Die Langeberg-rebellie en die totstandkoming van Olifantshoek.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Die Noord-Kaaplandse dorp Olifantshoek het vroeg hierdie eeu tot stand gekom in 'n gebied wat voorheen deur die Tswana bewoon is. Toe Brittanje suidelike Betsjoeanaland in 1885 annekseer, is die grondgebied van die inheemse bevolking tot 'n aantal reservate beperk. Met die inlywing van Brits-Betsjoeanaland by die Kaapkolonie in 1895 het die reservate in besit van die Tswana gebly en kon dit slegs met die toestemming van die Britse minister van Kolonies vervreem word. Weerstand teen Blanke kolonisasie het gelei tot die Langeberg-rebellie van 1896-97 waardeur die Tswana deur drastiese regeringsoptrede nog sowat 'n vyfde van hulle grond verloor het. Toestemming vir hierdie vervreemding is maklik van die betrokke Britse minister verkry. Die gekonfiskeerde reservate is in plase opgemeet en aan Blanke boere beskikbaar gestel. In die ou Langeberg-reservaat in die suidweste van Betsjoeanaland het 'n behoefte aan 'n dienssentrum vir die groeiende boerderygemeenskap van ongeveer 1910 af ontstaan. Dit het meegebring dat erwe by Olifantshoek die volgende jaar opgemeet en 'n dorpsbestuursraad in 1917 ingestel is.

• Summary: The Northern Cape town of Olifantshoek was established early this century in an area previously inhabited by the Tswana. When Britain annexed Bechuanaland in 1885 the land of the indigenous inhabitants was limited to a number of reserves. When British Bechuanaland was incorporated into the Cape Colony in 1895, the reserves remained the property of the Tswana and could only be alienated with the consent of the British Secretary of State for the Colonies. Tswana opposition to White colonisation led to the Langeberg Rebellion of 1896-97, and through drastic government action the Tswana lost a further fifth of their land. The permission for this alienation had been easily obtained from the minister concerned. Farms in the confiscated reserves were surveyed and made available to White farmers. In the former Langeberg Reserve, situated in the south-west of Bechuanaland, a need arose from 1910 onwards for a centre to serve the growing farming community. This led to the laying out of lots at Olifantshoek in 1911 and the institution of a village management board in 1917.