12071,Mbeki,ThePeasants’Revolt,1964,C8,ChiefsintheSaddle

7/28/2019 12071,Mbeki,ThePeasantsRevolt,1964,C8,ChiefsintheSaddle

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112071/3

GovanMbeki,ThePeasantsRevolt,1964,Chapter8ChiefsintheSaddle

TranskeitestcaseThedeteriorationofthepeasanteconomyhasreachedadangerouspoint.The

declineinproductivityandtheabsenceoflocalindustrieshaveforcedincreasing

numbersofpeasantsontothelabourmarket,whilethegeneraleconomyhasnot

expandedsufficientlytoabsorbthelandlessarmyofpeasants.Themigrationtothe

townshasgivenrisetoappallingslums,whilefarworse,fromthegovernmentpoint

ofview,hasbeentheincompatibilitybetweenthesteepriseinurbanAfrican

population(overonemillionbetween1951and1960)anditsprofessedaimof

separatedevelopment.

Itwasobvious,andtheTomlinsonReportsorecommended,thatsomethingwould

haveto

be

done

to

arrest

the

deterioration

in

the

reserves.

The

government

began

byimplementingproposalsthathadbeenputforwardasfarbackas1945underthe

titleof'aneweraofReclamation'.Thisenvisagedtheremovaloflandlesspeasants

totownsorurbansettlementswithinthereserves,whoseresidentswoulddepend

onwagesearnedbymenemployedeitherinlocalindustriesorinthebigtowns.

Peasantswhoremainedonthelandwouldbeexpectedtofarmundersupervision

onsocalled'economicplots'ofabouteightacreseach.Grazingandcultivatedland

wouldbecontrolled.

Thesemeasures

inevitably

antagonized

the

peasants,

who

were

suspicious

of

any

interferencebyahostileauthorityintheirtraditionalwayoflife.Aboveall,those

whowerebeingpushedoffthelandwerebitterlyresentful.Theyforfeitedtheright

tograzestockandhadtoabandontheoneformofsecuritytowhichtheyclung

theoccupationofanarableplotwiththerighttosharethecommonpasturage.

Thestubbornresistanceofthepeasantryheldupadministrativereformsforsome

time,butthen,withtheestablishmentofBantuAuthorities,thegovernmentcould

tryandcrackdownforcingtheChiefstocomply.Manyhavebeenthetechniques

thatthe

Chiefs

have

employed

to

implement

government

policy

against

the

will

of

thepeople,buttheyhavenotbrokenpopularresistanceandtheirconducthaseven

increasedit.

Inthelastfewyearsthegovernmenthastakensternmeasurestopreventany

furthersoilerosion,byconstructingmilesandmilesofcontours,ensuringthat

portionsofthepeasants'smallarableholdingsareleftfallow,anddisallowinguse

ofsomeoftheworsterodedlands.Thecriticssaythatthegovernmentprogramme

forlandrehabilitationisslow,andthatthelandcannoteversupportthemillionsof

peasantsin

the

reserves

as

well

as

the

huge

numbers

thrown

out

of

the

cities

by

the


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212071/3

passlaws.Thegovernment'shoneybirdssayinreply:'Comeandseethecontours.'

Thegovernmentquotesfiguresforthemilesoffencingerectedtolimitthe

pasturagetoitscarryingcapacityandtokeepoutthestockofpersonsresidentin

neighbouringlocations.Andthegovernmentsays:'Forthistheonlygratitudewe

getfromtheignorantBantuistoploughacrossthesecontoursorcutthesefences.

Ifprogressappearstobeslow,itisbecausethegovernmenthastobattleagainst

suchodds.'

Whites

are

often

taken

in

by

this

argument

and

agree

that

it

is

difficult

toknowjustwhattheAfricanswant.Butarethepeasantsinthereservesdelighted

toseetheirlanderoded?Aretheygratefulforthegrowingdecreaseinproductivity,

whichhasbecomeobviouseventothosewhoareuninitiatedinbetterfarming

methodsandagriculturaleconomics?Dotheywelcomethehighdeathrateoftheir

stockthroughlackofvegetation?Andiftheyarenotsatisfiedwithallthis,whydo

theyopposemeasuresmeanttoachievewhattheyalsowant fertilelandcovered

withlifegivingvegetation,fattenedandincreasingstock,andgreateryieldsof

food?

Abareoutline,inpassing,oftheessentialfeaturesofthegovernmentland

reclamationschemesinthereservesmayhelptoplaceinproperperspectivethe

uncompromisingoppositionofthepeasants.

