Southern African Collections : Chief Malaboch

Beale, Ernest Dugmore (colonial administrator)

Southern African Collections

<p style='text-align: justify;'>82 x 120 mm. A photograph by E. Beale showing the aged Chief Malaboch wearing a European overcoat and hat and seated in front of a thatched hut. A woman, possibly a wife, is seated beside him. A note on the reverse of the print, in Mrs. de Kock's hand reads in part: 'Chief Malaboch (over 86? [in fact, about 92 in 1936]) Blauwerg Mts near Zoutpansberg/Louis Trichardt. Transvaal ... Still flew the Union Jack in 1936 on the Kopje on which he has his Kraal. Withstood a long siege against the Dutch. His taunting reply to 'who lived there' was 'Jacob, drie vrav ma saiter hinder.' Loyal to the British through Matabele and Boer Wars. Knew members of Pioneer Column.' <p style='text-align: justify;'>Kgalusi Sakete Malaboch (1844-1939) was Chief of the Gananwa, a position he assumed in 1879. He is most noted for his opposition to the Transvaal Republic in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. In the 1890s he opposed the collection of hut tax by the authorities and when a force was sent against him, retreated to the mountains. He was captured in 1894 and transferred to prison in Pretoria where he remained until released by the British in 1900.</p></p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Ernest Dugmore Beale (1882-1943) was an amateur photographer. He served as the Chief Magistrate and Native Commissioner of north-east Transvaal in 1936.</p>