History of South Africa podcast
History
About
A series that seeks to tell the story of the South Africa in some depth. Presented by experienced broadcaster/podcaster Des Latham and updated weekly, the episodes will take a listener through the various epochs that have made up the story of South Africa.
Episodes
- Episode 274 - The Pretoria Convention ends the First Anglo-Boer War, Suzerainty Unresolved
The Pretoria Convention ended the First Anglo-Boer War after the British defeat at Majuba. British and Boer leaders negotiated a peace settlement, with the Boers demanding their liberty. This episode details the events of early 1881, focus…
- Episode 273 - The Mountain of Destiny: Majuba and the Birth of a Nation
This episode delves into the Battle of Majuba in February 1881, analyzing its significance as a defining moment for the Afrikaner people and their identity. It covers the strategic context, key figures like General Sir George Pomeroy Colle…
- Episode 272 - The Boers wring Major General Colley’s Column at Laing’s Nek
This episode discusses the Battle of Laing's Nek during the First Boer War, focusing on the impact of weather on military operations and the historical bitterness surrounding the Laing's Nek gravesite. It also mentions a veteran of the war…
- Episode 271 - Basutoland Gun War, Gold Coast and Ottoman Empire
This episode discusses the Basutoland Gun War and the broader context of imperial control in southern Africa, including the British struggle to enforce authority in Basutoland. It also touches on global events, such as European expansion i…
- Episode 270 - Kruger vs Black Michael and Courageous Women at the Battle of Bronkhorstspruit
This episode of History of South Africa podcast discusses the complex relationship between British politics, the Boer Republics, and Irish nationalism, particularly focusing on William Gladstone's role and the lead-up to the First Boer War…
- Episode 269 - Bapedi Chief Sekhukhune’s Cruel Fate and the Afrikaner Paradox
This episode delves into the history of the Bapedi, focusing on their cultural beliefs and the challenges faced by Chief Sekhukhune in his encounters with British and Boer forces. The narrative highlights the strategic importance of his fo…
- Episode 268 - The Theodolite and the Hardepad: Thomas Bain’s Silent Mountain Pass Artisans
This episode of History of South Africa podcast delves into the life and work of Thomas Bain, a significant road engineer in 19th-century South Africa. It highlights his role in building numerous mountain passes and roads, often utilizing…
- Episode 267 - Betrayal at the End: Mnyamana, Cetshwayo’s Dutchman, and the Crushing of the Zulu Kingdom
This episode recounts the experiences of Cornelius Vijn, a Dutch trader who traveled to Zululand in 1879. It details his journey, his goods, and his encounters with King Cetshwayo during a pivotal time in the Anglo-Zulu War.
- Episode 266: The Wakkerstroom Boer-Zulu Alliance and the death of Prince Napoleon
This episode discusses the alliance between the Boers and the Zulu against the British during the Anglo-Zulu War. It also touches upon the death of Prince Napoleon and the early life of Albert Einstein, drawing a parallel with the compass.
- Episode 265 – John Dunn’s MI5 Connection, Gingindlovu, and the Relief of Eshowe
This episode discusses the 1879 invasion of Zululand, detailing British military setbacks and the siege of Eshowe. It covers the movements and leadership of the Zulu forces in the lead-up to the Battle of Gingindlovu.
- Episode 264 - The Forgotten Battle of Khambula (1879): The Turning Point of the Anglo-Zulu War
This episode recounts the 1879 Battle of Khambula, a turning point in the Anglo-Zulu War. It describes the fortified British camp at Khambula hill, its defenses, and the composition of the British forces awaiting the Zulu army.
