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).

Rev. J. Z. TANTSI was a Tembu by birth and. was born at Ngcobo in the Cape Province. He worked for a number of years in the Cape Province, and afterwards went to Johannesburg where he obtained work. He became a local preacher of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. When Rev. Mokone established the Ethiopian Church Rev. Tantsi joined him, and at once studied for the ministry. After some time he was ordained a minister. He took a leading part in the affairs of the Church especially during the Ethiopian and African Methodist Episcopal Church union. He was elected a delegate to the General Conference of the Church in America.
Rev. Tantsi was the father of Dr. J. Y. Tantsi, who was educated at Wilberforce University in America. Rev. Tantsi was a good Christian gentleman, a  powerful preacher and a hard worker. He took great interest in the welfare of his people. He was much respected by those who knew him. He died at his home at Ngcobo, after rendering great service to the Church he loved. His son is to-day a presiding elder and superintendent of the church under Bishop Young.

PRINCE GWAYI TYAMZASHE was ! born at Blinkwater in the district of Fort Beaufort on the 22nd of January, 1844. He was the eldest son of Tyam. zashe; Tyamzashe, the son of Mejana, son of Oya, of the Rudulu clan, cornmonly known as the Mangwevu. Gwayi as a boy saw all the horrors of the early Kaffir Wars, and was with his mother, Nontsi, during the terrible Nongqause cattle-killing episode, while his father Tyamzashe was a head councillor at the King’s Court. At that time Sandile was the Paramount Chief of the Xosa Tribe.

After the great armed protest of the Xosas, under Sandile and his brother Anta, Gwayi and his parents became detached from the main fighting body and eventually fell into the hands of the missionaries at Dr. Love’s mission station-now known as Lovedale. The late Mr. Goven was then in charge of the mission and he soon induced the raw native fugitives to be converted. Govan actually went so far as to pay those natives who attended infant classes. Gwayi Tyamzashe liked these classes. He was followed by many other natives. The signs of progress moved quickly. Messrs. Smith and James Stewart came to Lovedale, and Gwayi and his friends soon found themselves on the highway to civilisation and education. At all times Lovedale was open to all classes of pupils, and Gwayi found himself rubbing shoulders with European pupils, amongst whom were William Henry Solomon (late Chief Justice of the Union of South Africa), his brother, Richard Solomon, Schreiner, Grimmer and others.

Soon Gwayi qualified as a teacher and taught for some years at Gqumahashe, a village just across the Tyumie River. Just at that time Tiyo Soga was reading for theology in Scotland. This caused Gwayi to leave teaching and return to Lovedale for theology. Before doing so, however, he went in for a University examination in which Latin, Greek and Hebrew were essential subjects. This examination was above the ordinary matriculation. It was a red-letter day at Lovedale when Gwayi Tyamzashe passed this examination; flags were hoisted and the day was proclaimed a exam holiday.

Gwayi completed his Theological Course in 1874 and was immediately called to the Diamond Fields. In 1884 Gwayi and his family, consisting of his wife and three children, James, Henry and Catherine, left Kimberley for the wild north-Zoutpansberg. His journey to that part of the country was a heart-breaking one; the story of which would fill a volume. Leaving Kimberley with two ox-wagons, several milch cows and a pair of horses, he slowly made his way north. There were no roads to speak of; the country was unexploed as yet; the drifts across the rivers were mere sluits and no bridges existed anywhere; the country was still wild, and, worst of all, the Dutchmen, who occupied the Transvaal, were hostile towards the black races. When Gwayi and his caravan arrived on the Witwatersrand-as Johannesburg was then called-he was arrested for having no ” pass.” He was handcuffed behind his back and hurried off to Pretoria in front of four fiery horses of the “Zarps” (Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek Poliese). His wife, however, hurried over to Pretoria and personally interviewed Oom Paul (President Paul Kruger) whereupon Gwayi was not only released, but also given a free pass to his destination.

At Zoutpansberg Gwayi Tyamzashe opened a number of mission stations which exist to this day. He lived at Zoutpansberg for six years, and on being called back to Kimberley, he returned to the Diamond Fields. It was, however, a different Gwayi that arrived at Kimberley. He was physically a mere shadow of the former Gwayi, owing to a relentless attack of asthma which he contracted in the damp and marshy country of the Zoutpansberg. He lingered for six years in Kimberley and died on the 25th October, 1896. Prior to his death he had a serious case against the European Church Union which culminated in victory for him in the Supreme Court at Capetown.

