Die geskiedenis van die Berlynse Sendinggenootskap in Transvaal, 1860-1900

Abstract

English: The object of this dissertation was to investigate the history of the Berlin Missionary Society in the Transvaal from 1860-1900. However, in order to provide a complete picture of the activities of the Berlin Missionary Society in the Transvaal it was also necessary to give attention to the development, administration and organisation of the Society in Germany, as well as in the Transvaal. As the success of the Society was to a great extent dependent on the attitude of the government in the Transvaal, its relationship with the authorities was also scrutinised. Likewise a section on the contacts between the Berlin Missionary Society and other Missionary Societies in the Transvaal is also included. The dissertation is based on extensive research of both primary and secondary sources. The material was systematically gathered and thematically divided into ten chapters. Apart from the sources consulted in the State Archives in Pretoria, valuable information was obtained in the archives of the Berlin Missionary Society in East Berlin. Locally extensive collections of documents at the mission stations Bothsabelo and Edendale were consulted. The Berlin Missionary Society originally wanted to undertake mission work among the Swazi, but as the Revs. Merensky and Gri.itzner were refused permission by the Swazis to establish a mission station, the Society, with the approval of the South African Republic, established a station at Gerlachshoop among the Bakopa tribe in July 1860. In 1861 the work of the Berlin Missionary Society in the Transvaal received a significant impetus when it extended its activities to include the Bapedi. Between 1861 and 1864 three mission stations, the most important being Kchalatlolu, were established among the Bapedi. Although the mission progressed favourably, all three mission stations had to be abandoned in 1866 when the Bapedi chief Sekhukhune adopted an antagonistic attitude towards mission work. New avenues in which to continue their mission however eventually arose so that despite initial reverses the Berlin Missionary Society decided to retain the Transvaal as a permanent mission field. Mission stations were established under the Bantu chiefs Matlala, Mankoapane, Malaboch, Kgolokoe, Tshivase, Madzivhandila, Makoarela, Modjadji, Jan Kekana, and Andries Maubane. In addition, mission stations were established at various towns in the Transvaal, such as Heidelberg, Johannesburg, Potchefstroom, Pretoria, Pietersburg, Lydenburg, Middelburg and Ermelo. During the 40 years considered in this dissertation the Berlin Missionary Society achieved considerable success in its pastoral work. In 1860 there was one mission station with only two missionaries and one baptised Bantu member, as against the 30 mission stations, 105 outposts and 36 full-time missionaries in 1900. At the latter date there were also over 20 000 baptised Bantu members. In this dissertation the following conclusions were arrived at: The Berlin missionaries considered their primary task to be the christianisation and education of the Bantu to become civilised and useful citizens of the state in which they lived. Consequently the Berlin missionaries enjoyed to a great degree the respect and esteem of the South African Republic and its inhabitants. In almost direct contrast to the London Missionary Society, the Berlin missionaries, with the exception of the Rev. Merensky, never became involved in the political affairs of the South African Republic. Although Merensky's activities during the annexation of the Transvaal in 1877 antagonised the Boers, there is nevertheless unambiguous evidence that the Committee of the Berlin Missionary Society in Germany condemned his actions. Furthermore, it was ascertained that the Berlin missionaries sincerely strove to community. Their attempts in this connection were, however, never characterised by a meddlesome philanthropism, but rather by a just and worthy attitude towards all population groups. Indirectly the Berlin missionaries assisted the South African Republic in establishing its authority over recalcitrant Bantu tribes. Because the Berlin missionaries enjoyed the confidence of most of the Bantu chiefs they were used as informants and intermediaries between the government and the respective Bantu chiefs. Their mission work enabled the Berlin missionaries to acquire an intimate knowledge of the Bantu, and they have made a valuable contribution to our knowledge of early Bantu history. Similarly, by means of their knowledge of the Bantu languages the missionaries enriched the Bantu's own cultural and national life. In conclusion, it can be unequivocally stated that the Berlin missionaries played a positive and significant role in the history of the Transvaal, and although they were seldom in the forefront of affairs, their contribution is undoubtedly worthy of attention. promote good race relations in the Transvaal. In this respect they stressed co-operation between white and non-white, and saw such co-operation as the basis for a progressive