- Episode 263 - How Black Voters Helped Elect Cecil Rhodes: Kimberley and the Cape Franchise, 1879
This episode of History of South Africa podcast delves into the election of Cecil Rhodes in 1879, focusing on the role of Black voters in Kimberley and the Cape Franchise. It explores the political landscape and personal tragedies that inf…
- Episode 262 - The Battle of Hlobane – Cowardice, Confusion and the Reckoning at Devil’s Pass
In March 1879, Cetshwayo kaMpande sought to negotiate peace with the British, but his emissaries were rejected. The British, believing the messengers were spies, prepared for conflict. This led to the Battle of Hlobane, where Colonel Evely…
- Episode 261 - Zulu War: Ntombe River Massacre & Prince Hamu’s Defection
This episode recounts events from the Zulu War, focusing on the Ntombe River Massacre and related engagements. It details military movements and figures such as Colonel Rowland, Mbilini, and Manyonyoba.
- Episode 260 - Touring South Africa pre-1880, the Tangled Tale of Woolworths and Disraeli Gears
This episode discusses transportation in South Africa before 1880, detailing how ox-wagons, horses, and foot travel shaped early routes and the establishment of towns. It also covers the introduction of the first railway line in 1860 and i…
- -DELETED- Episode 260 - Touring South Africa pre-1880, How Woolworths started and Rowlands Folly
This episode discusses transportation methods in South Africa before 1880, including ox-wagons and horse-drawn vehicles. It examines how these travel methods influenced the development and spacing of towns and settlements across the sub-co…
- Episode 259 - After Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift: Ghost Armies and a Unique Truce During a Savage War
This episode recounts the events and personal experiences following the battles of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift in 1879. It details the confusion and fear among survivors, including a missionary family and other individuals impacted by the…
- Episode 258 - Rorke’s Drift, Part Two: Dabulamanzi’s Gamble and Chard’s Night of Horrors
This episode covers the 1879 Battle of Rorke’s Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War. It focuses on the Zulu attack led by Prince Dabulamanzi and the defense by British and Natal Native Contingent troops.
- Episode 257 - Rorke’s Drift Part I: Defiance, Disobedience and the Aftermath of Isandlwana
This episode covers the lead-up to the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, focusing on the Zulu regiments' defiance of King Cetshwayo's orders to remain in Zululand after the Battle of Isandlwana. It details Cetshwayo's strategic reasons for wanting…
- Episode 256 - The Lightning of Heaven Release Spirits as Rorke’s Drift Comes into Play
This episode discusses Lord Chelmsford's return to Isandlwana after the battle in January 1879 and the British soldiers' discovery of the aftermath. It also explores Zulu traditional beliefs and practices concerning the deceased after batt…
- Episode 255 - A Partial Eclipse of the Sun Spreads a Dark Veil Over Bloody Isandlwana
A Zulu army advances on the British at Isandlwana. Zulu regiments disregard initial plans and spiritual beliefs, breaking ranks to attack. Zulu commanders attempt to re-organize their forces.
- Episode 254 - Skop, Skiet and Donner on the Day of the Dead Moon
In January 1879, Colonel Charles Pearson's British forces advanced into Zululand, unaware of the 6,000 Zulu warriors awaiting them. This episode details the clash at the Nyezane River, where Zulu tactics shattered British expectations.
- Episode 253 - The order of Battle Before Isandlwana and Nyezane and ‘ukhuni’ Wood Heads North
This episode focuses on the order of battle before Isandlwana and Nyezane in 1879. It describes the movements of three British columns within Zululand and the simultaneous march of Zulu forces, detailing the commanders and regiments involv…
- Episode 252 — Chelmsford’s Fatal Confidence: The Day Before Isandlwana
This episode, set on January 19th, 1879, details events leading up to the Battle of Isandlwana. It focuses on Lord Chelmsford’s strategies and his interactions with Henry Francis Fynn Junior, covering Chelmsford’s troop movements and his i…
- Episode 251 - The Grey Vultures of Ondini Gather Before a March to Isandhlwana where Pride Met Prophecy
This episode discusses the British Invasion of Zululand in January 1879, detailing King Cetshwayo kaMpande's war preparations and the Zulu army's advance. It highlights the leadership dynamics within both the British and Zulu forces during…
- Episode 250 - Nqutu's Rocky Mountains: British officers bicker then Zulu Snipers target an entomologist hunting beetles
This episode describes the British column's entry into Zululand, led by Lieutenant Colonel Glyn, and the tensions that arose when Lord Chelmsford took over command. It also mentions a Zulu ambush targeting an entomologist.
