Masters Degrees (History)

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Die aanloop tot en stigting van Orania as groeipunt vir 'n Afrikaner-volkstaat
(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2007-03) Pienaar, Terisa; Visser, Wessel P.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
Throughout the history of South Africa, the Afrikaners have been described as a "strange society". Calvinism was a key to their lifestyle and ideology and they saw themselves as God's special instruments. Their political philosophy of separate development was to a certain extent, revolutionary and was known as "apartheid". This was an attempt to remake a society according to a socio-political ideal which was rooted in the concept of safety in power. This thesis investigates the Afrikaners with regard to their primal ancestors, the origin of their identity, their identity during the reign of the NP government and their identity in the post apartheid South Africa. Discrepancies concerning Afrikaner identity during this time are also investigated. In this thesis special emphasis is placed on the right-wing actions of the Afrikaners, their political development from the time of separation from the NP which arose from the conviction that the leaders of this party were deviating from the moral and political prescriptions of their predecessors, their ideals and visions of freedom. The right-wing tends to qualify the term “nationalism” with the term “Christian” and they therefore believe that their nationhood is widely ordained. Culture, for the right-wing means an inclusive concept which covers every aspect of their lives. Language, i.e. Afrikaans, is seen as the verbal and written expression of their national culture. This study is directed towards the right wing of Afrikaners' quest for a "volkstaat" (state nation) and specifically the foundation of Orania in the Northern Cape and investigates whether it is a viable option for Afrikaners in general to live. The right-wingers believe that the only feasible constitutional option for peace in South Africa lies in partition The origin of the volkstaat idea , the early thoughts and the development of this concept are also investigated as well as the different models and role players. The main aim of this thesis is to investigate the success of Orania as a possible growing point of a "volkstaat" for Afrikaners. The early stages in the development of this small town e.g. the purchase, their efforts in achieving autonomy, their constitutional rights, their efforts in developing their community as well as their image to the outside world are investigated. During a visit to Orania in 2005 questionnaires were handed out to residents in order to compose a social profile and to investigate domicile statistics as well as views on Afrikaner identity. Ultimately this thesis indicates that although Orania functions successfully in most instances the possibility of it serving as a growing point of a “volkstaat” needs a much larger effort and larger support from other Afrikaners.
Die aanwending en integrasie van pikturale en geskrewe bronne vir 'n kultuurhistoriese evaluering van geselekteerde temas van die Wellington-omgewing, 1657-1900
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001--03) Smit, Susanna Elizabeth; Van der Merwe, H.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study pictorial Africana are used to sketch a socio-historical image of certain aspects of Wellington (previously known as Waggonmakers Valley) during the period 1657 to 1900. Together with written sources such as letters, diaries and travel diaries, the pictorial sources (in this case paintings, pictures and maps) are considered primary sources. Although the inhabitants of Waggonmakers Valley and later Wellington clearly developed an own identity, Wellington cannot be viewed in isolation. The town and region are placed in the broader context of the Drakenstein Valley and the Western Cape. The establishment and development of the town are placed within the prevalent political and economic climate of that time. Historical highlights of the town's history are given in short. A list of artists, pictorial works and place of conservation where these pictorial works are being conserved was compiled. It was attempted to determine the artists' connection with the Drakenstein Valley, Waggonmakers Valley and Wellington in each discussion. In the discussion of the territory (bodem) the Waggonmakers Valley is placed in the context of the Drakenstein Valley. In this discussion the discovery and settlement of the valley are considered, as well as the naming of the Drakenstein Valley, Waggonmakers Valley and Wellington. The appearance of the valley, mountains, hills, as well as the vegetation, animal life and bird life are discussed. The influence of the Berg River and other rivers on the inhabitants' lives is included in the discussion, as well as relevant folk-tales and popular beliefs. Where applicable, various uses for plants (e.g. medicinal) in these people's daily lives are discussed. In the discussion of the church the following aspects are considered: the beginning of missionary work in the Waggonmakers Valley, the secession of the church and the subsequent establishment of Wellington, as well as some religious aspects such as the "Wederdoper" Sect and the big revival of 1860. Festivals, sports and recreation depict the social activities of the Wellington people up to the end of the nineteenth century. In the discussion of the architecture, aspects such as political, economic and social influences on building style as well as building materials and building methods were taken into account. To illustrate: the opening of the Wellington railway line and the opening of Bainskloof Pass influenced the architecture of the town and region. Influencing factors on the lay-out of the town as well as the meaning of BainskloofPass for Wellington were considered.
