THE DUTCH SETTLEMENT AT THE CAPE 1652
The Dutch or Boers were the first visitors from Holland (Netherlands) and firstly settled at the cape in Table Bay in April 1652 under the leadership of Jan Van Riebeek.
Dutch farmers called themselves - “BOERS” which means the whie farmers. When they settled at the cape they called themselves by the name of Afrikaners that meant the “whites of Africa” who developed language known as Afrikaans.
Dutch had a company known as United Dutch East India company (UDEIC).
The company had trade with India and other Arabs in Asia
At the cape they grew vegetables, fruits and kept animals such as cattle.
They had barter trade with Khoikhoi exchanging tobacco and alcohol for the cattle.
REASONS FOR DUTCH SETTLEMENT AT THE CAPE
1. Good geographical location: The cape was a good place where ships could stop to be refueled.
2. Presence of good climate: The cape had a good climate to support settlement of the whites. (Temperate and cool climate).
3. Presence of fertile soils: The Dutch wanted to produce vegetable and fruits for the ships which sailed to India.
4. Availability of fresh water: The cape could provide fresh water for the sailors.
5. Availability of natural habour: The cape could be a base of projecting their ships on Atlantic and Indian Ocean.
6. Good hospitality of the local people
7. A center for caring sick people.
EFFECTS/IMPACTS OF DUTCH SETTLEMENT AT THE CAPE
1. Introduction of land alienation: They took land from Khoikhoi and Xhosa.
2. Introduction of cattle confiscation
3. Introduction of slave trade and slavery: They turned the Khoikhoi into slaves to work for them in farms.
4. Introduction of apartheid policy: Dutch settlement led to the introduction of apartheid e.g. Khoikhoi could not get quality education, health services and shelters like the Dutch.
5. It brought intensive exploitation of African resources: due to unequal exchange led to exploitation of South African resources.
6. It has led to destruction of African culture: Intermarriage which led to Mullato population.
7. It has led to the destruction of indigeneous freedom: Political structure of the Khoikhoi was destroyed.