- Episode 249 - Three Columns and a Thousand Secrets: Chelmsford’s 1879 Invasion of Zululand
This episode details the events and decisions that led to Chelmsford’s 1879 invasion of Zululand. It covers the British preparations and confidence, the Zulu intelligence network, and the advice given to Chelmsford regarding military tacti…
- Episode 248 - The Eagle and Four Hawks: The Making of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879
This episode discusses the lead-up to the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, examining the ultimatum issued by Sir Bartle Frere to Cetshwayo kaMpande. It also covers territorial disputes between the Zulu, Boers, and Swazi, and the roles of figures su…
- Episode 247 - A Ball of Sand Fallacy and Frere Demonizes Cetshwayo
This episode explores the historical tensions between the Zulu kingdom and the Transvaal. It examines the role of British Governor Sir Bartle Frere and Sir Theophilus Shepstone in the escalating conflict, and the diplomatic shifts that imp…
- Episode 246 - Black Bricks, Armed Maids, and the Bloody Marriage of the Ngcugce
This episode discusses Zulu King Cetshwayo kaMpande in 1878, focusing on his royal residence Ondini, built with black sun-dried bricks, and his armed female guards. It also touches on the influence of Cape Governor Sir Bartle Frere in Sout…
- Episode 245 - Sir Bartle Frere’s Excellent Adventure: A Gentleman’s Guide to Igniting Wars
Sir Bartle Frere arrived in South Africa in 1877, tasked with enforcing confederation. His background in India influenced his perceptions of the South African communities. His tenure saw the annexation of the Transvaal and the start of the…
- Episode 244 - Twitters' Transvaal Annexation, Rider Haggard’s Role and Railways
This episode discusses the 1877 Transvaal Annexation, featuring H. Rider Haggard, author of "King Solomon's Mines." It examines his literary impact, including the creation of Allan Quartermain, and the political tensions leading to the ann…
- Episode 243 - Guns, Germans and Steal: The Pedi War of 1876
This episode covers the Pedi War of 1876, examining the access to firearms by various South African groups and the arms embargo. It details the setup to the conflict between the Pedi under King Sekhukhune I and the Transvaal Republic led b…
- Episode 242 - Merchant Traders, Natal plantations, African farmers and the Harrismith Sour Veld Land Swindler
This episode discusses the agricultural revolution in rural South Africa, the complexities of British imperial trade manipulation, and the resulting societal transformations. It examines how global and local influences intertwined during t…
- Episode 241 - Yankee Babies, Monstrous Cobwebs, the Devil’s Cauldron and Rhodes’ Steam Engine
This episode discusses the historical context of South Africa in the 1870s, focusing on diamond mining, the lead-up to the invasion of Zululand, and the First Anglo-Boer War. It also covers global economic events like the Great Depression…
- Episode 240 - Carnarvon’s Confederation, a Pre-scramble for Africa Geopolitical Mashup & Free State Ships
This episode discusses Lord Carnarvon's attempts to confederate South African colonies and Boer Republics in the 1870s. It examines the geopolitical context, including the Langalibalele Affair, and the opposition from the Boer Republics an…
- Episode 239 - The Central South African Powder Magazine and How Chief Langalibalele Ended up on Robben Island
This episode discusses amaHlubi chief Langalibalele's conflict with the British in 1873. Following a confrontation at Bushman's Pass, martial law was declared, leading to the displacement of the amaHlubi and amaNgwe people. The episode det…
- Episode 238 - ‘Another Little War’ at Bushman’s River Pass and the British Blow up Bits of the Drakensberg
This episode discusses the Langalibalele Rebellion, focusing on the events at Bushman's River Pass and the involvement of key colonial figures such as Lieutenant-Governor Benjamin Chilly Campbell Pine, Theophilus Shepstone, and Bishop John…
- Episode 237 - Going Native, Coconuts, Hindu immigrants and Church and State in Natal
This episode discusses the political figures and power struggles in the Natal region of South Africa, including an examination of individuals such as John X. Merriman and John Molteno. It also touches on the topic of Hindu immigrants in th…
- Episode 236 - The Twelve Apostles, Rhodes buys Roodepoort, Sticky-Fingered Diamond Thieves and a New Pass System
This episode covers the diamond industry in 19th-century Griqualand West, focusing on the development of mining towns and the role of entrepreneurs. It also details the early career of Cecil John Rhodes and his entry into the diamond trade.