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.

Born on the 7th December 1924 in Durban; at present (1983) in London. University lecturer in Bantu Languages and Ethnomusicology, instrumentalist and music teacher.David Rycroft comes from an exceptionally musical family. His father was an organist in Durban,and Johannesburg; his sister (Mrs Lynette Neilson) is also an organist; his cousin, Eric Rycroft, lectures in music at Stellenbosch University and is a violinist, and his uncle, Prof. H.B. Rycroft (formerly Director of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens) introduced him to the accordion (in 1936). The next generation too, is musical – Eric Rycroft’s daughter, Anne, played the viola in the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Rycroft himself started to learn the piano when he was seven, and continued in Johannesburg under G. Barclay Donn when the family moved there in 1933. His father, who was organist of the Rosebank Union Church, taught him the organ, and by the time he was sixteen he was able to deputise at various churches. He was organist of Christ Church, Hillbrow from 1946 to 1952.

Rycroft’s interest in wind instruments, too, began in his childhood with a harmonica and a penny whistle. He advanced to the tenor saxhorn at school (Parktown High) and played in the cadet band. Thereafter he studied all the usual brass instruments and taught himself to play the flute, piccolo, recorder and oboe. He played the oboe in both his school orchestra and later in the orchestra of the University of the Witwatersrand, which he attended from 1942-1946. His studies (in Bantu languages and phonetics) were briefly interrupted by war service. At the completion of his university course he became Cultural Recreation Officer in the former Johannesburg Non-European Affairs Department and involved in many interesting aspects of music: he promoted Black cultural activities, including adult education in music, became a member of Hugh Tracey’s African Music Society and of the Bantu Music Festival Committee, and played the accompaniments to the Xhosa song recitals of Todd Matshikiza (composer of King Kong) on the SABC’s English programme (1950). In 1952 David Rycroft and his wife emigrated to England where he took up a post as lecturer in Bantu Languages and Ethnomusicology at London University ‘s School of Oriental and African studies. Since then he has frequently visited South Africa on field trips. He has published much of his research, which centres largely on the music, language and literature of the Swazi and Zulu peoples, and he has broadcast on the BBC, Radio Belgium and Radio Swaziland. He has also presented many conference papers and has lectured in the USA, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Ghana, West Germany, Belgium, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

In the meantime he has continued to be an active musician, in an unconventional way. He was a co-founder of the Guild of Gentlemen Trumpeters, which is called on to play fanfares at historic events; and he also co-founded the New Melstock Band (a name derived from the church band in Thomas Hardy’s book Under the greenwood tree). In the Band he plays period instruments such as the baroque oboe, early bassoon clarinet, serpent, ophicleide, cornet, cornopean, keyed bugle, natural horn, slide trumpet, trombones, helicon and tuba. They perform at old churches, stately homes, colleges and museums. In his spare time, Rycroft teaches brass instruments at a local school, directs pupils in a wind ensemble, and plays the accordion at village fetes or country dances when required. His four adult children have all inherited his musical talent.

Henry Selby Msimang

Born in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg, 13 December 1886, died in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg, 29 March 1982), interpreter, clerk, journalist, farm manager, and especially politician.He and his elder brother Richard Msimang were the children of the well-known African preacher who founded the Independent Methodist Church, Joel Msimang, and his wife Joanah Radebe.

Msimang received his primary education at the Emakosini Primary School in Nhlangano, Swaziland. Between 1903 and 1907 he studied first at Kilnerton Institution, a Methodist college in Pretoria, then Edendale Institution at Edendale, and finally at Healdtown Institution, a Methodist boarding school near Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape. Though he was then a qualified teacher, he never taught. His career started in 1908 when he was appointed as interpreter in Germiston, Transvaal. He never stayed in any career for long but kept changing jobs and homes. Between 1908 and 1965 he had fifteen occupations and lived in ten towns or cities in three provinces (the Transvaal, the Orange Free State and Natal ). From 1942, however, he settled in Edendale near Pietermaritzburg.

