GRADE 10: Transformation in Southern Africa

The Mfecane led to the loss of thousands of lives and destablised the region. Many tribes disbanded and the survivors formed new groups. Many people, like the Ngoni and Hlubi were forced to migrate while the Sotho people reformed to establish the country we know as Lesotho.

Map A: KwaZulu Natal was the part of South Africa that suffered most devastation during the mfecane.
(Source: http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/9905/26/south.africa.01/s.africa.kwazulu.natal.jpg)

The area most affected by the mfecane and Zulu expansion was KwaZulu Natal. Refugee groups fleeing Shaka’s army caused destruction in the area, and this was followed by further devastation by the Zulu warriors. A large part of the population fled to the south and into Pondoland to settle for a while, causing disruption and power struggles in the area. As a result only the Pondo and the Bhaca, which was made up of many other group, remained. After Shaka’s death Nqetu of the Qwabe rebelled against Dingane and also fled to Podoland where he defeated Faku, but was killed by Ncapayi.

The confusion led to many refugees settling among the Xhosa and Thembu as Mfengu along with the remainder of the Ngwani and Hlubi people. As the Mfengu became more independent they resented their obligation to their hosts, leading to more tension between the chiefdoms.

The migrations also resulted in the development of bigger and more centralised kingdoms and states that spread over larger areas. The Zulu kingdom created a sense of unity and identity among people of different tribes. Other kingdoms that came into being include the Swazi, Gaza, the Ndebele that replaced the Rozwi, Ngoni, Kololo and Lesotho. Great numbers of people were displaced and frightened communities left their own areas in places like the Orange Free State, Natal and the Transvaal. The vulnerability of the people that stayed behind caused them to welcome white people as allies against their enemies instead of seeing them as potential enemies that needed resisting. These areas offered space for white settlement when the dissatisfaction with British rule at the Cape and the desire for self -government inspired an emigration of white frontier framers away from the Colony, leading to the Great Trek.

Outcomes: Learners are able to use skills and knowledge to construct knowledge in the form of an historical argument and communicate it through writing. Identify perspectives and points of view in historical sources of information.

Activity 5

GRADE LEVEL	THEME	TOPIC	DURATION
10	SOUTH AFRICAN HISTORY	TRANSFORMATIONS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA: MIGRATIONS AND MOVEMENTS FROM THE EARLY TO THE MID-19TH CENTURY	x LESSONS