Shades

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Rinderpest strikes the Eastern Cape and the mission. The government announces that soon all the roads will be closed. Victor and Crispin have to leave quickly to go to Johannesburg and Grahamstown respectively.

Benedict and Mzantzi go with them by wagon to bring back supplies from King William's Town — and are humiliated into being dipped as if they were animals.

The period from 1890 through to about 1903 was a time of excruciating drought in the Eastern Cape — certainly the worst drought in more than 60 years.

At the peak of this drought, the rinderpest broke out. This was a deadly sickness which struck ruminants, especially cattle.

The rinderpest decimated the herds of cattle in the Eastern Cape, triggering an intense campaign of quarantine and inoculation.

Because the Whites and the missionaries tended to respond more quickly to a government call for quarantine than did the amaXhosa, their cattle tended to survive the inoculation.

It is natural, therefore, that the amaXhosa became deeply suspicious. Many believed that the rinderpest was merely the Whites' deliberate attempt to destroy the Black people's herds.

Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?

Read the notes in the left column before answering the questions below:

"Benedict Matiwane had been reborn at the rinderpest dip. Baptised — not by fire — but by water and carbolic."

• Comment on the irony of this statement and what it means to Benedict. (6)

[Need help?]

This is, of course, clearly a reference to the Biblical rebirth by "fire and the Holy Spirit". In this case, however, Benedict suddenly comes to realise that he would never be recognised as an equal to Whites, no matter how well educated he is. It therefore becomes a turning point in his life. He starts to question even his status at the mission — and enters into the realm of politics by writing articles for the local Black newspapers based at East London and King William's Town

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What tendencies did the dip overseer exhibit? Explain your answer.

A. Colonialist tendencies;

B. Racist tendencies. (4)

[Need help?]

The overseer was certainly not a true colonialist. He could not in any way perceive the possibility that Black people could be his equal. Yes, he was certainly a racist. He despised all Black people, especially those who appeared better educated than he.

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Examine the difference between Victor and Crispin's reactions to the overseer's boorish behaviour. (6)

[Need help?]

Victor wished to avoid conflict with authorities at all costs whereas Crispin was prepared to stand up for the rights of the innocent. Be able to explain by their actions how each of these statements is true.

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