By: Jan van den Bos, Curator – DITSONG: National Museum of Cultural History (DNMCH)

After 1886, white farmers settled on occupation farms in Soutpansberg, Northern Transvaal (now Limpopo Province), to gain control over the region. The area’s warm climate and prevalence of diseases such as malaria, earned the area the name “tropical Siberia.” In addition to inadequate road conditions and the absence of an offset for farm products, land demarcation continued.

The inspection commission and field cornet tasked with marking out these farms, also faced opposition from various chiefdoms, including Modjadji, Mashuti, Mmamathola, Mahupa, Selebo and Makgoba. To express their disapproval against these expansions, tribesmen often overturned and destroyed the land beacons marking the boundaries.

Escalated Tension

When Lieutenant Gert du Toit (Mazurane – the “beautiful one”), a newly appointed young clerk under the native commissioner, Oscar Dahl arrived, his first tasks required a census and tax collection amongst the chiefdoms. Du Toit and his followers experienced resistance and threats from several chiefdoms, including chief Makgoba. During this period, the delegation refused to accept chief Makgoba’s tax payment due to the tense atmosphere. Makgoba lashed out against Commandant General Piet Joubert of the South African Republic (ZAR) who deprived the chiefdoms of their land. The commission’s refusal of Makgoba’s offer revealed the new lieutenant’s prolonged tolerance against the chief on his first visit.  

To re-establish peace, authorities postponed the inspection commission’s tasks. During this postponement, the construction of the first Magubaskloof transport route started. However, with the completion of this route, livestock theft between white farmers and Makgoba’s people intensified. When Commandant General Joubert’s patrol commando seized several goats belonging to Makgoba, the Commandant demanded that the culprits return the animals, leading to discontent among the commando members, most of whom subsequently left for home. In the absence of most members, Joubert had to rely on his native Swazi and Shangaan allies for support.

Establishing Forts for Control

To strengthen control Joubert ordered the construction of three forts overlooking the Magubaskloof mountain range, within reach of Makgoba’s stronghold. Fort Botha was situated on the northern side at Pypkop, Fort Barry to the south at the Letaba heights, and Fort Mulder (also known as Joubertskroon) to the west. Positioned at a height, halfway between Haenertsburg and Houtbosdorp, this latter so-called main fort became Joubert’s headquarters. Once the possibility of a skirmish between the government and Makgoba became a reality, a fourth fort, Fort Eendracht, was constructed on the eastern side at the upper exit of Magubaskloof. As commander, Du Toit closely monitored Chief Makgoba’s movements to prevent any potential conflict.

When more clans joined the scene to support Makgoba’s smaller clans, additional forts were constructed. Fort Schutte was established to monitor the chiefdoms of Mashuti and Mmamathola, while Fort Oscar guarded the Mahupa, Selebulo and Modjadji chiefdoms.

The Capture of Chief Makgoba

One rainy evening, Du Toit followed the Chief and captured him while hiding under a cliff. The reason behind the “arrest” remains speculative. Perhaps Du Toit believed that removing the leader would leave the people fearful, helpless and unmotivated, thereby preventing further conflict. The lieutenant took chief Makgoba to Fort Klipdam, (Figure 1) the residence of Oscar Dahl, and locked him up in a uniquely structured fort.

This moveable polygonal iron fort, procured from the Netherlands, was impractical – heavy, bulky, difficult to transport, and required a level surface for construction.

Figure 1: Fort Klipdam, residence of the native commissioner, Oscar Dahl, featuring the distinctive fort where Chief Makgoba was detained. (Source: Gros album: HG 6593-1, photo number HKF 7534, photograph collection, DNMCH)

Chief Makgoba soon discovered the weak point and dug a hole in the ground just beneath the iron frame, which lacked a foundation. He promised himself never to be captured again.  

Figure 2: The so-called Potgieter gun. In 1859, João Albasini, the Superintendent of Native Affairs, received the weapon from President Stephanus Schoeman of the South African Republic (ZAR). After Albasini’s death in 1888, it became part of Oscar Dahl’s defense weapons. (Source: J. van den Bos, ‘Britse en Boere-artillerie in Suid-Afrika 1870-1881’, in Museum Memo, 18(2), June 1990, pp. 38-39.)

Chief Makgoba’s Final Days

 When Chief Makgoba refused to move to a new allocated area near Chief Selebo, Joubert mobilised a commando from the greater Zoutpansberg district in May 1895. He instructed the native commissioner, Oscar Dahl, to enlist the support of Swazi and Shangaan allies.

On Monday, 3 June 1895, allied and ZAR forces blocked all exits to the Maguba mountains to prevent Chief Makgoba from escaping, leaving only a passage for women and children. Makgoba remained with his wives, children and three followers.

During the night of 5 and 6 June 1895, Makgoba bid farewell to his wives and children and left with his followers to a gorge near Fort Barry. They planned to stay there until the next morning. However, Swazis who captured one of Makgoba’s wives, forced her to reveal his hiding place.

Makgoba fought bravely and shot one Swazi, but his second shot misfired as the double barrel rifle failed. The Swazis surrounded and killed him. When B.H. Dicke later examined the rifle, he discovered a bullet in one of the barrels.

The Swazi’s brought Makgoba’s head to Joubertskroon as proof, seeking a reward. Despite his defeat, Makgoba died bravely with a grin on his face.

Figure 3: An artist’s illustration depicting the writer B.H. Dicke and one of Makgoba’s men who met by accident during a routine inspection near Chief Selebo’s stronghold. Makgopa’s man escaped via a hidden path. (Source: B.H. Dicke, ‘Die dood van Maguba’, in Die Huisgenoot, XVIII (613), p. 21.)

Conclusion

 The farmer and writer, Bernhard Heinrich Dicke, described Makgoba as stubborn yet creative and a clever strategist.

Oscar Dahl, the native commissioner, portrayed him as reliable, honest, and a steadfast defender of his people’s freedom.

 Sources

Dicke, B.H., ‘Maguba se bokke. Okkupasieplase en Naturelle onluste’, in Die Huisgenoot, XVIII (605), 1933.10.27.

Dicke, B.H., ‘Die dood van Maguba’, in Die Huisgenoot, XVIII (613), 1933.12.22.

Van den Bos, J., ‘Britse en Boere-Artillerie in Suid-Afrika 1870-1881’, in Museum Memo, 18(2), June 1990.