WATERBOER FAMILY
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The Waterboers were a leading Griqua (Khoikhoi or “Hottentot”) family of the 19th century who flourished near the northern border of Cape Colony. The principal members of the family were Andries Waterboer and his son Nicholas Waterboer.
Andries Waterboer (circa 1790s-1853) was the ruler of Griqua Town, north of the Orange River in Cape Colony during the 1820s and 1830s, during which time he was the most notable Griqua chief. He was a Christian, and, as such, was strongly supported by the London Missionary Society (L.M.S.). The L.M.S. hoped to enlist the Griqua as agents of westernisation in Cape Province.
Waterboer himselef was of San (“Bushman”) origin. He was elected chief of the Griqua after Adam Kok II and Barend Barends gave up that position.
In 1823, Waterboer headed a Griqua force which drove away a large number of Sotho and Tswana refugees who were threatening to overwhelm the town of Kuruman. He strove to end banditry among isolated Griqua groups. He persistently sought to end cattle raiding and to conclude a treaty with the Ndebele ruler Mzilikazi, when the latter was located in the Transvaal. In 1834, he concluded a treaty with the British in Cape Town the first Griqua chief to do so. Subsequently his tactical importance declined, and his territory became subject to desiccation, resulting in a declining population. He was succeeded by his son, Nicholas Waterboer.
Nicholas Waterboer (1819-96) was the son of Andries, and succeeded him in 1853, after which the Afrikaner republic began expanding into Griqua territory. In 1867, diamonds were discovered in the Kimberley region. Nicholas strongly proclaimed Griqua claims to the diamond fields. The British arbitrated in 1871 and found in favour of the Griqua claim, but then proceeded to annex the territory themselves. In 1878, despite the fact that Nicholas was involved in suppressing a Griqua revolt, he was banished from Griqua Town by the British. He died in Griqualand East in 1896.
KEITH IRVINE
