia and northwards to Andara in West Caprivi.

 

1840’s

First recorded European traders, hunters and missionaries move through Gobabis-Kgwebe route, linking Lake Ngami with Walvis Bay, forming a trade route. Englishman Moyle rested 3 months at Ghanzi after losing all horses and mules on trek.

Explorers: Andersson, Galton, Baines, Chapman, Schinz, Passarge, for e.g.

 

1874

First white person (and Afrikaner) to settle in Ghanzi was hunter Hendrik van Zyl. Set up a small hunting and trading empire in the area, built a double storey house at “old Ghanzi” pan. He got the concession for Ghanzi from Chief Letsholathebe. His hunting partners were Bouwer, Botha, McDonald, Gey von Pittius, “Boy Orange” (once translator for Livingstone). Two of Van Zyl’s sons, Marthinus and Andrew, lived here for longer periods as well.

 

1874

Barolong move into Okwa valley. During this time the Okwa trade route is called the “Damara Road”, due to gun-running between Ngami and Walvis Bay.

 

1875

First Dorsland Trek passes through Ghanzi en route to Angola, under leadership of Gert Alberts. They rest at Ghanzi for three months to let oxen recover from the first, harsh, Kalahari stretch. Scheepers and family stay behind in Ghanzi for an unknown period.

 

1878

Van Zyl, with Moremi II asks Palgrave to consider including Ghanzi into possible annexation of South West Africa into British territory. Palgrave notes large tracts of land under Van Zyl as well as relationship with white settlers west of Lake Ngami.

 

1879

Van Zyl’s right to this land is contested by next chief Moremi II, whose delegation of 400 men ends up in battle with a Nama delegation at Van Zyl’s homestead. Van Zyl is subsequently accused by the Nama chief Amraal Lambert in Namibia of not honouring their right over Ghanzi by dealing first with the Batawana. Van Zyl is held responsible for the death of Nama soldiers killed in the fight with Moremi II. Sentenced to death in Gobabis, Namibia, by Nama (Oorlam) chief who claims most of his possessions and leaves him a poor man.

 

Van Zyl returns to Ghanzi but is murdered in 1880 by Nama servant Geduld, on a hunting trip, near Ukuambi. (One version of the story).With no possessions left, his family leaves Ghanzi for South Africa.

Next white person to settle on Ghanzi (at Sebego’s Pan) was B. Robertson (Scottish), ostrich hunter.

 

1880’s

Naro resists Tawana rule, led by Tsabu (from Tsau). Fiercely resists Batawana’s guns with bows and arrows. Tsabu is killed, however, and his followers captured as slaves.[7]  Powerful Naro and ‡Au||eisi San chiefs clash repeatedly during this period. Passarge reports ‡Au||ei chief ‡Dukuri submitted to the Naro[8], but in 1921 ‡Au||ei informant |Kukurib told Dorothea Bleek of his father’s victory over the Naro. Animosity between groups persists till today.

 

1892-1894

Group of Orange Free State farmers leave their homes and settle at Mareetsane, to await Rhodes’s negotiations to settle them in Ghanzi. Men travel with Fuller to Ghanzi on a 6-month journey to select their future farms.

 

1894

Isak Bosman negotiates between Nama captains and Tawana chief Moremi II at Poloneng for the right to settle white farmers in Ghanzi, from Rietfontein towards Kuke Hills, on behalf of Rhodes. Commission of farmers from Paarl, RSA, visits the area to assess the suitability for cattle farming.

 

Runderpest breaks out at Mareetsane and kills most of the cattle of farmers in waiting. Most give up, but 14 families persist and prepare themselves to move to Ghanzi.

 

1896

Britain dismisses BSAC claim over Ghanzi and declares it Crown Land.

 

1897-1898

Cecil John Rhodes gets the concession rights for Ghanzi from Mosekome, Moremi II’s son, to settle South African farmers, on behalf of British South Africa Company (BSAC).

