The visiting Dutch commissioner, Hendrik Adriaan van Reede (Rheede), gave several instructions to Governor Simon van der Stel regarding slaves at the Cape. Housing and clothing were improved and regulations concerning schooling were issued, e.g. slave children were to be taught by their own teachers. All children under twelve in the slave lode received schooling. He further specified that male slaves could buy their freedom for 100 guilders on reaching the age of twenty-five, provided that they could speak Dutch and had been confirmed in the Dutch Reformed Church. The same conditions applied to females at the age of twenty-two years. Marriages between Dutchmen and emancipated female slaves, which had occurred in the past, were prohibited, except when the female slaves had Dutch fathers.

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Source(s):

Book(s):

Muller, C.F.J. (ed)(1981). Five Hundred years: a history of South Africa; 3rd rev. ed., Pretoria: Academica, p. 42;

Reader's Digest. (1988). Illustrated History of South Africa: the real story, New York: Reader's Digest Association, p. 50;

Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.

http://www.iziko.org.za/sh/resources/slavery/slavelodge_life.html