Thegovernment,withthesupportoftheoverwhelmingmajorityofWhiteSouth

Africans,persistsinregardingthereservesasthehomeofallAfricans.Yetnotonly

havetheseareasbeenneglected,butunderpresentfarmingconditionsareheavily

overstockedandoverpopulated.Thefailuretomakeasuccessoffarminginthese

areasisnotthefaultoftheAfricanswholivethere.Giventhesameconditions,

WhiteoranyotherfarmerswouldbereducedtothesamepositionastheAfrican

peasant,andthelandwouldhavebeenexhaustedtothesameextent.

Whatthenistheeffectofthegovernmentmeasures?Becausetherearemore

peasantsthanthelandcansupport,thegovernmenthasintroducedperiodic

reductionsofstock,andhaslimitedtheprivilegeofowningstockatall.Onlythose

whohavearableallotmentsareallowedtograzestockonthepasturage,andthe

totalnumberofstockownedislimitedinaccordancewiththecarryingcapacityof

thepasturage.

Thepeasantsclaimthatthismeasureisintendedtoimpoverishthem.Itbarsthe

doorofopportunitytothosewhomaynotowncattleormaynotgrazeallthecattle

thattheywishtoacquire.

Therehabilitationmeasuresrequirethatthosewhoselandsarebeingreclaimedby

thebuildingofcontoursshouldonlykeepaportion twothirdsofthearable

allotment undercultivationatanyonetime,whiletheotherthirdislefttolie

fallow.Thosewhodonotownanallotmentarebeingremovedtoworkcoloniesfor

thelandless,

which

the

government

prefers

to

call

Bantustan

towns.


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Thepeasantsclaimthattheapplicationofthesemeasuresismerelyreducingthe

cultivatorstoastateofevengreaterimpoverishment.Theymayuseonlyaportion

oftheiralreadysmallandinadequatearableallotments,whilethosewhodonot

ownsuchallotmentsatallarebeingpressedintoanarmyofmineandfarmworkers

who,togetherwiththeirchildrenandtheirchildren'schildren,willbecondemned

toliveinperpetualwantandinsecurity.

Unmindfulofthesearguments,thegovernmentproceedswithitsrehabilitation

schemes,turningtotheChiefsandofferingtothosewhoseareaswillaccept

rehabilitationmeasuresappropriateincentives:increasedspecialstipends,

increasedlandallotments,wordsofpraiseandplacesofhonour,and,behindall,

therighttocontinueasgovernmentappointedChiefs.Withthesefruitsofoffice

danglingbeforethem,theChiefsoftencommitpeasantstoacceptanceofthe

rehabilitationschemewithoutconsultingthem.Then,whenpreparationsaremade

fortheimplementationofthescheme fencingmaterialispiledupatvariouspoints

inthe

location

and

teams

arrive

to

start

work

on

the

contours

the

peasants

questionwithsurprisethecauseofallthisactivity.Wherewasthisscheme

discussedandaccepted,theyask?AndnowtheChiefhitsbackatthemmercilessly.

Theinstigatorsofthediscontentarebroughttothe'BushCourt'withthegreatest

hasteandtheleastformality.

Somepretextisfoundtoconfrontthehostilepeasantswithachargeforwhicha

heavyfineisprescribed,andinvariablythosechargedareconvicted,becausethe

chargetheyarefacinginthecaptivecourtismerelyacovertohitatthemfortheir

oppositionto

government

plans

for

their

land.

Theinitiationoflandbettermentschemeshastakenplaceonacomparativelywide

scalethroughoutthereserves.Barbedwirefenceshavebeenunrolled,damshave

beenconstructed,andtherehasbeentherigorousapplicationoftheregulations

relatingtothereductionofstock.

Yetthegovernmenthashardlytouchedthefringesoftheproblem.Thereserves

stillcannotprovideevenabaresubsistenceleveloflifeforallitsinhabitants.Taken

totaskinParliamentfornothavingspentmoreonthedevelopmentofthe

reserves,theBantuAffairsDepartmentMinisterarguedthatthegovernmentwas

obligedtohandlewithcareasituationwhichmightbeexplosiveifthepacewere

increased.'WedonotwanttoforcethisdevelopmentalworkupontheBantuwho

isconservativebynature.Themomentyoutrytoforceitonhimyoumakean

enemyofhim.WhenelsehastheNationalistgovernmenttakenintoconsideration

thefeelingsofthepeople,onemightask?

