Hi David,
The more I delve, the more I find, the more I get sidetracked…
In your post of 4 June, you said “Dusty would it not be great for your grandfather and for Mr Luka if we could trace his grave and return his head to its rightful place – what an excellent healing project this will be for all our people! What a great gesture it would be from you to the rest of South Africa if you could play detective and solve this intriguing case!”Well, I’ve started doing some homework, and am very pleased to report that quite substantial work is being done by our Government:
The Northern Cape State of the Environment Report 2004
Human Settlements Specialist Report 5 of 7, indicates that Luka Jantje Stad is to be proposed as a Provincial Heritage Site, with Accessibility rated as DA, TR, PG (Difficult to Access, On Tourist Route, On Private Ground/Permission form Landowner) : See page 19 of 33-page report
Olympic Games Opening Speech, 1 August 2004
‘The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s Museums Directorate will assist the Northern Cape Tourism Authority to develop a historic tourism route in Galeshewe Greater No. 2. In so doing recognition will be given leaders like Chief Galeshewe, Chief Luka Jantjie, Chief Toto and Robert Sobukwe. Research into a tragic and sensitive part of our history will be continued and that is the human remains excavated at Gladstone Cemetery, Transvaal Road and Alexandersfontein. Once this research has been completed these pioneers of Kimberley will be laid to rest with dignity and respect.’ Full Speech
Address of the Premier at the 4th Sitting of the 3rd Democratic Provincial Legislature of the Province of the Northern Cape, 15 February 2007
‘This year we are commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Langeberg Rebellion. We wish to remember this not as a rebellion as captured in the history books, but rather as a war of resistance ….. an act of purpose of a people that was systematically oppressed through legislation and encroachment of their land.The Langeberg War was preceded by a number of other struggles : the Koranna War of resistance in the Upington – Keimoes area of our province, the killing of the cattle of the Batswana people by the Colonial Government, the burning of passes by Kgosi Galeshewe and his subjects, as well as other acts of resistance led by traditional leaders such as Tau-tona Molale son of Kgosi Mankuroane, Kgosi Luka Jantjie and headman Gert Mahura.In April 1897 the Colonial Forces, with far superior weapons, launched a full- scale onslaught against our indigenous people. On 6 April, Kgosi Jantjies’ stad was totally destroyed;
On 7 April 50-60 homesteads belonging to Andries Gasibone were burnt down; On 14 April, Colonial Forces attacked the stad of Kgosi Toto and destroyed 280 huts at Bathlaros.
A number of successive offensives and killings by the Colonial Forces saw the resistance crushed on 3rd August in the Langberg.
Three thousand Batswana people were killed or forced to surrender by this date. Kgosi Toto and Kgosi Galeshewe stood trial and were sent to Robben Island. Kgosi Toto died on Robben Island and Kgosi Galeshewe returned and died in 1927 in Phokwane.
This story typifies how our ancestors were dealt with under colonial oppressors. At a conference for African First Ladies, the first lady of Namibia, Mrs Kovambo Nujoma, said that “Africa is the cradle of humanity, and if humanity forgets its cradle then it deserves to perish. ”
I am confident that by working with all of you we shall ensure that the riches of our traditions, cultures and practices will be preserved and owned by our children.’ Full Speech
The Northern Cape Province Budget Statement 2007/8
‘The mobile museum will be visiting the Kgalagadi area as part of an awareness campaign to make learners and educators aware of the role played by Chiefs Luka Jantje, Galeshewe and Toto and their resistance to colonialism. Archaeological and historical research will be done into the site where Chief Galeshewe was buried as well as the final battlefield in the Gamasep where the abovementioned chiefs fought the colonial forces. An outcome of this research will be the declaration of the site as a provincial or national heritage site by the Provincial heritage unit’. See page 9 of 34-page Budget
So, it appears that the holes on the pages of our history books are slowly being filled.
Now let the healing begin.
Dear Dusty. I have written speeches for politicians for ten years. I was also involved with planning. Speeches are written for publicity occassions and seldom amount to much of substance – they are part of the carnavals of post-modern politics. Such events are designed to leave the populace in awe of ‘great leaders’ and with an understanding that any project is too complicated for ordinary mortals like you and I. Departmental projects have a very short life span, they exist until the next MEC takes office, he or she then sets about destroying everything his or her predecessor set in motion, for fear that the credit will accrue to that person instead of him or herself.
Ker-DWAF.
The bullet hit Dusty right between the eyes.
As her knees buckled, the bewilderment in her eyes faded.
“B-b-b-but David…” she spluttered before hitting the ground
It is politics…Not cricket I am afraid. And, not just South African. Ask JFK he got it in the head also. I will find out which archaeologists are working on the story, I am friends with the secretary to the Northern Cape Executive Council Secretary… I will ask her to get me the details. But what about the poor fellow’s head then?
David, I spoke to two very helpful people at the Cape Town Museum on Friday, who were unfortunately not able to help me. The second person, Mrs S, suggested that I look on the internet. I said that I had, and that ‘Luka Jantje’ only returned a website for Green Kalahari Tourism. Mrs S said, “But didn’t you see this ‘amagama.com’ thing?” When I explained that the ‘amagama.com’ thing was our discussion, it kinda put a damper on the conversation! However, Mrs S did suggest that I call the McGregor Museum in Kimberley, as they might be able to point me in the right direction.
