Mr. WILLIAM KUTU, of Beaconsfield, Kimberley, was born in the Cape Province. He went to Kimberley with his parents where they have lived ever since. He is an influential man in Beaconsfield and takes a prominent part in public and political affairs of that town. Is a transport contractor. Is vice-president of the African National Congress in the Griqualand West and Bechuanaland Province. Mr. Kutu is a sportsman and a fine cricketer. Has been elected delegate to various conferences on several occasions.

Mrs. M. KONDILE, of Boksburg, near Johannesburg, was born in the Cape Province. She is one of the foundation members of the Women’s Section of the African National Congress. She was a prominent member of the Women’s League and is one of the best women organisers in the Transvaal. At one time she was in charge of a grocery store and news agency. A real lover of her people, and is highly respected by the residents of Boksburg.

The man behind “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika”

The origins of Enoch Sontonga and the song he wrote, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika are humble and rather obscure.

Enoch Sontonga, from the Mpinga clan, of the Xhosa nation, was born in the Eastern Cape in about 1873. It is believed that he received training as a teacher at Lovedale Institution and was then sent to a Methodist Mission school in Nancefield, near Johannnesburg. He was also a choirmaster and a photographer. He married Diana Mgqibisa, the daughter of a prominent minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She died in 1929, in Johannesburg.

Sontonga died at the age of 32. The sources differ about the year of his death, ranging from 1897 to 1904. It has sincebeen established that he died on 18 April 1905.

Enoch Mankayi Sontonga wrote the first verse and chorus and also composed the music in 1897. It was first sung in public in 1899 at the ordination of Rev Boweni, a Shangaan Methodist Minister.

Sontonga’s choir as well as other choirs sang this song around Johannesburg and Natal. This song made a strong impression on all audiences. On 8 January 1912, at the first meeting of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), the forerunner of the African National Congress, it was immediately sung after the closing prayer. In 1925 the ANC officially adopted it as a closing anthem for its meetings.

The song spread beyond the borders of South Africa and has been translated and adapted into a number of other languages. It is still the national anthem of Tanzania and Zambia and has also been sung in Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa for many years. In 1994 it became part of South Africa’s national anthem.

[1] Jabavu, D.D.T. 1934, Introduction: Sontonga, E. Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika Lovedale Sol-fa Leaflets No 17 , Lovedale Press.

Nkosi Sikekel’ was first recorded on 16 October 1923 by Solomon T. Plaatje accompanied by Sylvia Colenso on the piano. A well known Xhosa poet, S.E.K. Mqhayi, wrote a further seven verses. In 1927 the Lovedale Press, in the Eastern Cape, published all the verses in a pamphlet form. [1] It was included in the Presbyterian Xhosa hymn book, Ingwade Yama-culo Ase-rabe in 1929.

It was also published in a newspaper, Umtetela Wa Bantu on 11 June 1927 and in a Xhosa poetry book for schools.

In 1994 the National Monuments Council became aware that Sontonga was possibly buried in the historical Braamfontein Cemetery in Johannesburg.

The purpose of locating the grave was to have it declared as a national monument, which is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a site of such historical and cultural significance. Over the years, several unsuccessful attempts had been made to locate Sontonga’s grave in Braamfontein cemetery. However, it was not until Hal Shaper of Cape Town prompted the cemetery officials to look for an entry in the burial register under Enoch, rather than Sontonga, and to look at burial records for 1905, that success was achieved.

[2] Imvo Zabantsundu, June 27, 1905 . Reference found during a search for the death notice by G.M. Walker.

The register at Braamfontein lists the date of burial as 19 April 1905 in Plot No 4885. Confirmation that this is indeed the grave of Enoch Sontonga was subsequently found in a notice in the newspaper, Imvo Zabanstundu [2], which stated that Enoch Sontonga had died unexpectedly on 18 April 1905 in Johannesburg. The newspaper report also noted that he was born in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape and that he had one son.

To establish exactly where Plot No 4885 was, became a major undertaking. The search was complicated by the fact that during the early 1960s that particular section of the cemetery, comprising 10 acres, was levelled and landscaped. Mr Alan Buff, Regional Manager (Parks and Cemeteries) of the GJTMC, did detailed research on the existing records that took over a year to complete. He studied the site plan for a proposed park in 1960, the burial concept plan of 1898, an area site plan of 1909, infra-red burial plan of 1969 and the aerial photograph of 1938 and merged all the information gathered to identify the area in which the grave was located.

Identification of the grave itself was part of a second stage in which Professor Tom Huffman of the Department of Archaeology at the University of the Witwatersrand was contracted to do a shallow archaeological excavation to confirm the burial spacing. Finally, from the interpolation of all the data, a site plan was drawn identifying the plot considered to be the grave of Enoch Sontonga.

On 24 September 1996, Heritage Day, the grave of Enoch Sontonga, who wrote the song that has over the years brought comfort and joy to millions of people, was declared a national monument and a fitting memorial, erected on the site, was unveiled by President Nelson Mandela.

At the ceremony the Order of Meritorious Service (Gold) was bestowed on Enoch Sontonga posthumously. His granddaughter, Mrs Ida Rabotape received it.

The programme included praise poetry and a narration that told something of this man, who wrote a song almost 100 years ago that, unbeknown to him, became one of peace and healing for the Rainbow Nation of South Africa.