Expenditureontheschemehasbeenlowbecausethegovernmentusescompulsory

unpaidlabour.TheMinisterhimselfadmitsthis.HetoldParliament'Thefactofthe


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412071/3

matteristhatbymakinguseoftheservicesofthecommunitywearecarryingout

thosesameworksathalfthecostestimatedbytheTomlinsonCommission.'He

citedthecaseofadamwhichcosttheSmutsgovernment15,000toconstruct,

whilethegovernmentwas,withforcedlabour,buildingasimilardam'atthecostof

800or1,000'.Compulsoryunpaidlabournotonlyrobsthepeasantsofthe

meagre3 4amonthwhichtheywouldotherwiseearn,butsapstheirenergy

andtheir

time.

Thisunpaidcompulsorylabouraddsinsulttotheinjuryalreadysufferedbythe

peasantsinthenewBantustans.Menwhoshouldbeearningalivinginthe

industrialcentreshavebeendumpedinthereservesandtheredraftedintowork

teamstodigholesforthecreosotepolesanderectthebarbedwirefences

withoutpay underthesupervisionofpaidofficials.Thewomen,meanwhile,must

maketheirowncontributionbycookingfortheteamsofforcedlabourorcarrying

thefencingmaterialsontheirheadsfromthedepottotheworkingteams.

Officialdom

does

not

provide

the

women

with

the

food

that

they

must

cook

for

the

workteams;theymustfinditthemselves,andifanywomanhastoleaveherown

childrenwithoutamealitisaneventualitythattheChieforgovernmentofficial

happilyoverlooks.Forauthorityallthatmattersisthatthewomanmustcomply

withtheordertoprovidefoodfortheworkingteamswhenherturncomes.Failure

tocomplywiththeorderispunishedasdefianceofauthority;acomplaintagainst

itsharshnessispunishedasincitementtodisobedience.Muteacceptanceoforders

andthetacitenduranceofhardshipistheonlyresponseallowed.

Moreandmorepublicworks,suchasroadmaking,contourbuilding,theremovalof

noxiousweeds,therepairingofdippingtanks,andtheconstructionofhousesfor

theChiefs,comeunderthecategoryofservicestowhichcompulsoryunpaidlabour

isdrafted.

Formanyyearsthepeculiarsituationexistedinthereserveswherebybothjudicial

andadministrativefunctionswereperformedbyasingleman themagistrateor

BantuCommissioner,togivehimhisofficialtitle.

Mostcasesthatcamebeforethecourts,especiallycivilones withthepossible

exceptionof

those

involving

traders

and

their

debtors

were

between

Africans,

and

theCommissionerpresidedoverthemall.

Apartfromfactionfightingthereislittleseriouscrimeinthecountryareas,andso

mostofthecriminalcasesinthereserveshavearisenoutofsomelawordecree,

controllingthelivesofruralAsiansintheinterestsofWhitesupremacy.Anxiousto

seethatgovernmentpolicyiscarriedoutwiththeleastpossiblehindrance,

therefore,theBantuCommissionershavewagedanuntiringstruggletoeliminate

thelawyerfromtheircourts,andtosettlethemselvesnotonlydisputesbetween

Africansbut

also

criminal

prosecutions

for

the

contravention

of

government


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decrees.AXhosaexpressionsumsupthelackofconfidencethatthepeasantshave

insuchjudicialadministration 'ngaphandlekweGQwethausisisulusetilongo'(the

surestwayofgoingtojailistoappearincourtwithoutalawyer).

Bitterlegalstrugglesinvolvingthousandsofpoundshavetakenplaceinthereserves

overmeasuresleadingtotheadministrationofland,stocklimitationandcattle

dippingregulations.Indealingwiththese,theCommissionershavefoundthe

normallegal

procedure

cumbersome,

and

the

presence

of

alawyer

has

delayed

the

fullimplementationofgovernmentplans.Thegovernmenthasaccordinglyalways

vieweditasdesirabletoeliminatelawyersaltogetherfromthemachineryoflaw

administrationinthereserves.Ontheotherhand,thepeasantbelievesthatby

takingadvantageofavailablelegalprocesses,hedelaystheevildaywhenthe

governmentwillhavesubduedhimaltogether.Andthemoneyspentinthat

strugglehasbeenquietlyacceptedasafairenoughpricetobuytime.

NowaconcertedeffortisbeingmadebytheChiefsandBantuAffairsDepartment

officialsto

place

all

civil

cases

between

Africans,

and

all

criminal

cases

that

are

withinthejurisdictionoftheChiefs,beforeBantuAuthoritiesTribunals.

