MADONELA
DONALD STRACHAN: AUTOCRAT OF UMZIMKULU
By
Margaret Rainier
MADONELA is much more than a biography of Donald Strachan but is a carefully researched and grippingly written account of the history of Nomansland – that area of East Griqualand and southern Natal still causing such political uncertainties. Donald Strachan’s remarkable career as a pioneer in the north-eastern Transkei involved him directly in most major events there during the second half of the nineteenth century.
This phase of the South African past still awaits close scrutiny by professional historians. There can however be no doubt that one essential theme emerges from Strachan’s life. It is the age-old quest to establish a balance between order and anarchy, control and freedom, justice and mercy.
Strachan, in his time as trader, farmer, Griqua and colonial magistrate, commander of black and white military forces, Cape parliamentarian and progenitor of an extensive family, dominated a complex community in which other strongly individualistic men co-operated, competed, failed or prospered, and the record of his career bears testimony to his endeavour. He and his elder brother came to Natal in 1850 as children in the Byrne settlement scheme. Orphaned shortly afterwards, they crossed the southern border into Nomansland before the arrival there of the Griqua trekkers under Kaptyn Adam Kok, with whom they were to become closely associated.
Among other contemporaries of theirs in the region were Nehemiah Moshesh (Sekonyana), son of Moshoeshoe the creator of the Basotho nation; Henry Callaway, bishop and medical practitioner; Charles Brownlee, and Walter Stanford his successor as Chief Magistrate of East Griqualand and as Secretary for Native Affairs; Joseph Orpen, Irish-born politician and land surveyor; Abbot Frans Pfanner, founder of the Mariannhill monastic order; Le Fleur the Griqua intriguer; Bhaca, Nthlangwini and Xesibe chieftains; Mqikela the Mpondo paramount, and Mhlangaso his principal rival before the annexation of their country by Great Britain.
This narrative of Strachan’s life, based upon contemporary records, both personal and official, supplemented by oral tradition, does not offer any detailed analysis of general issues dominating the wider scene. Instead it seeks to establish the course of developments, dramatic though now partly forgotten, in which Strachan played an active role, many of which contributed to the evolution of modern South Africa.
Despite her death in March of 2002, the publication of the book has been completed by Margaret’s family and friends but without the final benefit of her vast and detailed knowledge.
v+361 Pages, A5 size, 7 b+w photographs, 1 map, soft cover, with notes, principal sources of information and fully indexed
Madonela –Donald Strachan – Autocrat of Umzimkulu by Margaret Rainier
John Rainier, 14 Bertha Avenue, Claremont, 7708.
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