His political career started in 1912 when he was a founder member of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC, African National Congress (ANC) after 1923). During the following 30 years he participated in a number of their meetings, deputations and other activities. For many years he undertook the labour portfolio of the congress, and was a prominent member of the committee established to raise funds to send a deputation to Britain to try to have the Natives Land Act of 1913 repealed.

In Bloemfontein, in 1917, he was the editor of a newspaper Morumioa Inxusa (Messenger) (the title of the newspaper varied) which only existed for two years. (It could not be established if a connection existed between this newspaper and the one with which D.S. Letanka was involved in 1911, i.e. Moromioa.) During his stay in Bloemfontein (1917-1922) his long relationship with the labour movement started when, as a labour organizer, he led a strike of municipal workers in Bloemfontein in 1917, for which he was arrested and detained. In 1919 he liaised with Clements Kadalie, founder of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU), about the organization of African workers. Together they planned the establishment of a national ICU and in 1920 held a meeting in Bloemfontein with this in mind. Msimang was elected president of the national ICU. When Kadalie failed to be elected to the executive he withdrew with his supporters. This led to increasing animosity between Msimang and Kadalie, resulting in Msimang’s resignation as president and distancing himself from the ICU until after Kadalie’s resignation in 1929. Msimang then rejoined and during the decline of the ICU he held the post of national propagandist. From 1928 to 1937 Msimang was a labour advisor in Johannesburg.

In 1922 Msimang returned to Johannesburg and became a member of the Joint Council for Europeans and Bantu. He was still involved in the activities of the SANNC/ANC and served on the national executive committee of the ANC during the terms of office of presidents J.T. Gumede (1927-1930) and Pixley Seme (1930-1937). In 1932 he was a member of the so-called revival committee that wanted to strengthen the organization from within to prevent its stagnation. Three years later, during the first meeting of the All-African Convention (AAC) in Bloemfontein in December 1935, he was elected as secretary.

In 1942 he returned to Natal and was elected provincial secretary of the Natal branch of the ANC, a position he retained until 1956. He was also a confidant of the Natal leader A.W.G. Champion. In 1948 he became a member of the Native Representative Council (NRC) although at that time it was no longer an active body. In December of the same year he attended the discussions with the AAC as delegate of the ANC during an unsuccessful attempt to reconcile these two organizations. During the annual congress of the ANC of that year Msimang was elected to the committee which had to draw up the Programme of Action. Early in 1949 he represented the ANC in discussions with prominent Indian leaders in an effort to reconcile Africans and Indians after bloody clashes between them in Durban and surrounding areas in January 1949. A year later Msimang and Champion’s political ways parted and Msimang lost his position in the ANC. However, when Albert Luthuli defeated Champion as president of the ANC in 1951, Msimang was reinstated as provincial secretary. But he lost interest in the ANC and even before the Defiance Campaign of 1952 he resigned as provincial secretary in Natal.

In 1953 Msimang became a founder member of the multiracial Liberal Party of South Africa. From 1956-1968 he served on the executive committee and in due course became the national vice-chairperson. His activities were, however, hampered in 1965 when the government forbade him to attend meetings for five years.

Msimang was also interested and active in local politics and problems. For many years from 1942 he was secretary of the Edendale Advisory Board Local Health Commission. He was the founder of the Edendale Benevolent Society and served as its secretary from 1946 to 1952, and from 1967 as honorary life president. In 1973 he was elected secretary of the Edendale AmaKholwa Tribe. In 1975 Msimang became a member of the national council of the Inkatha yeNkululeko yeSizwe. From 1974 to 1975 he served on the executive committee of the South African Institute of Race Relations. He was a Methodist and served in various committees of the church.

Msimang was a prolific author. Apart from numerous newspaper articles, including series of articles in several newspapers, he published a pamphlet The crisis ( Johannesburg, 1936) about the effect of the 1936 Land Act on Africans.

He was married twice and had four sons and four daughters. His first wife was Mercy Mahlomola King whom he married in July 1913. She died in September 1951, and in August 1952 he married Miriam Primrose Oldjohn.