Mrs S also suggested that I try the Cape Town Highlanders directly. I found them at http://www.cthighlanders.co.za (they aren’t in the phone book). I spoke to Major Steenkamp, who told me that as far as he was aware, Jantje’s skull had been brought back to Cape Town, and the chap concerned had been forced to resign from the regiment. There don’t appear to be any more details on the matter, in the documents that he has. Also, Major Steenkamp said that there had been CTH casualties at Gamasiep, so it is likely that those graves are CT Highlanders.
He suggested that I contact Captain Digby, of the Transvaal Scottish, as he is likely to know more. So that will be my second phone call tomorrow.
And remember I said that I was useless at history? Well I’ve done myself proud this time: It was my GRANDfather, and not my GREAT-grandfather, who was involved with this incident. I remembered that he was 64 years old when my dad was born, in 1935. Grandpa Cooke was born in 1871, and was therefore mayor of Pretoria when he was 68. And his name is James Cooke. James JOSEPH Cooke was his father, and James Joseph was the one who died of dysentery after Islandwana. Right. Now that that is sorted out…
interesting.
Dearest Dusty, please correct me if i’m wrong but according to my data base James Joseph Cooke was the Mayor of Pretoria in 1938/39. I have gone through the archives at the Pretoria News and the National Library. James Cooke was his father who died at Islandwana. So that makes James Cooke QC your great grandfather….and JJ Cooke your grandfather and my 2nd great grandfather. All these James’ are so confusing to an already addled brain…
As you can see, I cannot get my head around the sociology paper I am supposed to be working on!
Dusty my dear, you awake yet? I have a letter from Brenda Cooke (daughter of James Joseph and Sarah Agnes) written to my dad stating that the 2nd name Joseph was tacked on when James was confirmed thus it not appearing on his birth cert. He WAS born in 1871 – the same year as the marriage of his parents in Ipswich. Their 1st child Mary Agnes, was born in 1904. Mary died in 1931. He then married Lina in 1932…and had their first child Teresa (who died days later) in 1934.
I’m sure I’m right…I may be blonde but it comes straight out of a bottle!!
Jislaaik woman! You’ve certainly got your Cooke’s in a row – can’t argue with that kind of evidence. Maybe we should get YOU to look for Luka’s head
David, I see you’re still popping in regularly. Shouldn’t you be doing your sociology paper? (Yeah, I know, it’s more fun here, innit!)
Hi Dusty, Nossie and anyone else who is interested. i have reams and reams of letters, and documents I have comme across relating to Luka Jantje in my reading for the SASA conference. I am doing a comparison of SA for the period between 1886 and 1910 and between 1986 and 2010 comparing the gold rush period and the Randlords with the current platinum rush and the Blacklords of the new mining revolution. Luka and his people were rebellious because they did not want to pay taxes, lose their land or work in the mines. reminds me of current communities like those at Maandagshoek who are resisting Anglo. I will pay attention to all this material, the stuff on Jantje, in the first week of July.
David, those ostrich bumps strike again! Do you think you might have just glossed over the info, had we not been having our discussions? It’s kinda like when you buy a new car, then you see them all over the place; when you hadn’t seen any before then. Or maybe there is an afterworld/otherworld, and this is the medium for the message…naah. Don’t buy that stuff.
Well Dusty, I would probably not have noticed the Tswana uprising of 1897 if it wasn’t that you drew my attention to Luka Jantje. Thanks for that. Interestingly, Antonette’s aunt is the secretary to the Provincial Executive Council in Kimberley and I intend mining that source of information for all it is worth.
My name is Michael Searle. My great-grandfather Capt. James Samuel Searle of the Cape Town Highlanders was responsible for the mutilation of the body of Luka Jantje during the Langeberg Campaign of 1897. I believe I know what happened to the skull of Luka Jantje. I do not wish to have contact with anyone who would treat this matter in a trivial way. My family carries the guilt of what was a ghastly and inexcusable act.
Hi Michael. I hope you will be able to read this since I’m responding to something that was written 2 yrs ago. I am Dikare the second commonly known as Tumo Jantjie. Luka Jantjie is my great great grandfather and i was named after his son Dikare. my son is named after Luka. My family will never treat you and your family bad on this matter because none of us was there by then even yourself. I believe that you great grand father was doing whatever he did because of the legislation by then. we are really searching for our grandfather’s body and head. if you stongly feel uncomfortable of saying this please contact the Mcgregor museum beacuse we are doing this together or you can also see my father and get to know him better. maybe this will make it easier for you to help us with the info.
Dear Tumo,
Unfortunately Michael passed away in January this year. I’m sure he would have been very willing to correspond with you.
I am meeting with representatives of the museum soon, and hopefully we will be able to make some progress in resolving this matter.
Thank you for your contribution, I hope we get to meet face to face one day.
please contact me on tumo.jantjie@yahoo.com. I will really apreciate it.
Michael,
Dusty has been doing extensive research on the matter for some time. My part in all of this pertains to my geneology work on our family. We are fully aware of the sensitivity of the matter. I have contacted Dusty and she will, hopefully, reply soon.
Michael, thank you for your input. Please email me so that we can communicate in a less public forum (dustymuff@gmail.com)
Those interested in the history of Luka Jantjie and the Langeberg campaign (who live in the Cape Town area of course…) might like to attend the launch of a new book by Kevin Shillington at the District Six Museum in Cape Town on Tuesday, 20th September at 6pm. That’s tomorrow! Sorry For late notice.
The book is published by Wits University Press and is entitled ‘Luka Jantjie: Resistance Hero of the South African Frontier’. Contact the publishers for more info http://wits press.co.za
All are welcome to the launch event. The author and other historians will be there too.
Hi dusty. Hope u enjoy the launch nd please be strong. Tumo Dikare Jantjie