TheNationalistgovernmenthastwoaimshere.First,theBantuCommissionerwill

beleftfreetodevoteallhistimetoseeingthatgovernmentpolicyiscarriedout,for

thisishistruerole.Secondly,thegovernmenthopestheChiefsmaysucceed,where

theCommissionershavefailed,inbreakingdowntheresistanceofthepeasantand

draininghimofsubstancebytheimpositionofheavyfinesforminoroffences.

How

is

this

new

machinery

working

in

the

Bantustans?

In

the

first

place

the

Bantu

AuthoritiesTribunalshavebecomethecourtsoffirstinstance.TheCommissioner's

Courts wherelawyersmaystillbebriefed havewonanewstatus.Theyarenow

CourtsofAppeal.

MyownresearchworkintheTranskeirevealsthatbothinthedistrictswherethe

poweroftheChiefshaddeclinedbeforetheestablishmentofBantuAuthoritiesand

inthosewheretheChiefsstillexercisesomeinfluenceonthepeople,therollofcivil

casesheardintheBantuCommissioner'sCourthasdeclinednoticeably.Inthe

districtswherechieftainshiphasbeenlongestablished,thereisalreadyasignificant

declineinthenumberofminorcriminalcasesheardintheCommissioner'sCourts,

asthesehavenowbeendivertedtotheBantuAuthoritiesTribunals.Inthedistricts

wherethepoweroftheChiefshadbeenalmostcompletelybrokendown,the

numberofcrimins1cases,whichincludeappealsfromtheChiefrunBushCourts,is

ontheincrease.Thisisattributabletothefactthatnormallylawabidingpeople

havefoundthemselvesfarmorefrequentlycontraveningoneorotherpetty

regulation,suchasdisobeyingaChieftowhomtheyfeelnoparticularloyalty.

AlmostinvariablypeopleconvictedintheBushCourtsforsuchoffenceshave

appealedto

the

Commissioner's

Courts,

thus

swelling

the

rolls

there.


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HowdotheseBushCourtswork?

IfacomplainantwishestheCourttotakeuphiscase,hepaysaminimumfeeof1

apracticewhichiscommonlyknownas'UkunrndaInEundla'(ToopentheCourt).A

panelofmenappointedbytheChiefandapprovedofbytheBantuCommissioner

thenconductsthecase.

Notinfrequently,wherethecomplainantgetsafavourablejudgmentandis

awardeddamages,hesharestheawardwiththeChief.Forinstancewherea

complainantbringsanadulterycaseagainstanother,andwinshiscase,theChief

getsatleastabeastoutofthedamagesandcosts,oritsvalueinmoney 10to

15.ThishasbecomesuchasourceofeasyincomeforsomeChiefsandtheir

hangersonthatintheTranskei'ssmallvillagestheChief'sfastswellingbankand

buildingsocietyaccountshavebecomesubjectsofcommontalk.

Inseveralareaswherethepeopleshowadisinclinationtohandovercasestothe

BushCourt,

there

is

developing

aclass

of

paid

'accusers',

who

are

believed

to

be

actingontheChief'sinstructions.Thefunctionofsuchhirelingsistoconcoctacivil

claimagainstsomeofthemorewealthypeasantswhoshowanysignofresistance

togovernmentpolicyortheruleoftheChiefs.

WhentheChiefrequirestheaccusedtoappearbeforehim,heusuallywritesa

shortnoteinwhichhetellshimtoappearonacertaindate,butwithoutstatingthe

purpose.Naturallythistypeofprocedureishighlyresentedbythepeasants,who

oftenhavetotravelscoresofmilestogettotheBushCourt.Onemanwhodecided

towrite

and

find

out

why

the

Chief

wanted

to

see

him,

received

the

following

reply:

Iwishtoinformyouthatmyinstructionsthatyoushouldappearbeforemeonthe

appointeddatecannotbeignoredbyyou.Ihavetoinstructyouoncemoreto

appearbeforemeat...on...at..........Shouldyoufailtocomplywiththisinstruction

Iwillbereluctantlycompelledtoinstitutecompulsorymeanstocauseyour

appearanceasinstructed.

Toforestallthegrowthofadisgruntledgroupofprofessionalmen,theNationalist

government

is

already

canvassing

the

few

African

attorneys

in

the

Transkei

to

take

uppositionsintheBantustanestablishment.Theyarebeingpromisedpositionsas

'magistrates'and'judges'amongsttheirpeople.

OneattorneyhasbeenappointedaChiefatanofficialmonthlysalaryof30 made

uppartlyfromtheBantuAffairsDepartmentaccountandpartlyfromtribalfunds.