With kind permission from Geneveve Walker (National Monuments Council)

Enoch Sontonga

Photo courtesy of the Amathole Museum, King William’s Town

Source: SESA (Standard Encyclopedia of Southern Africa)

Source: SESA (Standard Encyclopedia of Southern Africa)

Mrs. M. BOBOJANE, of Boksburg, who is a younger sister of Mrs. M. Kondile, was born in the Cape Province. Like her sister, she was a foundation member of the Women’s Section of the African National Congress. She did much work in organising the women in the Transvaal. Was a delegate to many conferences of the African National Congress. She is very prominent among the residents of Boksburg.

Mrs. M. N. BHOLA, of Capetown, is organiser of the African National Congress (Women’s Section). She has toured the greater part of the Union of South Africa with Professor J. Thaele. Was the first African women to be prosecuted under Section 29 of the Native Administration Act of 1927. Now Chairman of the African National Congress (Women’s Section in the Western Province).

Mrs. M. N. BHOLA, of Capetown, is organiser of the African National Congress (Women’s Section). She has toured the greater part of the Union of South Africa with Professor J. Thaele. Was the first African women to be prosecuted under Section 29 of the Native Administration Act of 1927. Now Chairman of the African National Congress (Women’s Section in the Western Province).

Mr. TWAAYI. Owner of one of the leading boarding-houses in Bloemfontein. Also owner of cabs. A successful insurance agent. An upright gentleman and was one of the pillars of the Temperance Society. At one time was Treasurer-General of the African National Congress. Mr. Twaayi was a man of his word and practised exactly what he preached. Took a keen interest in the welfare of his people. Advocated self-help. Was married and died about 1923. Wife and son still carrying on his business.

Mrs. A. TEMBA is a Mokhatla by birth. She was born, educated and married in the Transvaal. She was a woman of character and did much to help her people. Took a keen interest in the political and social life of the Africans. She was one of the women who were elected by the African National Congress to be arrested by the police during the Women’s Pass Test Case. Later she was appointed president of the Women’s Section of the African National Congress. Mrs. Temba died in Johannesburg in 1928.

CHIEF KGORI KGAMANYANE PILANE, son of the Bakgatla Chief, Kgamanyane, son of Pilane, after whom the Pilansberg, in Rustenburg District, was called, was. the younger brother of the late Paramount Chief Lenchue Pilane of the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela section whose capital is Mochudi in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, where they settled in 1870, leaving about half the tribe at Pilansberg in the Transvaal. Chief K. K. Pilane was, for many years, treasurer of the Transvaal African Congress, and later Treasurer-General of the African National Congress. He played a very important part in the affairs of the Africans.

Chief Pilane was also a dealer in hides and skins and soft goods in the Rustenburg District. He had many friends among Europeans in the Transvaal, Bechuanaland and Rhodesia. Was a patriot, a friend of his people, a loyal and honest officer of the greatest Non-European political organisation in South Africa. Though he had much influence over his people he certainly was not a speaker. He died in Rustenburg on the 8th September, 1930, at the age of 59 years, and his body was taken to Saulspoort where it was buried. Had one son who is a clerk at Red Hill, Natal. Chief Pilane was very fond of hunting and was one of the best marksmen of his tribe.

Rev. HENRY REED NGCAYIYA, Born in 1860 in the district of Fort, Beaufort, Cape Province. Educated at Healdtown Institution where he passed the Teachers’ Examination. Became schoolmaster, but after some years, he resigned and became interpreter in the Aliwal North Magistrate’s Office. About this time Rev. Nehemiah Tile, head of the Tembu Church, and Rev. Mangena M. Mokone, founder of the Ethiopian Church, were busy in the Cape Province uniting the two churches. A call was made for young men to join the ministry of the United Church, Rev. Henry Reed Ngcaviya being among the first to answer the call. After some time he was ordained by Bishop Turner who came from America to complete the union between the United Churches and the A.M.E. Church.  This union, however, soon broke into three sections, the main body remaining with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. One section followed Rev. Dwane and became the Ethiopian Order under the Church of England. Rev. Henry Reed Ngcayiya and his followers re-established the discarded Ethiopian Church, under the presidency of Rev. Sishuba, who carried on for some years. After his death he was succeeded as president by the Rev. Henry Reed Ngcayiya. This position he held for more than 16 years, during which time he did splendid work. Those purely African Churches were much suspected by the Europeans, who, together with the Governments of the day, lent them little encouragement. Rev. Ngcayiya suffered both in Natal and Rhodesia. The Church moved on until at last it became recognised by the Governments throughout South Africa. Many churches have since been built especially in the principal towns of the Union of South Africa. They even acquired a printing plant, and published a church magazine.

Rev. Henry Reed Ngcayiya took great interest in the progress of his people. He was Chaplain and member of the Executive Co.’tmittee of the African National Congress since 1912. Was a me!riber of the 1919 deputation of the African National Congress to  the British Government in England. Gave evidence before a Sel et Committee of the Union of South Africa Parliament. Was a good preacher, energetic, and very shrewd in his judgment; the soul of generosity, and made many sacrifices; a very cheerful disposition. In Conference, whene r a deadlock threatened, he was the one to find a way out. Was : )ved by all his colleagues. His eldest son is a schoolmaster in the United States of America.
Rev. Henry Reed Ngcayiya died at his home in 1928.