Access denied? The holistic lived experience of disabled students at Stellenbosch University : 1986-2007
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04) Joubert, Karien; Van der Merwe, Schalk; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the holistic lived experience of physically disabled students who studied at Stellenbosch University (SU) between 1986, the national year of the disabled and 2007, when the first dedicated disability unit was established at SU. Although this period reflects a generally transitional phase in wider South African history, with an increased emphasis on social equality, the consideration of the position of disabled individuals in this narrative is largely under-represented. The institutional and social elements of university life are explored as both constitute an integrated student life, while the specific position of disabled students is considered from a variety of angles. Official archival material provides insight into institutional responses to the question of disability. Societal narratives concerning disability are explored through an investigation of the disability-related articles which appeared in the Stellenbosch University publications Matieland and Die Matie between 1986 and 2007. Individual elements are also incorporated through a small-scale qualitative study consisting of 11 individual semi-structured interviews with physically disabled SU alumni. A non-linear narrative emerges throughout this period, in the sense that improvements and developments did not follow in any particular chronological order. The reasons for this are varied and cannot be limited to any single element. The institutional environment makes provision for disabled students in various ways, but a gap in the dissemination of information is evident, indicating that students were not always aware of available accommodations and services. Stellenbosch University was revealed to have a particularly long history of accommodating blind and partially sighted students as well as disability sport. A total of 83 articles from Matieland and Die Matie were explored. These also indicate a non-linear portrayal of disability issues and often vacillate between depictions of disabled students as ‘superheroes’ or ‘sub-humans.’ Interview data revealed that disabled individuals were frequently encouraged to pursue a university education, although access to information and the built environment remained an issue. The independent initiative on the part of disabled students and individual involvement of various staff members were key factors in facilitating success in the institutional environment. Disabled students were revealed to have vastly diverse social experiences which were linked to neither type of disability nor period of study. They participated in the social environment through a variety of networks while at university and encountered various public responses to their disability. Ultimately, this study indicates that physically disabled students navigated the university experience at SU between 1986 and 2007 with various levels of institutional and social support.
Adriaan van Jaarsveld
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1935) Rossouw, H. J.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: no abstract available
All my companions are free, I alone am excepted : a socio-economic history of recaptured Africans at the Cape Colony in the age of reform, c. 1807-1834
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Crous, Benjamin Daniel; Fransch, Chet; Ekama, Kate; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study of the enslaved peoples ‘rescued’ from illegal slave ships and apprenticed in colonial locales in the aftermath of the Abolition Act of 1807 is of burgeoning scholarly interest. The lived experiences and governance of those subject to this scheme in the British Caribbean, Sierra Leone and more recently Brazil and Cuba have received increasing attention. The literature on ‘recaptured Africans’ or ‘prize negroes’ as they were known at the Cape Colony, by contrast has remained rather inert since the early twenty first century. This study is an attempt to redirect attention to the history of recaptives at the Cape Colony, focusing on the period of change ushered in by the 1820s. Using the underutilised records collected by the Commission of Eastern Inquiry, as well as new quantitative sources and methods, allow for new insights to be gleaned about the history of recaptives during this period. Forming part of a larger ‘experiment’ in free labour, the 1820s saw the end of the fourteen-year apprenticeships of recaptured Africans at the Cape. With the aim of ending chattel slavery, the metropolitan government sought to assess the state of their colonies and prepare their labour markets for the integration of free labourers. This resulted in the despatch of Royal Commissions of Inquiry, as well as the passing of various ameliorative legislation. This dissertation argues that the period of reform ushered in by the 1820s merits attention specifically because it resulted in a variety of power struggles leading to conflict between colonists, commissioners and recaptives. Indeed, these contestations were symptomatic of a larger struggle as each group sought to redefine their place within the shifting colonial boundaries of class and race. Analysing the testimonies of recaptives brought before the Commissioners of Inquiry allows for these struggles to be personalized and the lived experiences of these subaltern labourers to come to the fore during this tumultuous period in Cape history.
