Slavery in South Africa
Part of a series on |
Slavery |
---|
Slavery in South Africa existed from 1653 in the Dutch Cape Colony until the abolition of slavery in the British Cape Colony on 1 January 1834. This followed the British banning the trade of slaves between colonies in 1807, with their emancipation by 1834. Beyond legal abolition, slavery continued in the Transvaal though a system of inboekstelsel.[1]
Dutch rule
In 1652,
In April 1657, there were ten slaves in the settlement, from a population of 144. That increased greatly the next year, when the Dutch captured a Portuguese slaver with 500 Angolan slaves, and 250 were taken to the Cape.
British rule
Threats to Dutch control of the Cape Colony had emerged in the 18th century, when the Dutch East India Company was weakened during the
Britain later formally annexed the Cape and later passed the Slave Trade Act 1807. It was enforced from 1808, ending the external slave trade. Slaves were permitted to be traded only within the colony.[2] At the same time, Parliament passed a series of acts known as the amelioration laws designed to provide better living conditions for slaves. These acts allowed slaves to marry, purchase their own freedom, live with their families, and receive a basic education. The acts also limited punishments and work hours, and encouraged missionaries to convert Africans to Christianity.[3]
The first large wave of British settlers, the 1820 Settlers, were not permitted to own slaves.[6]
Abolition
In 1833, the
On 1 August 1834, all slaves in the British Empire were emancipated, but they were indentured to their former owners in an apprenticeship system which was abolished in two stages; the first set of apprenticeships came to an end on 1 August 1838, while the final apprenticeships were scheduled to cease on 1 August 1840, six years after the official emancipation.[citation needed]
See also
- African slave trade
- Cape Malays
- Inboekstelsel
References
- S2CID 199314684, retrieved 26 May 2022
- ^ a b c "Timeline: Slavery in the Cape Colony". About.com. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
- ^ a b c "History of slavery and early colonisation in South Africa". South African History Online. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
In the Cape, Van Riebeeck first attempted to get cattle and labour through negotiation, but as soon as these negotiations broke down slavery was implemented.
- ^ a b Frank Welsh (1998). A History of South Africa. HarperCollins. pp. 35–36.
- ^ sahoboss (21 March 2011). "General South African History Timeline: 1700s". South African History Online. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "From Slavery to Freedom". rebirth.co.za. Retrieved 18 December 2011.