Chief Kausobson Kausob is killed

The chief of a group of San that inhabited the area between the Modder, Riet and Vaal Rivers early in the nineteenth century, Kausobson Kausob, was killed in battle near Slypklip on the Vaal River. According to the anthropologist Stow, his headquarters were beyond the Koedoesberg along the Riet River, southwest of Kimberley, although Kausob himself cited the farm Soutpan as his home. In 1854 Kausob sold the land in his reserve to farmers in exchange for amongst other things, brandy and gunpowder. However, it was alleged that this happened under pressure from the Whites and Kausob's relative Decoie (Danzer), a chief of mixed San and Korana descent. He therefore lodged complaints in this regard with the government of the Orange Free State Republic. In May and June 1958 Kausob launched a number of attacks on Whites in the area, killing or wounding several men and ill-treating or abducting women and children, while farms were burnt and cattle raided by his group of about 300. On this day a commando of 400, consisting of 240 White burghers, some Mfengu and Danzer's people, surrounded Kausob's followers near Slypklip and forced them to surrender after a battle of three hours. Kausob, his brother Klaas and 129 of his followers, consisting of San, Khoi-Khoi, Korana and Grigua, were killed in the battle. Forty-three men and fifty women were captured.