Almal kom na Lubbe" : die skoenmakerverhaal van A.P. Lubbe en Seun (Edms.) Bpk. 1918-2001
(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2007-03) Van Eeden, Suzanne; Ehlers, Anton; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
The thesis “ ‘Almal kom na Lubbe: Die skoenmakerverhaal van A.P. Lubbe en Seun (Edms) Bpk, 1918-2001”, is an attempt to investigate the history of a family business spanning three generations against the background of the general socio-economic and political circumstances during the period 1918-2001. In 1918, at the time of the start of industrialisation in South Africa, Andries Petrus Lubbe started a bridle and shoe repair business en Bird Street, Stellenbosch. To him this business was the beginning of the realization of a dream to own his own shoe factory. During the 1940’s Andries Lubbe started experimenting with the manufacturing of shoes. This experiment was successful and encouraged his eldest son, Willem, to join the business in 1943. In 1948 after Willem completed his training in shoe technology in Britain, the business was officially registered as a private company. In 1956 Lubbe opened a shoe factory near Du Toit Station in Stellenbosch. This was the start of an era of mass production and mechanization in the company. Willem Lubbe was solely in charge of the factory and against the background of the economic affluence of the sixties the company prospered. In 1970 Andries Lubbe died and Willem Lubbe became the sole owner of the family business. In 1976, André Lubbe, Willem’s only son, joined the business. Against the setting of the unfavourable economic circumstances of the late seventies and eighties, André Lubbe succeeded to guide the company towards the niche market field by manufacturing speciality shoes, e.g. “Trailbuster” hiking boots. The nineties were characterised by unstable political and socio-economic conditions associated with South Africa’s transition to democracy and Lubbe suffered as a consequence. In an attempt to overcome the problems André tried to make the company more internationally orientated and Lubbe International was therefore established in 1994. This was not successful and by 1999 it was clear that Lubbe would not be able to function any longer. Some of the brand names were sold to another shoe manufacturer, Corrida Shoes, and in 2001, the doors of A.P. Lubbe and Son (Pty) Ltd were finally closed.
Andersdenkende verset : Afrikaner kulturele standpunt teen apartheid en Afrikaner kontak met die ANC in die 1980's
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003-03) Kitshoff, Herman van Zijl; Grundlingh, Albert; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A renewed and unique spirit of resistance to apartheid spread across South Africa during the 1980's. This manifested as the black revolt between 1984 and 1986, as well as in the ANC's policies supporting the use of violence as a means to emancipation from the restrictions imposed by the apartheid government. The legacy of the Soweto uprising of 1976, coupled with P.W. Botha's efforts to reform, to a great extent fuelled these revolts which spread across the country during the 1980' s; while the constitution of 1983 led the militant young, predominantly ANC followers to again conclude that their future was doomed under apartheid. The ANC's policy of aggession towards the government was a further impetus for violent behaviour amongst the masses. International sanctions against apartheid increasingly crippled the National Party government during the 1980's. This revolutionary situation III the country, together with the obvious logjam the government found itself in, led to the psychological awakening of a group of Afrikaners known as the "dissidents". Although doubts about apartheid had existed amongst white South Africans since the sixties, the resistance in Afrikaner-circles during the 1980's was unique especially for it's active nature. It agreed furthermore with a zealous global sense of apathy towards apartheid, and was to a great degree fuelled by the black revolts and the government's aggressive way of containing these uprisings. This caused liberalminded Afrikaners not only to question their own identity and privileged position within South Africa, but urged several individuals, groups and organisations to make contact with the ANC. The reason for this was to engage in discussions with the ANC concerning the future of the country, and served as a form of passive resistance against the government. This thesis examines the work of these liberal Afrikaners against the backdrop of the troublesome eighties, and tries furthermore to capture their spirit of resistance.
An Anglican parish in transformation : the history of St. Margaret’s, Parow, 1942 - 1995
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-03) Davids, Tessa Dawn; Grundlingh, Albert M.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is an historical analysis of the History of St. Margaret’s Anglican Parish, situated in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town. While documenting the history of the parish since its establishment in 1942, it also critically examines its response to the socio-political changes the country was going through such as the Group Areas Act and in so doing, determines the extent of its own transformation. St. Margaret’s was not the first Anglican parish in Parow. An Anglican presence existed in Parow since 1900 with St. John the Baptist being the first parish along with an Anglican primary school, namely Glen Lily. The Anglican parishes of Parow were profoundly affected by apartheid, especially the Group Areas Act which completely changed the landscape of the town and the roles of the parishes. It led to the deconsecration of St. John’s and the closure of Glen Lily Primary school. The church building survived, but the school was completely demolished. St. Margaret’s did became an independent parish, but faced many challenges as it struggled to cope with the call from the Anglican Church to become agents of reconciliation while Archbishop Tutu called for sanctions against South Africa and seemingly supported the armed struggle. Despite the unhappiness with the Archbishop’s call for greater commitment to the abolition of apartheid, the congregation did in time find its own metier.