Hewillcompensateforthelossofhispracticebymakingmoremoney.Andin

additionhecanreadilysurroundhimselfwithcomfortsbycallinguponthepeople

toimposealevyonthemselvesforsuchpurposesastobuytheChiefacar usually

referred

to

as

a

'horse

for

the

Chief'.

In

the

Transkei

a

number

of

Chiefs

are

being


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712071/3

boughtthese'horses'.Asanincreasingnumberofattorneyschoosethiseasier

pathtowealth,andtoinfamy,thepeoplearebeingdeprivedofalllegalprotection

inthecourtsoflaw.

HereisasampleoftheinformationsuppliedbyanumberofattorneyswhomI

interviewedinasurveyoftheTranskei:

Noattorney

is

allowed

to

appear

in

the

Bush

Court.

Thereishardlyanyrecordingofevidenceinthesecourts,sothatanyappealfrom

themtotheCommissioner'sCourtsaredenovo.

ThefinesintheBushCourtsareexorbitant usuallythemaximumallowed.

TheChiefsregardtheattorneysasanuisancewhounderminetheirauthorityand

maketheirworkdifficult.

Acautiouslawyersummeditupwithagooddealofunderstatement:'Ihavethe

impressionthattheinterestsofjusticewillbejeopardizedandtheremaybe

malpractices.Inthelegalprofessionthereisalreadyacertainamountofconcern

andanxietyoveritsfuture.'

TheChiefsarenaturallyveryproudandconsciousoftheirnewlyacquiredstatus.

TheyfeelinsultedwhenlitigantsresorttotheCommissioner'sCourtsandto

lawyers,andtheyemployallmeansattheirdisposaltodiscouragepeoplefrom

usingthesechannels.

Itwas

left

to

the

Chief

Bantu

Commissioner,

who

is

also

Chief

Magistrate

of

the

Transkei,totellcouncillorshowtheycouldraisetheirstipendsandincreasetheir

allowance.Afterexpressingsympathywitharesolutiontoraisetheheadmen's

stipends,hetoldtheAuthoritythattherewasonlyonesourcefromwhichitcould

bepossibletoprovideforsuchanincrease,andthatwasanimpositionofataxon

thecommunity.'Iamnotgoingtosuggestanyspecificamountthatshouldbepaid

totheheadofatribalauthority,'hesaid,'butfrommyownknowledgeofother

districtsIcanassureyouthattheyarepaid.'Hewentontoassurethecouncillors

thathewasgoingtoholdameetingatwhichheintendedtohaveafulldiscussion

onhow

to

squeeze

more

money

by

way

of

taxes

from

the

people

for

tribal

funds;

andifthatcouldbedone,headded,itwouldbeananswertothemotionbefore

councillors.

WhoistopayfortheseBantustans?Thegovernmenthasbeenquicktorelieve

Whitetaxpayersofanyanxietytheymayhavethattheywillhavetodipintotheir

ownpockets.


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812071/3

Increasedpowers,thegovernmenthastoldtheChiefs,gohandinhandwith

increaseddutiesandaddedresponsibilities.Taxationoftheirsubjectswasoneof

thefunctionswhichtheBantuAuthoritiesshouldnotshirk.

Theburdenoftaxationonthepeasantsinthereservesisthemostserioussourceof

populardiscontent.Everyyearamultitudeofmotionsistabledbeforethe

TranskeianTerritorialAuthority,pressingforincreasesinsubsistenceandtravelling

allowancesto

the

Chiefs

and

their

lieutenants

who

attend

meetings

connected

with

theoperationoftheBantuAuthorities.

1.Thattransportallowancesapplicabletocouncillorsberaisedfrom7d.(6c.)to2s.

(20c.)andfrom8d.(7c.)to2s.6d.(25c.)permiletomeettherisingcostsof

travelling.2Thatchairmenofdistrictauthoritiesbepaidasubsistenceallowanceof

12s.6d.(R1.25c.)andatravellingallowanceof7d.(6c.)foreverymilenecessarily

travelledforeachday'svisittotheDistrictAuthorityOffice.

Anumber

of

other

motions

relating

to

finance

press

for

an

increase

in

the

stipends

ofheadmen.Hereisatypicalmotionandthesupportingargument:

Thatthegovernmentberespectfullyrequestedtoincreasethestipendsofallheads

oftribalcommunityauthoritieswhoareheadmensoastobethesameasthoseof

subchiefs.[Insupportofthismotion,themoverargued:]Whatthey(headmen)are

doingnowispartofwhatthemagistratesusedtodo.

Emphasizingtheneedforanincreaseinheadmen'sallowances,theseconderofthe

motionadded:

ThebulkoftheBantupeopleareundertheimpressionthattheheadsoftribal

authoritieshavehadtheirstatusincreased,anditisawellknownfactthatthey

performthesamedutiesasthoseperformedbysubchiefs.