- Episode 235 - Cetshwayo Glamped and Crowned, Shepstone Stalled, Masiphula Poisoned
This episode delves into the historical events of 1873 surrounding the succession of Cetshwayo kaMpande to the Zulu kingship. It covers the power struggles, the role of figures like John Dunn, and the geopolitical challenges Cetshwayo face…
- Episode 234: Babbage’s Final Calculation, the Cape Charts Its Own Course, and the End of Mpande’s Reign
This episode discusses the installation of Sir John Molteno as the first Prime Minister of the Cape of Good Hope, the death of Zulu king Mpande kaSenzangakhona, and various global events that occurred between 1871 and 1872.
- Episode 233 - Stafford Parker’s Unique Digger’s Republic and Free State/FNB Links
This episode delves into the historical context of the diamond fields in 1870 South Africa, featuring Stafford Parker's Digger's Republic and the early links to FNB. It covers the political struggles over land ownership involving figures s…
- Episode 232 - Diamond Geology as an Art, Dinosaur Veldskoene and Waterboer’s Claim
This episode of the History of South Africa podcast discusses the diamond rush of 1870, focusing on diamond geology and Waterboer's claim. It describes the influx of diggers to the Vaal River area and the establishment of mining camps.
- Episode 231 - Protestants and Catholics Struggle for Moshoeshoe’s Soul in 1870
In 1870, as King Moshoeshoe neared his end, French missionaries and newspaper editors campaigned to amend the Treaty of Aliwal North. They sought to restore Basotho territory and grazing lands, advocating for Moshoeshoe's claims in London…
- Episode 230 - From Knysna’s Burning Forests to Tolstoy’s War and Peace: The World in 1869
This episode covers global events in 1869, including the devastating Knysna fires in South Africa, the completion of the Suez Canal, and the formation of the National Woman Suffrage Association in the United States. It also touches on tech…
- Episode 229 - Moshoeshoe and the Red Dust: How War and Famine Led to British Rule in Lesotho
This episode details the Boer Basotho War (1865-1868) and its impact on Moshoeshoe I's kingdom, covering demographic shifts, famine, and the eventual British intervention in Lesotho. It examines how drought and conflict, exacerbated by eco…
- Episode 228 - From Skepticism to Stampede: The Diamond Rush Awakens
This episode discusses the awakening of the diamond rush in South Africa, beginning with the 1867 discovery of a stone near Hopetown. It covers the initial disbelief from officials and the historical context of mineral exploration in the r…
- Episode 227 - Diamonds, War, and Destiny: Moshoeshoe, the Boers, and the Stone That Changed South Africa
This episode delves into the events of 1864 in South Africa, focusing on the interactions between Moshoeshoe, the Boers, and British colonial figures. It covers the political landscape surrounding land disputes, treaties such as the Treaty…
- Episode 226 – The Estate Agent of the Transvaal: Paul Kruger, Mokgatle, the amaMfengu Crossing, and the Battle for Land
This episode discusses the historical period in South Africa between 1865 and 1870, focusing on environmental challenges, the annexation of British Kaffraria, and the displacement of the amaMfengu people. It also touches on the political l…