Animals, acrobats and amusement : a history of performance in South Africa’s circus industry, c.1882–1963
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03) Uys, Mia; Swart, Sandra S.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa, the circus industry became an important leisure industry in the 1800s and remained a popular form of entertainment until the turn of the twenty-first century, attracting diverse audiences across the country. Yet this industry is a neglected area of historical research. This thesis uses a rich variety of primary sources to debunk the myth of the ‘timeless circus act’, static and uniform. Instead, it demonstrates that this industry has gone through several transformations throughout the history of its existence. It analyses these changes, with particular focus on animal and gender history, by comparing performances between three circus companies that toured South Africa between 1882 and 1963: Fillis’s Circus, Pagel’s Circus and Boswell’s Circus. In doing so, this thesis explores the international influence on performances. This thesis argues that animals were integral to the circus industry, but their roles were mutable and affected by changes in human society. It traces their shifting role in performances across the companies, while also considering their shifting and subjective experiences in captivity. It contends that we can conceive of animals as ‘political performers’ and even as political agents with the ability to exert their agency and effect change. Throughout this thesis, the notion of ‘performing gender’ is analysed by comparing routines, as well as the various audience reactions to examine the ideals of masculinity and femininity reflected in society at the time. Overall, it argues that the significant changes that occurred within animal and gendered performances were a response to the shifting localised public mindsets and political climates, affected in turn by broader global forces.
Apartheid South Africa's propaganda effort c.1960-1980 : the hearts and minds campaign of the National Party
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-12) Obermeyer, Johann; Nasson, William Richard; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to examine the South African National Party’s efforts at winning ‘hearts and minds’ within the decades of the 1960s’ up to the 1980s’. Thus, the various attempts by the NP to control and manipulate the image of the Republic of South Africa as seen from within and outside of its borders, is examined. The perspective offered in this study is from the point of view from the NP itself, as this is done in order to try to get a clear picture of what the apartheid government was struggling for and against. The methods employed within the study are, at times, of a historiographical nature and rely on various documentary sources. Because of the nature of the topic, subterfuge is to be expected and thus the sources are assessed for what they are, and not necessarily what they perhaps pretend to be. The phenomenon of subterfuge is thus examined in its own right. The study concludes with the suggestion that it might be useful to further research one particular aspect as shown in chapter 3, as well as with the idea that further studies of this kind might be useful in contributing towards the shift towards a more integrated contemporary South African history.
Aspekte van nasionale en kulturele identiteit van 'n verenigende Europa sedert 1958 : enkele gevallestudies
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003-03) Carstens, T. H. M; Grundlingh, A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In a globalizing world it follows that the identity of individuals will come under scrutiny as borders between states fade. It is exactly for this reason that so many people feel uncomfortable within themselves and become involved in a desperate search for new terms of reference and value systems. By virtue of this, history is utilized to explore the problem by tracing circumstances on a continent where the issue is currently very topical. Certain facets of Europe, which was the axis of the catastrophic Second World War but simultaneously the cradle of an Eurocentrism which has evolved gradually over centuries, is carefully scrutinized in order to determine what tendencies are becoming noticeable. This investigation cannot ignore the demise of the Soviet Empire and the burgeoning nation states of Eastern Europe since it represents an important divide in the European history of the twentieth century. A unifying Europe is embodied in various institutions which have sprung up since the Second World War, partially due to efforts of Europeans to organise themselves or alternatively, as a consequence of the Atlantic allies' attempts to present a united front to Soviet Russia. With the demise of the Soviet Republic in 1989, the concept underwent a further change when the Eastern European countries joined the institutional structures of a unifying nature such as the Council of Europe. It is exactly