Theimplicationisthatthestipendsshouldberaisedinordertosurroundtheheads

oftribalauthoritieswithanauraofrespectabilityintheeyesofthepeasants.An

evenmoresignificantpurposeistobribetheChiefstostandbythegovernment.

OneofthereallystartlingfeaturesofthewholeBantustanprojectisthealmost

sensationalincrease

in

the

stipends

of

salaries

paid

to

the

Chiefs.

Headmen

used

to

starton12ayear,andafter16yearsofgoodandloyalservice,reachedthe

maximumof32.

TheNationalistgovernmentbegan,in1950,tobribetheChiefs.Itintroducedtwo

scalesforheadmeninthatyear.Onegroupwasplacedonthescale30X6 96,

andtheotheronthescale24X6 52.

Inaddition,allheadmenreceivedabonusof8ayearforcollectingtax.Thefour

most

important

Chiefs

were

paid

900,

750,

600

and

324.


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912071/3

Headmenweregivenanotherriseafewyearslater.Theyweregradedaccordingto

thenumberoftaxpayersintheirareas,andpaidonacorrespondingscale.Thoseat

thebottomofthescalereceived60ayearinbasicallowanceandbonus;thoseat

thetopofthescalereceived144.ThesalariesofthefourmostimportantChiefs

wereincreasedto1,200,900,800and600.ChiefKaizerMatanzima,whoisnot

aParamountChief,received400.

In1960

the

government

announced

afurther

25

per

cent

increase

all

round,

and

a

doublingofthetaxcollectionbonus.Thisraisedtheheadmen'ssalariesto88for

thoseatthebottomofthescaleand224forthoseatthetop.

TheintroductionoftheTranskeianLegislativeAssemblyhasbeenmadeanoccasion

forgivingtheChiefsstillbiggerbribes,fortherewardmustbemadesufficiently

attractivetoovercomeopposition.Theheadmendonotgetmorepay theyare

nowtheunderlingsoftheChiefs.ItistheChiefswhobenefitfromtheneworder.

ThefourParamountChiefs(whoareexofficiomembersoftheAssembly)receive

2,000ayear

each.

This

is

also

the

salary

of

the

Chief

Minister,

who

is

the

'head

of

government'.OtherMinistersget1,700.ChiefMatanzimagetsaspecialrewardof

1,000ayearthoughheisnotaParamountChief.ThesalariesofsevenotherChiefs

rangefrom110to300.ChiefswhoaremembersoftheLegislativeAssemblyget,

inaddition,400.

ForthefirsttimeinSouthAfricanhistory,thegovernmentispayingaBlackman

morethanaWhite.ThescaleofaBantuAffairsCommissioneris1,440X6

1,620.

ThesalariesofChiefsandheadmenwereformerlypaidfromthegeneralrevenue,

buttheTranskeianConstitutionActmakesthemachargeontheTranskeian

RevenueFund.ThisFundconsistsofvarioustaxes,finesandlevies,plusanannual

grantfromtheConsolidatedRevenueFund,whichistoreimbursetheTranskeian

TerritorialAuthorityforexpenditureonmatterstransferredtoitfromtheRepublic

government.ThecostofthenewLegislativeAssemblyisclearlynotsuchamatter.

Itwillhavetopayitswaywithoutasubsidyforthesalariesofitsmembers.

ThepresentTranskeianbudget,however,cannotfeasiblybearthecostofthese

salaries,whicharequiteoutofkeepingwithformerstandards.In1962,thetotal

incomewas683,982,almostallofwhichwasspentduringthefinancialyear.The

peasantswillhavetopay.Alreadyin1961,whentheexpenditurewasata

comparativelylowlevel,theWhiteofficialstoldtheTranskeianTerritorialAuthority

thattherehadbeenadecreaseintaxcollectionseveryyearandthattherewasno

moneytopaytheincreaseswhichtheChiefsdemanded.Hecouldnotunderstand,

hesaid,whytherewasadecrease.'Theremustalwaysbeanincreasebecausethe

populationincreases,'hesaid.


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1012071/3

Hisstatementtypifiestheinhumanityofapartheidpoliciesandthosewhoenforce

them.TheBantuCommissionercountsheadsandexpectsacorrespondingamount

intaxes.ItdoesnotdawnonhimthattheimplementationoftheBantuAuthorities

systemandtheharshinfluxcontrolregulationsoperatingintheurbanareashave

hadthejointeffectofimpoverishingthepeasantsevenmore.

