The Natives Land Act of 1913 was passed on this day. 7% of arable land was allocated to Black people, the rest was allocated to white people.

The Free State had already implemented this Act by 1876. But at the time the 4 provinces that made up the Union of South Africa were separate territories (countries if you will).

When they unified after the Anglo-Boer War the Transvaal and Natal then implemented this law in the spirit of white unity. The reconciliation rhetoric of the early 1900s is very similar to the one 30 years ago that led to the first democratic elections etc.

The Currie Cup? That rugby tournament was formed as a reconciliation tool post the Anglo Boer war. Rugby as a nation building tool is not knew. And it's probably why it was as effective as it was 25 years ago (World Cup)

It was a bit tricky for the Cape to implement this law because Black men had the franchise because they owned property & at the time the Black vote was useful to liberal politicians well, up until WB Rubusana ran for elections for a seat in the Cape Provincial Council & won.

But in the end the Cape obviously followed suit within the first two decades and especially after the franchise was taken away from black men and given to white women whose fight for suffrage hinged on black men losing theirs.

Also: Sol Plaatje died this day in 1932 almost 20 years after the act was passed. Native Life in South Africa reads: “Awaking on Friday morning, June 20, 1913, the South African native found himself, not actually a slave, but a pariah in the land of his birth.”

There are many laws prior to this Act that led to this moment. The one we tend to talk about a lot lately especially since RMF is the Glen Gray Act of the Cape Colony which was passed by Cecil John Rhodes it imposed labor tax Black people for owning land.

This meant black men, in particular would be forced to work on mines in order to be able to afford that tax. And of course who's a mining magnate other than Cecil himself? Other provinces like Transvaal had the Asiatic Laws that made provision for creation of Indian townships.

Glen Gray Act (1876). Asiatic Laws (1885).

The most disappointing thing about this history is how it never dissects the ways black women were affected by this act and the ways black women organized in the fight for land.

For example Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's grandmother was affected by these land laws which preceded the Natives Land Act when she lost land emampondweni.

The aim of the Land Act like all other racist laws is to restrict Black people's movements. That the archives don't draw connections with the anti-pass campaign organized & led by Black women namely Charlotte Maxeke exposes agenda to exclude black women from this history.