because of this that the identity issue came to the fore. The only realistic and pragmatic yardstick to measure national and cultural identity within the defined period is by employing the sovereignty of the nation state. Concurrently with this yardstick is the realisation that the protection or loss of sovereignty occurs within the upper constitutional or political levels where the public is seldom involved, but ultimately as a consequence affected. This reflects a democratic deficit. Seen from the angle of the early protagonists of Eurocentrism as well as the USA, there were conflicting views on the protection or loss of sovereignty, but an admission that greater unity could lead to the loss of some sovereignty. Britain, without publicly acknowledging it, had indeed surrendered some of its sovereignty during the 1970's when it became a member of the European Economic Community, by subjecting itself to the ruling that European Union legislation would be superior to that of Britain in the event of a conflict. Britain had thus, with regard to national and cultural identity, already proceeded to a new relationship. This new relationship was reinforced by Britain's under-writing of the principle of subsidiarity which ultimately promotes a dual identity of being British and European. The same tendency was noticeable in the institutional arrangements and programmes of the Council of Europe and the European Union. On investigating the viewpoints and role which Belgium, as one of the founder members of the European Economic Community, and simultaneously a small nation, this tendency also becomes very apparent, but possibly with greater emphasis of the regional role as a result of strong identity forming influences. In conclusion, it is thus apparent that being a European, and British or Flemish simultaneously, is currently becoming the vogue. However, being European is currently of a consumer-goods nature. It does not embrace a vibrant European identity particularly as a consequence of the language difference which limit the Europeanisation of national and cultural identities. Attempts to resolve the problem through adages such as "unity in diversity" has not produced the expected results.
Aweregs : die rustelose lewe van Ben Viljoen 1868-1917
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-12) Van der Merwe, Willem Carel; Grundlingh, Albert Mauritz; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is a critical interpretative biography of Barend (later Benjamin) Johannes Viljoen, who was born in Thembuland, South Africa in 1868 and died in New Mexico, USA in 1917 at the age of 48 from natural causes. After his arrival at the age of eighteen in the South African Republic as a the eldest son of a poor migrant farming family, Ben Viljoen rose within twelve years from an ordinary policeman to a journalist, newspaper owner, commandant of the Johannesburg commando and member of the Tweede Volksraad (Second House of Assembly) for the Johannesburg constituency. During the Anglo-Boer War he participated in numerous engagements and was promoted to general and assistant commandant-general of the Transvaal forces. He was captured at the beginning of 1902 and banished to St. Helena. Following several unsuccessful attempts to establish himself in the Transvaal Colony after the war, Viljoen was the co-organiser of and a participant in the Boer War Spectacle at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. Afterwards he remained in the USA and married an American woman even before his divorce in South Africa was finalised. After an unsuccessful attempt by him and “general” Willem Snyman to establish a Boer colony in northern Mexico, Viljoen and other Afrikaners settled at the end of 1905 in the southwestern American state of New Mexico where they became successful alfalfa farmers. Here Viljoen played an active role in the local community life and state politics. During the Mexican revolution in 1911 he acted as a military adviser to the revolutionary leader (and later Mexican president) Francisco Madero, who afterwards appointed him as peace commissioner to the Yaqui Indians of Mexico. After a short appointment as a Mexican consul in Germany he was involved in several filibustering attempts in northern Mexico with prominent American capitalists. This thesis is based on extensive primary research in South Africa, the Netherlands, Britain, Mexico and the USA. It contributes to an understanding of the undercurrents in the ranks of the Afrikaners and Afrikaner nationalism during the first few years after the war. Considered as a whole this biography of Ben Viljoen is a re-evaluation of the prevailing notions of how the Boer leaders adapted to the post-war dispensation. It also examines the strategies that Viljoen used to establish and further himself in the South African Republic, Mexico and the USA. By examining Viljoen’s life and the influences that formed him, this thesis seeks to throw more light on that period and thus promote a nuanced understanding of the South African past.