'Nobodylikestopaytaxes,'hesays.Inhismindthesearrearsarenomorethan

consciousevasions

of

tax

by

malcontents.

An

African

must

find

the

money

to

pay

histaxesfortheimplementationofapartheid,irrespectiveofwhetherheearnsitor

not.Bythe1961sessionoftheT.T.A.,however,theChiefBantuCommissionerno

longerdisplayedabsoluteconfidenceinhisAfricancollaborators.Hecomplained:'It

isunfairofyoutoaskmyBantuAffairsCommissioners,whoarealready

overburdenedwiththeterrificamountofworkthrustuponthem,togivethis

mattermuchmoreattention.'ButtheChiefsandheadmenontheotherhandalso

claimedthattheyhadtakenoverconsiderabledudeswhichhadpreviously

devolved

on

Bantu

Commissioners.

For

the

additional

work

which

necessitated

their

travellingbytaxiorotherpublictransport,theyrequiredanincreaseintheirwages

andtheirtravellingallowances.'Iappealtoyouinyourowninterests,'repliedthe

ChiefBantuCommissioner,'tocollecttheoutstandingamountsdue....Useevery

meansinyourpowertoassistyourBantuAffairsCommissioners;toassistyour

messengers(ofthecourt)andtheirdeputiestobringinthisamount.'

Councillorsbroughtforwardingenioussuggestionstofacilitatethecollectionofthe

generallevy(Impundulu)andothertaxes.CouncillorE.A.Pinyanasuggestedthat

theTranskeiTerritorialAuthorityshoulddevisewaysandmeansofpersuadingthe

employerstocollectthismoney.AlthoughtheCouncillormadetheimportant

admissionthat'whenthemessengerofthecourtgoestothedippingtankinorder

toattachcattlefortheunpaidtaxeshefindstheyoungmanhasnocattle,'hestill

didnotattributethefailuretopaythetaxestopoverty.

AnotherdynamicproposalcamefromCouncillorC.W.Monakali.TheRecess

CommitteeonFinance,ofwhichhewasChairman,proposedthattheChiefsbe

employedastaxcollectors!'Whentheschemeofappointing(Chiefs')

representativesinthetownsmatures,thenourrepresentativeswillmeetthe

representativesof

the

employers

of

labour

and

there

they

will

find

ways

of

collectingtheoutstandingtaxesbelongingtothosearea.'47The(White)

SupervisoryOfficerpointedoutthattheBantuAffairsDepartmenthadalready

soughtunsuccessfullytoarrangeforstoporderfacilitieswithbigemployersinthe

industrialareastocollectthesetaxes.Theprincipaldifficultyhadbeenthatwhile

everybodyinthecountryknewthegeneraltax,thelocaltax,andquitrent,the

Transkeihadotherratestoconsider.Inhiswords:'Inadditionthereisthegeneral

levy,thebalanceofthehealthratestillowing,stockrateandaboutseventy

different

kinds

of

Bantu

Authority

rates,

location

levies,

tribal

levies

and

so

forth.'


11/12

1112071/3

Whomustpaytaxes?Everymaleovertheageof18evenifhehasneitherlandnor

work.Everywidowedwoman,forthoughawomanisundereveryotherlaw

declareda'child'dependentonthemaleheir,inmattersoftaxationsheassumes

thepositionoftheabsentmaletaxpayer.

RatesandtaxesareleviedtoruntheBantuEducationschoolswherethechildren

aretrainedtoacceptsubserviencetoWhiteauthority;tomeetthedeficitsinthe

TerritorialAuthority

budget.

For

some

of

the

taxes

the

peasants

have

their

own

names;othersareknownjustastaxes.Oneofthoseforwhichanamehasbeen

foundiscalled'Impundulu' thebloodsuckertax butmostofthetaxesare

regardedassuch.

Inadditiontothelegalizedtaxes,whichareannouncedbyproclamation,thereare

thesmallerunofficialtaxes,extortedfromindividualsbytheChiefsbeforegranting

apermitforonethingoranother.Apeasantwillpayforapermittocutwood,to

cutthatchinggrass,tobrewbeer,toholdinitiationritesforboysandgirls.Andnot

onlymust

these

numerous

unrecorded

taxes

be

paid

to

the

Chief,

but

abribe

must

alsobepaidtothetoadiesaroundhim,sincewithouttheircooperationtheChief's

consentforthepermitmaynotbeobtained.TheChiefwantssuchmenaroundhim

inordertofeelsecure,andhethereforeallowsthemLatitudetofarmanincomefor

themselvesonthesidelines,soasnottohavetopaythemhimselffortheservices

theyrenderhim.

