{"id":3937,"date":"2020-12-21T12:04:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-21T12:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ditsong.org.za\/en\/?p=3937"},"modified":"2021-11-18T12:09:15","modified_gmt":"2021-11-18T12:09:15","slug":"the-resistance-against-december-16-a-historical-reflection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ditsong.org.za\/en\/the-resistance-against-december-16-a-historical-reflection\/","title":{"rendered":"The Resistance Against December 16: A Historical Reflection"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Motsane Getrude Seabela, Curator Anthropology, DITSONG: National Museum of Cultural History<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Until 1995, a year after the demise of apartheid government in South Africa, 16 December was commemorated as Dingaan\u2019s Dag (Dingane\u2019s Day), a celebration by most of the Afrikaner speaking population as it represented the Voortrekkers\u2019 victory over the Zulus at the so-called Battle of Blood River in 1838. However, to the African-black population the celebration was deemed offensive in that it symbolised \u201cthe loss of their land and associated freedom, and the death of a great Zulu chief, King Dingane\u201d thus the day evoked contentious views. The nucleus of Afrikaner Nationalist historiography perceived King Dingane as a \u201ctreacherous, uncivilized barbarian\u201d\u2019. The general view was that the King was an anti\u2010white agitator who was beyond redemption. However, for African nationalists and workers, King Dingane was regarded as \u201cone of the original freedom fighters who resisted the oppression of the land\u2010grabbing white settlers and Voortrekkers of the nineteenth century\u201d. The African nationalists and workers\u2019 interpretations of King Dingane\u2019s relationship with white settlers show the later as disrespectful imperialists and dishonest men, who were hell-bent on enriching themselves at the expense of the indigenous population.<\/p>\n

As a way of dissent against a celebration which symbolised loss of land, freedom and continuous subjugation of black people in South Africa, on 16 December 1929 the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) later the South African Communist Party (SACP) organised anti-pass protest in Potchefstroom in the then Transvaal. \u201cIn one meeting addressed by Edwin Thabo Mofutsanyane and John Beaver Marks a group of white people invaded the gathering and fired a gunshot meant for the leaders resulting in the death of one person\u201d The incident was followed by a strike that lasted until 1930. Thence, the CPSA continued to hold anti-pass campaigns and meetings on 16 December which ultimately led to the burning of passes. The racial policies of Prime Minister Hertzog too, were challenged in 1935 from 15 December to 18 December during the All-African Convention (AAC) held in Bloemfontein. Accordingly, the 16th of December during the \u201c1920s and the 1930s became a day that highlighted divisions in the country. The actions of the CPSAs resistance permeated consciousness.[vc_empty_space height=”18px”]<\/p>\n

REFERENCES<\/strong><\/p>\n