 

1898-1901

41 Farms given out to trekkers, each consisting of 6,250 hectares, affected by Major Panzera. Conditions for settlement were payment of £5 per year for land use, each given 5000 morgen (about 6.5 square km.) The farms were given out on a 99-year lease-hold and 10 farms per year were allocated after the first settlement.

 

The first farmers to arrive are Willem Drotsky and two sons Gert and Martiens, 2 sisters Lenie and Chrissie and helper Van der Linde, who settles at Ghanzi pan, near ruins of van Zyl’s old residence. Drotsky makes three trips back and forth to fetch other settlers as well as his sons- in-law and daughters Andries Pretorius (husband of Nellie), Jan Marnewijk (Annie) and Ben Burger (Maria). Other trekkers joining him on these long and difficult treks were Van Staden, Van Heerden, Taljaard and Christiaan Lewis, and du Plessis, the last of whom arrived February 1899.

 

Drotsky’s last trek’s arrival was delayed due to his whole group catching malaria at Tsau, and they only arrive in Ghanzi on 15th April. Willem Drotsky tragically dies of malaria on May 8, 1899, before experiencing what he had worked so hard to achieve.

 

1905

By now most original settlers have moved further or turned back due to the harsh conditions for farming and settling. The only one staying behind was Johannes Jacobus Taljaard and children, as his wife died shortly after settling. These farmers were extremely mobile and trekking towards better grazing and hunting areas was not uncommon. Therefore, a few years later most of the original settlers had returned.  The Taljaards lived at what is now “old” Dekar, on the farm D’Kar. The name comes from 4 letters found carved on a tree trunk by first settlers, still a mystery.

 

 

[1]  This original Naro name could mean “fat buttocks” indicating abundance of food. First settlers spelled the name Gansies, but Ghanzi became the official spelling. The Setswana spelling Gantsi, which is often used lately, means “place of flies”, and incidentally also indicates abundance – many cattle means milk, which attracts flies.

 

[2]  Trower, Gary. The archaeology of Dqãe Qare (unpublished article), 2007. Also personal communication with Alec Campbell, 2004.

 

[3]  The Tswana word Basarwa is interpreted as “those without cattle”, cattle being the basis for land ownership in Botswana tradition.

 

[4]  Ramsay, Jeff: 2016. http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=53910&dir=2015/september/07

 

[5]  Guenther. Mathias.

 

[6]  Le Roux W and White, A, 2004. Voices of the San, Kwêla Publishers, Cape Town.

 

[7]  Guenther, M. 1997. ‘”Lords of the desert land”: politics and resistance of the Ghanzi Basarwa of the nineteenth century. Botswana Notes and Records, 29, 121-41.

 

[8]  Passarge, S. 1907. Die Buschmänner der Kalahari. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer.

 

 

Sources:

 

• Jooste, J.P. 1974. Geskiedenis van die Dorslandtrek. Potchefstroom Herald (PTY Ltd).

• Guenther, Mathias

• Le Roux, W and White, A. 2004. Voices of the San, Kwêla Publishers, Cape Town.

• Russel, Margot and Martin. 1979. Afrikaners of the Kalahari. White minority in a Black State. Cambridge University Press, African Studies Series.

• Silberbauer, 1964. G.B. Bushman Survey Report.

• Stals E.L.P & Ponelis F.A. 2001. So het Afrikaans in Namibië gekom. Gamsberg McMillan, Namibia.

• Swanepoel, C.B. 1985. Die Kalahari-doppers. Geskiedenis van die Gereformeerde Kerk Ghanzi. Unpublished thesis for ThB, University of Potchefstroom, RSA.

• Trower, Gary. The archaeology of Dqãe Qare (unpublished article)

• Tlou, Thomas. 1985. A History of Ngamiland 1750-1906. The Formation of an African State.

• Van der Smit, G. Oral histories of the Dorslandtrek. Undated, unpublished, handwritten.

• Van Tonder, J.M. Kerk in ‘n Beter Land. COM Printers, RSA. Undated.

• Von Moltke, J. 2003. Jagkonings. Second edition of 1943 publication. Protea Boekhuis.

• http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=53910&dir=2015/september/07