On this Day in History 12 november
Learn what happened on this day in history
Sunday, 12 November 1780
Piet Retief was born on this date at Wagenmakers Vallei, now known as Wellington. At the age of 27, he left for Stellenbosch, but eventually settled in Grahamstown, where he acquired his wealth through livestock farming. During this period, many Afrikaners were growing increasingly disgruntled with British rule at the Cape Colony. This led to Retief publishing a manifesto in 1837. In it he listed the grievances of many Afrikaners, grievances which included the low compensation for freed slaves and cattle raids by the Xhosa on the Cape Frontier against which the British government provided no protection or compensation. In what is known as the Great Trek, Retief led a number of other Afrikaans farmers in a migration to the interior of the country, where they could be free from British control. Retief is regarded by many Afrikaners as a hero of Great Trek, and is memorialised for his courage.
Wednesday, 12 November 1930
Political activist and civil rights campaigner Molly Blackburn was born in Port Elizabeth on this day. In 1981 she started her political career by winning the Provincial Council seat of Walmer in Port Elizabeth, for the Progressive Federal Party (PFP). A year later, she became involved in the advice office of the Black Sash, where she learned more about the problems that faced South Africa. The National Party regarded her as a trouble-maker, because of her constant questioning of police actions and the dealings of the Development Board in the upliftment of Black areas in the Port Elizabeth region. Her unselfish life of service to Black communities came to an abrupt end on 28 December, 1985, when a car that was driven by the husband of her close friend, Di Bishop, collided with another car. Blackburn, Brian Bishop and the driver of the other car were killed. Her death stunned people of all races and her funeral was attended by a large group of people.
Wednesday, 12 November 1980
The then Minister of (Black) Education and Training, Dr Ferdinand Hartzenberg, announced that compulsory education for Black children would be introduced in stages, with the first programme beginning near Pretoria. Implementation would start at the beginning of 1981 for children entering Grade 1 in selected schools. The learners would have to continue at school until they passed Std 5 (now Grade 7) or reached the age of sixteen years. About 45 000 children were affected at 201 schools in 38 townships throughout the country. They were to receive books and stationary at a cost of R4,10 per child per year.
Many Black people were opposed to compulsory education because they had expected the government to upgrade the quality of Black education rather than making a system compulsory, a policy which they had rejected over many years. In January 1981, the Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) strongly condemned the move, describing it as a ruse to force Black people to accept a system they had laid down their lives to reject in 1976. The Minister rejected the allegation that compulsory education was being introduced to perpetuate an inferior education and stressed several advantages of the move. Though it was part of the Government’s plan to ease tensions that had caused boycotts and violent unrest in Black schools during much of the previous year, the step led to renewed boycotts and protests against inequalities between education for Blacks and Whites.
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