“Barbed-Wire Boks” : the long shadow of the 1981 Springbok Tour of New Zealand and the United States of America
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03) Potgieter, Sebastian Johann Shore; Grundlingh, Albert; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In 1981, during the height of apartheid, the South African national rugby team, the Springboks, toured to New Zealand and the United States of America. In South Africa, the tour was expected to reopen the doors to international competition for the Springboks after an anti-apartheid sporting boycott had forced the sport into relative isolation during the 1970s. In the face of much international condemnation, the Springboks toured to New Zealand and the USA in 1981 where they encountered large and often violent demonstrations as those who opposed the tour attempted to scuttle it. For the duration of the tour, New Zealand was plunged into a divisive state of chaos as police and protestors clashed outside heavily fortified rugby stadiums. In South Africa, those bleary-eyed rugby fans who braved the early morning hours to watch the historic live broadcasts of the matches were greeted with extraordinary scenes: rugby fields being combed for glass shards, fishhooks, and nails scattered by anti-tour protestors; a pitch invasion at Hamilton forcing the cancellation of the Springboks’ match against Waikato; and the infamous Auckland test, dubbed the ‘flour-bomb’ test. While the tour matter polarised New Zealanders, there were only minor disruptions during the USA leg of the tour as rugby was still a relatively unknown sport to most Americans. Although the tour events were a rude awakening to many white South Africans on the hostilities abroad towards the apartheid regime, the country’s racist policies remained unyielding. However, the tour had repercussions for South African rugby and reflected how desperate establishment rugby had become to stave off total isolation. While the tour is frequently mentioned in work on the sporting boycott era, it is rarely assigned the significance it deserves. Using hitherto untapped archival material this thesis concerns an in depth discussion on the 1981 tour, what it revealed about South African rugby at the time, and in particular how the tour had a large hand in bringing about South African rugby’s total isolation in the 1980s.
The Barrys and the Overberg
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1952-12) Buirski, A. P.; Thom, H. B.; Wiid, J. A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: No abstract available
Being public : musicians and the Market Theatre Cafe, 1976 - 1980
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03) Ncume, Pakama Sbongile; Matshoba, Pakama Sbongile; Lambrechts, Lizabe; Fransch, Chet; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH SUMMARY : In 1976 the Market Theatre Complex was opened in Newton, Johannesburg by Barney Simon and Mannie Manim. Their vision was to establish a non-discriminatory and inclusive theatre that operated outside the legislated segregation policies of the apartheid system. One of the venues in the complex was a small music entertainment space called the Market Theatre Café. The Café which operated from 1976 to 1978 was run and managed by David Marks and his wife Frances Marks. Throughout its short existence, the venue offered a platform for local and international musicians, English, Afrikaans, Zulu, and Sepedi singers-songwriters, folk musicians, township jazz groups, rock and punk groups, and jazz musicians to perform. While the performances in the Market Theatre Complex are well documented, very little has been written about the Café and the music and musicians who performed there. Using primary sources, specifically live sound recordings made of the performances at the Café, preserved in the Hidden Years Music Archive at Stellenbosch University, this study will offer an analysis of the concerts staged in the Market Theatre Café. Through investigating the musicians, the music performed and lyrics of songs, as well as the conversations on stage between musicians and/or with the audience - as well as the music productions staged at the venue - this study will explore how such music performances enabled the coming together and the “being public” of a community that sanctioned a space for freedom of expression and political action during times when “publics” and “being public” were highly regulated.
Between duty and desire : pre-nuptial pregnancy and unmarried motherhood in Anglican Cape Town during the first half of the twentieth century
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-12) Richardson, Laura Jane; Fourie, Johan; Ross, Robert; Kok, Jan; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Throughout the first half of the twentieth century couples were exhorted by both the church and secular authorities to delay sexual intercourse until after marriage, but popular attitudes towards premarital sexuality did not always reflect those of the authorities, nor were such attitudes necessarily a good index of popular behaviour. Marrying qualitative and quantitative techniques in a way that is sensitive to the limitations of both approaches, this thesis presents an interpretation of new evidence regarding prenuptial pregnancy and unmarried motherhood amongst a select group of South Africans living in Cape Town during this period. In so doing, it aims to shed light on the complex relationship between prescription and practice in the intimate lives of ordinary men and women. At the Cape, as in many other areas of the globe, the early to mid-twentieth century – an era often referred to as the ‘golden age’ of marriage and the family – saw a higher share of couples than ever before going to the trouble and expense of contracting marriages recognized by law. Nonetheless, the quantitative evidence presented in this study, compiled using individual-level birth and marriage records drawn from seven socio-economically diverse Anglican parishes in Cape Town, shows that, despite growing pressure towards marriage, out-of-wedlock pregnancies accounted for a substantial proportion of births, particularly within working class coloured communities. Although many out-of-wedlock pregnancies resulted in marriage, falling pregnant outside of wedlock was risky, especially for women from fragile family networks. Initially there was very little help available for women who, having fallen pregnant outside of wedlock, were unable to secure marriage, and while caring for unmarried mothers and their infants did slowly come to be regarded as necessary, if unpopular work, the social stigma attached to unmarried motherhood continued to influence the kinds of assistance they received. The qualitative evidence is used to examine some of the debates that emerged between female philanthropists, social workers, medical professionals and moral conservatives regarding the care of unmarried mothers, looking especially at notions of female deviancy and how these shifted to reflect different moral and political agendas. In addition, case records from two Anglican unmarried mothers’ hostels are used to contrast the ideas put forward in these debates with the actual courtship experiences of unmarried mothers in Cape Town. These records support the hypothesis that attitudes towards premarital sexuality tended to be more ambiguous and courtship experiences more diverse than has previously been supposed.
