Kgosi galeshewe biography of michael

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Some of his people was executed for taking part in the rebellion.

By: Michael Tobolo, Junior Curator, DITSONG: National Museum of Military History(DNMMH)

 

Introduction

Kgosi Galeshewe was the paramount chief – also known as Kgosikgolo in Setswana – of the Batlhaping tribe, a Batswana group that originated as a splinter group from the Barolong tribe under Kgosi Tau Morolong in Taung.

Born in 1840, Kgosi played a pivotal role in resisting colonial rule. Cape Town: NB Publishers. Bloemfontein: Sun Press. Retrieved 23 October 2018.

  • Erasmus, Piet (2015). The battle at Mamusa: The western Transvaal border culture and the ethno-dissolution of the last functioning Korana polity.

    Tensions escalated when a farmer shot and killed over 17 cattle that had strayed from the Batlhaping reserve onto his land. For nine months, Kgosi Galeshewe displayed remarkable leadership and showed his battle skills as he led his people in a fight against the colonisers who wanted to dispossess their land.

    After the British colonisers suffered defeat, they retaliated with reinforcements, consisting of 2, 000 strong men, powerful artillery of 7- and 12-pounder cannons, Maxims guns, and machine guns.

    He strengthened alliances with other Tswana groups, such as Kgosi Luka Jantjie of the Batlhaping ba Manyeding in Kuruman and Kgosi Makgolokwe Toto of the Batlharo.

     

    The Langenberg Rebellion of 1896 -1897 broke out as tensions rose between the Batlhaping people and the British colonisers.

    kgosi galeshewe biography of michael

    The rebellion was triggered by the Cape Colony government’s decision to reduce the local rural cattle population in an effort to combat the Rinderpest epidemic. Kgosi Galeshewe passed away in 1924 and was laid to rest in Magogong, where his legacy continues to live on.

     

    A monument honouring the legacy of Batlhaping and Batlharo chiefs: Kgosi Galeshewe, Kgosi Luka Jantjie, and Kgosi Makgolokwe Toto.

     

    Conclusion

    The death of Kgosi Luka Jantjie marked the collapse of the Tswana resistance, leading to the mass capture of approximately 4,000 Tswana men, women, and children.

    In post-apartheid South Africa an SA Navy fast attack craft was named after him. Upon release he was resident for a time in Greenpoint Kimberley before returning to the Phokwane area, living at Modutung, Magogong. Retrieved 23 October 2018.

  • Giliomee, Hermann; Mbenga, Bernard K., eds. Mahala.

    p. 64. ISBN9781920382773.

  • Couzens, Tim (2004). Battles of South Africa. p. 174. ISBN9780624092230.
  • Jump up to:abMathews, Gary (2011). However, their resistance was met with military force. p. 415. ISBN9781440849060.
  • Jump up to:abLundstedt.
  • “TODAY IN KIMBERLEY’S HISTORY 26 AUGUST – Kimberley City Info“. www.kimberley.org.za.

    (2007). New History of South Africa. This followed the attacks he co-mounted on isolated traders and farmers in retribution against laws that disadvantaged the economic activities of the Batswana people.

    As a result, he was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment. In particular, this arrest showed that Galeshewe was viewed as an enemy by the oppressor, especially for his ability to stand up and fight for the rights of his people.

    As the then government rejoiced over his arrest, his own people saw him as a hero who risked his life for their good.

    • Galeshewe himself was an anti-colonial resistance leader, and orchestrated rebellions against the Cape Colony government. He died and was buried at the village of Magagaphiri where there is a memorial in his honour.