INSIGHT | Name changes must be understood in context of colonial atrocities

It is important to know and understand the historical context of the installation of colonial names in SA to comprehend the fundamental significance of name changes. The conceptual understanding of our history often enables us to know how past historical events shaped the present socioeconomic and political conditions as well the possibilities of the envisaged future. In progressive countries, history is used as a fundamental educational instrument in the intentional construction and the systematic development of patriotic identities and national consciousness.

Hence, I often argue that excellent education is not enough if we do not teach young people the essence of who they are. Today it is easy to reduce the significance of the name changes as a trivial matter because of a lack of understanding of how names such as East London were institutionalised and the price paid by our forebears who found themselves at the coalface of brutal colonial encroachment in SA. In 1811, governor John Cradock instructed the cold-hearted Scottish officer Colonel John Graham to expel amaXhosa from the Zuurveld in the triangle of the Gamtoos River, Graaff-Reinet and the Fish River.

Graham relished the moment. His intention was clear from his words: “To attack the savages in a way which I hope will leave a lasting impression on their memories” (Jeff Peires, 1981). He was true to his word, as he subjected amaXhosa women and children to the first British ethnic cleansing in Africa.

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One can still hear their silent cries from the valleys and mountains of the Zuurveld. Cradock’s decision was anchored on the political and religious justification that the land was occupied by savages perceived as subhumans not worthy to own and to occupy the rich and beautiful Zuurveld region. Hence in the later years, the highly decorated Waterloo veteran Sir Benjamin D’Urban defined amaXhosa as “irreclaimable savages” with no right to own the land. Therefore, it is crucial to understand that the European conquest of SA and renaming of the places was anchored on the fundamentals of the settler doctrine of ethnic cleansing of irredeemable savages to clear the space for the civilised chosen people.

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