Slavery in South Africa existed from 1653 in theDutch Cape Colony until the abolition of slavery in the BritishCape Colony on 1 January 1834. This followed the Britishbanning the trade of slaves between colonies in 1807, with theiremancipation by 1834. Beyond legal abolition, slavery continued in theBoer republics, particularly theSouth African Republic (Transvaal) through the system ofinboekstelsel[1] after theGreat Trek.
In 1652,Jan van Riebeeck set up a refreshment station for ships bound to theDutch East Indies in what is nowCape Town.[2] After failing to obtain cattle and local people willing to work by negotiating with them, Van Riebeeck introduced slavery in theDutch Cape Colony.[3] The first slave, Abraham van Batavia, arrived in 1653 ("van Batavia" meaning "fromBatavia", the name ofJakarta during theDutch colonial period), and shortly afterward, a slaving voyage was undertaken from the Cape toMauritius andMadagascar.[2]
In April 1657, there were ten slaves in the settlement, from a population of 144. That increased greatly the next year, when the Dutch captured a Portuguese slaver with 500 Angolan slaves, and 250 were taken to the Cape.[4] Two months later, a further 228 slaves arrived from Guinea.[4] The process was enhanced whensettler colonialism commenced when formerDutch East India Company officials were granted land lots. The agricultural settlements of theBoers economically dislocated the pastoralKhoekhoe inTable Bay, who were forced to serve as servants due to their loss ofgrazing land. The Dutch colonists additionally imported slaves fromPortuguese Mozambique,Madagascar,Dutch Ceylon andDutch India. Slaves in the Dutch colonies were given poor food, subject to poor living conditions, and punished withwhipping for fleeing or disobeying orders.[3]
Threats to Dutch control of the Cape Colony had emerged in the 18th century, when the Dutch East India Company was weakened during theFourth Anglo-Dutch War. During the 1780s, troops of theFrench Royal Army were stationed in the Cape to prevent invasion byGreat Britain. The Cape was invaded by the British in 1795 during theWar of the First Coalition, and occupied until 1803.[5]
Britain later formally annexed the Cape and later passed theSlave Trade Act 1807. It was enforced from 1808, ending the external slave trade. Slaves were permitted to be traded only within the colony.[2] At the same time,Parliament passed a series of acts known as the amelioration laws designed to provide better living conditions for slaves. These acts allowed slaves to marry, purchase their own freedom, live with their families, and receive a basic education. The acts also limited punishments and work hours, and encouragedmissionaries to convert Africans toChristianity.[3]
The first large wave of British settlers, the1820 Settlers, were not permitted to own slaves.[6]
In 1833, theSlavery Abolition Act receivedRoyal Assent fromKing William IV; which provided a path towards gradual abolition of slavery within most parts of theBritish Empire. It was reported that there were 38,427 slaves in theCape of Good Hope in 1833, many fewer than inJamaica,Barbados or Mauritius.[citation needed] On 1 August 1834, all slaves held in the Cape Colony of the British Empire were emancipated, but they were indentured to their former owners in anapprenticeship system which was abolished in two stages; the first set of apprenticeships came to an end on 1 August 1838, while the final apprenticeships were scheduled to cease on 1 August 1840, six years after the official emancipation.[citation needed] Slavery persisted for decades longer in the Boer republics by means of Inboekstelsel. These republics were incorporated into the British Empire in 1902 after theSecond Boer War.
In the Cape, Van Riebeeck first attempted to get cattle and labour through negotiation, but as soon as these negotiations broke down slavery was implemented.