ThereareothertaxesfortheChieftoo,forthepeoplearetoldthattheymustbuy

goodsforthe'father'(theChief)andthe'mother'(theChief'swife).Largesumsof

moneyhave

been

collected

in

this

way

to

buy

the

more

ambitious

Chiefs

flashy

Americanmotorcars;andoftenacostumewithsuitableaccessoriesisboughtfor

the'mother'asapresent,whenthe'father'ispresentedwithhiscar.

Failuretopaythelegalizedtaxesisanoffencepunishablebyaperiodof

imprisonment,attheendofwhichthedefaulterisnotrelievedfromthepayment

ofthetaxforwhichhehasalreadylanguishedinjail.Alternativelyfailuretopaythe

arreartaxisdealtwithasacivilmatterandstockisattached,whilefailuretopay

thepolltaxmayevenresultinconfiscationofland.Althoughfailuretopaythe

unofficialtaxes

is

not

subject

to

the

same

conditions

for

recovery,

whoever

refuses

topaysuchataxismadetoproducethemoneyelsewhere,aswhen,onsome

pretextorother,heappearsattheBushCourtchargedwithsomeoffence.

ThelivesofthepeopleintheBantustansarethusbeingregimentedintoconformity

withacarefullyprescribedpattern:tobeloyaltoone'sChiefandtoauthorityin

general;toobeyorders.Peasantsarecommandedwhentoploughandwhento

reap;whentheirfamiliesmayhaveabeerdrink,andhowmuchofit;whenyoung

menmustcometotheChief'splacetofindoutifthereisanyworkforthemin


12/12

1212071/3

industrialcentres;whenallmenmustcometotheChiefsplacetohearnewdecrees

fromthegovernment.

ForyearstheBantuCommissionerhadtoenforcethenumerousregulations most

ofwhichonlyexistedonpaperthatgovernlifeinthereserves.AndWhite

officialdomdidnotprodtoohard,forfearthatthehorsewouldbolt.Inthelastsix

years,however,thoughthewhiphasremainedinthehandoftheWhite

government,it

has

been

the

Chiefs,

the

new

jockeys

riding

the

reserve

horse,

who

haveappliedthespurs.TheChiefsarenowwellinthesaddle.

Groupedaroundthemaretheheadmen,theirrepresentativesinthevillages.Their

ministersandinformerstrytobeeverywhere.Fortheymustdotheirjobproperlyif

theyaretosurvive.TheNationalistgovernmenthasturnedtheChiefsintothepivot

oftheBantustanscheme.Theyconstitutearulingaristocracy,butonedirectly

answerabletothegovernment.TheChiefsareChiefsbecausethegovernmenthas

ordainedthattheymaybeso.Theyarestrongerthantheyhaveeverbeenunder

Whiteoccupation

and

they

are

expected

to

use

their

powers

to

keep

quiescent

notonlythegreatmassofthedispossessedAfricansinthenewsettlements,but

thelandholdersandsmallmiddleclassaswell.

TheNationalistgovernmentisworkingonthetheorythatifitcankeepafirmgrip

ontheChiefs,theyinturnwillswingathreateningclubovertheheadsofthe

middleclasselements,whiletogethertheChiefsandmiddleclasselementskeep

thepeasantryunderfoot.

The

Chiefs

have

important

powers

to

control

both

the

landholding

group

and

the

traders,foritistheChiefswhoallocatethelandandissuethetradinglicences.

Thelandholdersinthereserveswillconstituteaprivilegedclassofpeasantry,but

fortheiroffspringthefutureisnobrighterthanforthelandless.Asundertheold

setup,theeldestsonalonewillsucceedtotheoccupationalrightsoftheoriginal

landholder,butnowotherchildrenwillbecondemnedtolifeinthesettlements.

Forthetradersthereisequallylittlesecurity,sincetherecanbenosecurityfor

anyonewhenfailuretosatisfyacorruptChief,orfalseinformationbyaninformer,

maybe

enough

to

lead

to

the

cancellation

of

atrading

licence.

Asforthelandlessandthedispossessed,theywillhavenothingatall,letalone

favourstorepay.TheyhavehatredandcontemptforthehirelingChiefs,and

resentmentbreakingintoopenrebellionattheirrule.

Course:TheNationalDemocraticRevolution12071,Mbeki,ThePeasantsRevolt,1964,C8,ChiefsintheSaddle5718

words

Documents

12071,Mbeki,ThePeasants’Revolt,1964,C8,ChiefsintheSaddle