History Matters Blog :

The Bulhoek massacre takes place in the Eastern Cape

Bulhoek Massacre MemorialBulhoek Massacre Memorial

Date: 24 May, 1921

On 24 May 1921 the Smuts government took action against a black sect, the Israelites, under the leadership of Enoch Mgijima, who squatted at Ntabelanga near Bulhoek in the Queenstown area of the eastern Cape.

The Israelites used to gather in the area to celebrate Passover, but towards the end of 1919 Mgijima declared that he had had a vision that the world would end in 1920. This caused a pilgrimage of his followers from all over South Africa. About 3 000 people arrived at Ntabelanga and proceeded to squat there, they erected a tabernacle and some huts without registering themselves or paying tax. Mgijima was insistent that the end of the world was at hand and that Jehovah had instructed him to remain there.

Whites and blacks in the area protested to government that members of the sect were allowing their cattle to graze on neighboring land and had even started to steal livestock from farmers and other residents of the area. Various attempts in December 1920 by the police, the government and black leaders to persuade the Israelites to move failed to produce results. In response to the growing militancy of the sect a police unit of about 800 men was sent to Bulhoek in May 1921. The police issued an ultimatum demanding that the Israelites evacuate the area and warning that if they failed to comply, their leader would be arrested and their homes demolished. Soon afterwards the Israelites launched an attack armed with clubs, assegais and swords. They were fired upon by the police and more than 180 people were killed and more than 100 were wounded.

* Note: Sources vary on the number of Isrealites that gathered at Ntabelanga and proceeded to squat there, sources also vary on the exact number of victims of the massacre. Therefore all of the numbers in this piece are approximate and based on numerous sources (below).

 

References:

  1. Hermann Giliomee and Bernard Mbenga (2007). New History of South Africa. Tafelberg Publishers, Cape Town, pg 50.
  2. Cameron, T. (ed)(1986). An Illustrated History of South Africa, Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball.
  3. Makobe, D. H. (1996). 'The Bulhoek Massacre: Origins, casualties, reactions and historical distortions', Militaria 26(1), pp. 22-37.
  4. Makobe, D. H. (1996). 'The price of fanaticism: The casualties of the Bulhoek Massacre', Militaria 26(1), pp. 38-41.
  5. Makobe, D. H. (1996). 'Understanding the Bulhoek massacre: Voices after the Massacre and down the years', Militaria 26(2), pp. 98-105
  6. Makobe, D. H. (1996). 'Religious fanatics that became political heroes: The historical distortions of the Bulhoek Massacre", Militaria 26(2), pp. 106-112.
  7. Potgieter D. J. (ed)(1973). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: Nasou.
  8. Saunders, C. (ed)(1989). Reader's Digest Illustrated History of South Africa-The Real Story, Cape Town: Reader's Digest.
  9. Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.