Beyers Naudé 1915-1963 : die vorming van 'n dissidente Afrikaner
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03) Fourie, Ruhan; Grundlingh, Albert; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Beyers Naudé is known for his anti-apartheid theology and activism from the 1960s onwards. Yet, before this activism, he was a minister in die Dutch Reformed Church, member of the Afrikaner Broederbond, and longtime proponent of the policy of apartheid. His deeprootedness in the Afrikaner-establishment gave him a unique position in the struggle against apartheid. This studie attempts to analise this paradoks of Afrikaner and struggle-hero through an in-depth biographical work that investigates the formative years of Beyers Naudé. Thereby it is established how Naudé came to the point where he left the Afrikaner-establishment in 1963. There is a whole corpus of literature about Naudés` struggle years after 1963, most being theological studies. However, this secular studie focuses on the build-up to Naudés` breakaway, which starts at his birth in 1915 and goes up until his last sermon as a DRC-minister in 1963. By utilising a range of archival sources, in conjunction with existing literature on Naudé, his route will carefully be traced through his childhood years (1915-1931), student years (1932-1939), formation as Afrikaner-minister (1940-1954), and eventually how he unmolded from minister to dissident (1955-1963). Dimensions of his earlier life, which was not necessarily political in nature, is examined, and by doing so a more well-rounded image of a ‘young’ Beyer is attempted. From this study it becomes clear that a series of outward-movements beyond of the Afrikaner-establishment brought Naudé to new insights about his convictions, his people, and justice. Change took place over time with certain markers which moved him to a deeper conviction to take a new direction by leaving the Afrikaner-establishment in 1963.
The biography of Dr Hannah-Reeve Sanders, the first female Chief Medical Superintendent of Groote Schuur Hospital
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-03) Bloch, Leila R.; Ehlers, Anton; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Known by the phrase, ‘The country girl who did good,’ Dr Hannah-Reeve-Sanders was committed to the idea of becoming a doctor from a young age. Through a biographical sketch beginning in 1928 until 1998, this thesis explores the influences that informed her rural JewishAfrikaans upbringing in Piketberg. This continues through to her studies in Cape Town and subsequent working life as the first woman to hold the position of Chief Medical Superintendent at Groote Schuur Hospital from 1976 to 1986. Sanders’ story, in particular, serves as a critical lens from the perspective of a female doctor into notions of ‘achievement’ and ‘success’ within the medical field in South Africa during the middle to late 20th century. By situating Sanders’ biographical perspective within the context of the history of South African women in medicine, this thesis brings into relief the tensions between clinical and administrative medicine and the ‘costs’ of navigating a successful career within a maledominated profession, as well as an institutional framework under the constraints of external political forces. Through Sanders one can challenge one-dimensional, idealised portrayals of what it means to achieve status as a doctor, by highlighting the gaps and complexities within her life story. This study further illustrates how she ambitiously subscribed to the paradigm of a good doctor from a young age. Hannah’s parents' journey to South Africa typifies a South African Jewish migration story. However, it was elements of her Afrikaner identity that would allow her freedom to adapt and lead institutions during her career. From another perspective, Sanders’ choice to follow a seemingly unassuming path later into administrative medicine yielded influence and saw her adapt to key historical moments such as the first heart transplant. Bearing in mind the constraints imposed by the provincial government at the time, this study assesses whether she was able to break barriers or to ‘toe the line’ in her leadership position. With respect to a careful rendering of the historical context, coupled with her later responses in interviews, the study aims to evaluate the extent to which she brought humanising elements and ‘integrity’ into a ‘compromised’ institution. It places into relief the environments which influenced her and how she may have influenced her environment. Through her experiences we come to understand issues regarding race, gender, and class in the medical institutions in which she operated, and the extent to which these obstacles determined her responses. Steering clear of hagiography, this study does not seek to idealise or embellish any of her achievements, but rather depict how our subject is situated within the historical context. Sanders’ achievements come to be understood alongside the complex environments from which such ambitions and opportunities to practise medicine emerge. It demonstrates that while there were significant attempts on her part to transcend social and political constraints, she remained accountable to structures of power which may have influenced her actions.
