In die vroeë 1870s het Suidwes-Afrika (destyds bekend as die Transgariep en vandag as Namibië) gebuk gegaan onder verskeurende oorlogvoering terwyl daar ook ‘n inval en kolonisering deur die buiteland gedreig het. Verskeie plaaslike leiers het uit desperaatheid versoek om opgeneem te word in die redelike vreedsame Kaap Kolonie, met die belofte van gelyke verteenwoordiging in die Kaapse parlement. Die Kaapse regering het Palgrave afgevaardig om ondersoek in te stel, en sy voorstel was dat Suidwes-Afrika by die Kaap ingelyf moes word en die inwoners gelyke politieke regte moes ontvang.
“Walfish Bay from the sand hills to the south…” – deur Thomas Bains (SA Library)
Palgrave se vyf missies na Hereroland en Namaland tussen 1876 en 1885 het ooreengestem met, en is gereguleer deur, die Britse en Kaapse owerhede se sienings met betrekking tot die uitbreiding van imperiale belange. Die Kaapse eerste minister John Molteno het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die finale besluit sou berus op die sienings en wense van die verskeie bevolkingsgroepe van Suidwes-Afrika. ‘n Afvaardiging moes dadelik vertrek om met hulle te konsulteer en terugvoering te lewer. Palgrave was aangestel as die “Spesiale Kommissaris vir Hereroland en Namaland”.
William Coats Palgrave
William Coates Palgrave is gebore in Engeland en kom na Suid-Afrika aan die begin van 1859. Hy ontwikkel ‘n belangstelling in metale, minerale en edelgesteentes. In 1860 bereik hy Hereroland in Suidwes-Afrika waar hy gebly het en betrokke geraak het by prospekteerwerk en jag. Hy het ook ‘n goeie reputasie ontwikkel onder die plaaslike Herero leiers sowel as die Europese inwoners van Hereroland (hoofsaaklik sendelinge). Hy verlaat Suidwes-Afrika in 1869 en word later ‘n staatsamptenaar in die nuutgestigte provinsie van Griekwaland-Wes. Hy op die ouderdom van 40 in die nuwe diamant-veld dorp, Kimberley. Sy vroeëre verblyf van ongeveer agt jaar in Suidwes-Afrika was van onskatbare waarde as voorbereiding vir sy taak as spesiale kommissaris.
Palgrave se kommissies was toenemend ondermyn deur die toenemende spanning tussen die plaaslike Kaapse regering en die Britse Ryk. Die Kaap het strategiese redes gehad om Suidwes-Afrika te beveilig. Die inval deur ‘n Europese moondheid (in die geval, Duitsland) is voorspel deur die Kaapse regering en hulle wou die nuwe Kimberley diamantvelde beskerm. Brittanje, daarteenoor, was bekommerd oor die las van ‘n uitgestrekte koloniale ryk en wou nie verbind word nie.
Palgrave’s Map
Palgrave vertrek vir sy vyfde en laaste kommissie in 1884. Met sy terugkeer vind hy dat Brittanje die Duitse besetting erken het.
Die mislukking van die Palgrave-kommissie was hoofsaaklik te wyte aan die ongevraagde en onverstandige inmenging in die sake van Suider-Afrika deur die Britse koloniale kantoor in Londen. Dit het die werk van die kommissie belemmer en gelei het tot die Duitse kolonisering van Suidwes-Afrika.
UITTREKSEL VANUIT DIE TEKS
” The Special Commissioner addressed the meeting at some length on the unhappy feeling between the parties that had lately prevailed, and pointed out how easily it might have been avoided, if the primary principles which should govern such a community as that living here, had not been entirely lost sight of.
Complimented the Bastards on the straightforward and honest manner in which they had come forward, and expressed their regret for their share in the past, which, however, he thought after all was only a very small share. Other people were to be blamed as much, if not more than them, and had great pleasure in seeing the pains they were at to adopt a course, which would prevent any collision for the future.
After which some regulations, affecting the questions of “Masters and Servants”, and claiming of cattle which had been lost, stolen, or had strayed, and had subsequently been acquired by traders in a bona fide manner, were discussed, and agreed upon.
In the afternoon Abraham Swaartbooy called upon the Special Commissioner and informed him that he had come over from Gurumanas for the purpose of assisting and settling the squabbles and rows between the Bastard Community and white residents on the place, which, he stated, had given him great concern, and which he was very anxious should be set at rest.
Special Commissioner thanked him for his kind intentions and feelings which did him honor.
After some beating about the bush and prevarication, it transpired that Abraham wished to see Special Commissioner about grants of land that the white people wanted to get from him, and after some time mentioned Haybittel’s name, and spoke of the visit he had received from Haybittel, with Dr Hahn as interpreter, on Saturday night last at Gurumanas; and further that the white people wished him to give them places and waters where they could establish their cattle posts during the period they traded in the country.
Special Commissioner asked of Abraham whether he understood what the white people really wanted, for if he did not he would tell him.
Abraham replying that he did not understand and would be glad and thankful to be told.
Special Commissioner then informed him that the white people did not want “loan places”, but that if he gave or sold them any grants or pieces of ground, they would hold and consider it their property, with right and title o with it as they please, sell, give away, or dispose of in any way they pleased, and that if Abraham alienated any portion of Rehoboth, and the veldt belonging to it, and remained at Bokberg, such alienation would be taken into consideration, when the grounds about Bokberg were apportioned.
Special Commissioner had no objection to Abraham doing as he pleased, but scarcely considered this the proper time to think of making grants of land, or in any way alienating ground, and advised him to let matters remain in status quo.
Abraham thought it would be the best to let matters remain as they are, and thanking the Special Commissioner for his advice, promised not to do anything for the next 6 months, as he had previously said he would.
In the afternoon Special Commissioner received visit from Dr Hahn, and was informed that he was anxious to purchase a tract of ground (previously mentioned, vide 9th inst.) which was outside of the boundary line, described by the Damaras as being the southern boundary of their country.
Special Commissioner had no objection to anything Abraham Swaartbooy might choose to do. “
Redigering en voorwoord deur E.L.P. Stals
Professor Ernst Stals is die direkteur van navorsing by die Windhoek Onderwyskollege. Hy werk sedert 1959 op die gebied van Namibiese geskiedenis en lewer verskeie publikasies oor aspekte soos veeboerdery, kontak tussen die Blanke en Ovambo-gemeenskappe, en die regering se beleid en praktyk teenoor die inheemse bevolking gedurende die Duitse tydperk.