Traditionalists, traitors and sell-outs : the roles and motives of ‘amaqaba’, ‘abangcatshi’ and ‘abathengisi’ in the Pondoland Revolt of 1960 to 1961

Abstract

South African society was in a state of flux by the early 1960s. The main reason for this state of affairs was that the National Party government had, for the last decade or so, plied social engineering at degrees previously unheard of in the history of the country with a view to consolidating apartheid at all levels and in all spheres of South African life. As a result tensions flared and reached breaking point in urban and rural areas alike within a matter of months. In some cases these situations escalated into fully fledged uprisings; most of which ultimately were put down in a heavy handed manner by the apparatus of state. This study busies itself with an uprising that may well be described as the apex of resistance in the South African countryside during the period mentioned, for it not only stood out due to its intensity, but also for the remarkable levels of its organization and for the length of its duration. What is more, if secondary sources are to be believed, it galvanized the struggle movement in its decision to take up arms a year or so later. By looking at a vast array of primary and secondary source documents an attempt is made at: (1) critically weighing up what has been written about the revolt that took place in Eastern Pondoland in 1960 and 1961; (2) describing the situation in the area immediately prior to it taking place; (3) analyzing the causes thereof; (4) describing the course of events that constituted the revolt; and (5) attempting to establish the class positions of a sample of people resident at the epicenter of the revolt, who were directly affected by it. Due to its scope this study is by no means meant to be exhaustive. It is merely intended to contribute to the existing literature as an exploratory inquiry into the focus areas listed above.