Blue, green and everything in-between : the history of the Cape Aquaria c.1902 - 1995
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Lennox, Lyle Edward; Swart, Sandra S.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Environmental historians have long sought to investigate the various ways humans have come to interact with the natural environment. Recently, some historians have focused their attention on the interplay of the environment, politics and socio-economic forces, over time, including the marine environment. This dissertation adds to this historiography through the investigation of a novel environmental subject namely the public aquarium. Several facets of South Africa’s marine culture, including the s ea fisheries industry, the professi onalization of marine science and recreational fish culture can be explored through the utilization of aquaria as case studies. These aquatic institutions, as we understand them today, were shaped by the aquarium boom between 1850 and 1880 in Britain and later in European metropoles. Although several popular iterations of the public aquaria existed throug hout the colonial empire, this dissertation highlights two popular trends, namely the sea-si de aquaria and the biological marine station. The dissertations focus is on three aquaria in specific, the St. James Aquarium of Kalk Bay (1902 – 1933), the Sea Point Aquarium of the Sea Point promenade (1939 – 1970) and the Two Oceans Aquarium situated at the historic Victoria and Albert Waterfront (1995 – present). By comparing the developmental patterns of Cape Town aquaria to those in Europe, this thesis analyses the connections between these two respective aquatic traditions. Emphasis is placed on the role of the Sout h African state in facilitating know ledge transfer to modernize the country’s fishing industry, the interplay betwee n private initiative and public context, the tension between entertainment and education, and the economies of knowledge and capitalism behind establishing and changing these aquaria. It includes a tentative foray into connecting the trends of aquaria, acclimatization and leisure with the history of private fish keeping.
‘Boks and bullets, coffins and crutches’ : an exploration of the body, mind and places of ‘Springbok’ South African soldiers in the First World War
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Delport, Anri; Nasson, Bill; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In 1914-'18 the Great War, as it is still widely known today, engulfed the world, including the recently-founded Union of South Africa. As opposed to other empire and Allied states, the Union’s experience of the global war’s intoxication in August and September 1914 was more complex, inconsistent and layered. The cry for war was heard in a period of increased urbanisation and class antagonism towards the ruling order. Yet, in the more pro-British centres and for struggling poorer inhabitants, the call was answered and many rushed to enlist to fight in what was seen as a European War. Many men were probably unaware of the defined yet covert contract into which enlistment translated: the handing over of one’s body and mind to the state, thus allowing the government to dispose of it as it saw fit both during and after the war. It is the aim of this thesis to consider and explore what happened to the bodies and minds of white volunteers who saw service beyond the domestic borders. This exploration includes a comparative analysis, since it considers the impact of war on fighting South African soldiers in three markedly different campaigns. The first troops arrived in German South West Africa in 1914, and the majority remained until the end of hostilities in 1915. This was followed by the posting of two expeditionary forces to Europe and East Africa in that year. The different geographical locations of these three campaigns also meant varying climates, environment, food, clothing, types of warfare and, also, the contracting of different diseases and the inflicting of wounds. All of these factors had a differing bodily and mental impact. Furthermore, enlistment experiences changed men’s bodies and minds enduringly, for even after the cessation of hostilities, many men were never the same. The extent to which men’s bodies were altered depended at times on their physical state upon enlistment. The state’s ideal of “fit”, “able bodied”, and “healthy” depended on a set of schedules determining recruitment requirements and was also mirrored in the post-war years as these criteria came to determine men’s economic standing. Accordingly, this thesis will explore the impact of the war on men’s bodies and minds by considering their condition upon enlistment, and their state during the war years as well as during the post-war era. These different phases were reflected in the altered identity of men from ‘fit for duty’, to ‘servicemen’ and, lastly, to ‘ex-servicemen.’ The experiences of these men, changed by war, form the focus of this thesis.

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