It took 157 years to come to this.
Sir Harry Smith as British governor of the Cape Colony between 1848 and 1854 he did some serious damage to the cause of the indigenous people of the Eastern Cape and the Free State. He was the one who stole a large chunk of Basotho King Moshoeshoe’s land north of the Caledon River and gave it to the Boers. So what was Smith’s reward for this treachery? Well, the Free State town of Harrismith was named after him, the Eastern Cape town of Aliwal North was named after the battle had fought in India and the KwaZulu-Natal town of Ladysmith were both named after his wife. Not bad for one British Imperialist.
One of South Africa’s proudest military generals, most cunning politicians and best strategies hails from that very area and she only has submarine named after her - one that is stuck in the dry docks of Simon’s Town.Her name was Chief Mantatisi, mother of Sekonyela. She was born in 1781 in the Wilge River valley where Harrismith is today and, given the name Monyalue. Her father was Mothaha, chief of the neighbouring Batlokoa, the Wild Cat people, and after the birth of their first child in 1801, Nthatisi , she was called Mantatisi. Their son, Sekonyela was born three years later.
Mokotjo died when Sekonyela was only nine and the boy was clearly not fit to take over as chief of the clan. So his mother fought off all rivals and stepped firmly into her dead husband’s shoes as chief at the age of 32. But from 1882 onwards her life was turned upside down. Following social upheavals near the east coast, Matiwane led Ngwane clan into battle with the amaHlubi of chief Mapangazitha, who fell upon the Batlokoa ferociously.
And so Mantatisi’s life as a warrior chief and military general started. She led her people in a wild scramble all over central South Africa to avoid being devoured like many smaller clans at the time. She conquered all those who threatened the clan’s existence.
So feared, that all marauding forces all over the subcontinent were called “Mantatees”. Fearful and insecure men told the story that she breastfed her troops herself and commanded millions of bees, which she send ahead of her troops to soften their targets. She had a hunchback and only one eye in the middle of her forehead, the men said.The truth was that she was exceptionally beautiful, with a regal posture and was a caring mother. But she was the last strong women to be demonised by weak men.
So finally the government has taken a step towards the future by changing the name of the towns in the Free State Province. So they may rightfully rename them.
Call Harrismith, Mantatisi " the queen of bees" & let the people be free.