Source and Image: New Dictionary of South African Biography

CHIEF MOOROSI.
Chief of the Baphuthi Tribe of the Zizi Clan, Basutoland. The Baphuthi Clan is described by the Rev. Bryant as Sutu Zizis related to the Swazi. Moorosi is the son of Mokuoane, son of Mokhoebi, son of Thibela, son of Khanyane, son of Tsele, son of Kobo, son of Titi, son of Langa.Moorosi’s father, Mokuoane, was a great hunter. He befriended the Bushmen from whom he purchased ostrich feathers with dagga.
With the ostrich feathers he made shield dresses called ” Mokhele.”
These “Mokhele ” were highly valued and were sold to the Basuto warriors at an ox each. He soon became rich and many people gathered round him.

Moorosi made many expeditions into Tembuland from which country he brought large herds of cattle. It was this cattle-raising that brought him to the notice of Moshoeshoe. On one of these expeditions Moshoeshoe accompanied him. At this time Letsie, son of Moshoeshoe, was at the circumcision lodge and while they were away the Batlokoa invaded Moshoeshoe’s kraal. Moorosi was a clever statesman, and when he saw that he had too many enemies he made a treaty with Moshoeshoe. This occasion is known in
Basutoland as ” Pholo Tsehla ” which formed union between Moshoeshoe and the Basotho on one side and Moorosi and the Baphuthi on the other. On the 11th July, 1870, Moorosi met Commissioners Bowker and Austin. He confirmed what he had already said to Sir Philip Wodehouse that he wished to be under
Great Britain and was accepted. In 1879 Moorosi had trouble with the Cape Government, and through it came by his death.

Chief Moorosi was a friend of the missionaries who visited Basutoland, and it was through his efforts that they were encouraged to open up mission stations in Basutoland. He was respected by all Europeans who came into contact with him.

Mankulumane, son of Somapunga Ndwandwa Nxumalo, was a descendant of the King Zwide, who fought and was defeated by Tshaka, and migrated to the Portuguese East Territory and there established his kingdom. Mankulumane’s father did not follow his lord to the Portuguese Territory but preferred to remain in Zululand. There Mankulumane was born and brought up. As a boy he was very bright and showed signs of leadership. As he grew to manhood he became more xnd more influential. He became a warrior and then a councillor at the Royal Kraal, and during the reign of King Cetywayo of Zululand, he became Prime Minister. This office he held during the reign of Dinizulu and also that of the present Zulu Ruler, Solomon Ka Dinizulu.
Mankulumane, who had 30 wives, enjoyed the confidence of all the Zulus, and was looked upon by all Zulu chiefs as a father. He was a wise old man and nothing could be settled by the Zulu National Council without first obtaining his sanction. Though uneducated, all important matters between the Zulu chiefs and the Union Government were submitted to him by the Paramount Chief, Solomon Ka Dinizulu before any definite step was taken. He died in Johannesburg Hospital in December, 1925, and was taken back to his home in Zululand to be interred alongside his father.

Prince Malunga Ka Mbandeni was born in the year 1879 in Swaziland. He was a brother of the Ngwenyama Bhunu of Swaziland. In 1899 the Ngwenyama died, the Queen Mother, Nabotsibeni, was proclaimed the Indhomkazi (Queen Regent) with. her son, Prince Malunga Ka Mbander..i, as her chief adviser, Sobuza II. being still a minor. In 1906 Prince Malunga Ka Mbandeni led a deputation to England, paid homage to King Edward VII. and later laid before the Colonial Office the grievance of the Swazi Tribe. The grievance included a complaint in connection with Lord Milner’s Annexation of a portion of Swaziland to the Union of South Africa, without first consulting the Swazies. The Swazies held that the annexation was a direct violation of the 1881 and 1884 treaties. The British Government, after hearing the Swazi case, declared the annexation null and void. Prince Malunga was well educated and enjoyed the confidence of the whole Swazi Tribe. The education of the boy heir Sobuza II. was entrusted to him. Nothing could be done by the Queen Regent and the Swazies without first seeking his advice. He was very popular with the European inhabitants. of Swaziland. Prince Malunga was a fine specimen of a man, standing about six feet six inches, and his tall body, broad shoulders, and other physical development, pleasant face and penetrating brown eyes made him a very conspicuous individual indeed. He died in January, 1915.