Microsoft Word - PhD Thesis Final.pdf - University of Limpopo ...

in the Makgabeng villages. Originally, the trading stores owners were of
European origin, mostly the Germans and the Jews. However, later in the
1940s and 1950s the Blacks became trading stores owners 573 . Because of
the fact that the farms were bought, it was required of the trading store
owners to apply for permission to do business in those farms. Although this
appeared to be the deal between the co-purchasers and the prospective
store owners, the White governments, through their local representatives –
commissioners - were heavily involved in the processes of the store owners
acquiring permission to do business within the bought farms 574 .
In addition to the involvement of the local commissioners in the
establishment of trading stores, the Makgabeng chiefs, on whose
jurisdiction the farms situated, were also involved in the process. The
agreement of building a trading store was therefore a cumbersome exercise
which required a complicated process. This is an example of a tribal
resolution taken by the co-purchasers of the farm, Norma A on the
establishment of a trading store:
At a public meeting of the Bakoni (sic) tribe of Natives
under Acting Chieftaines Makwena Matlala, represented by
Ben Matlalala, held at Matlalala’s location, District
Pietersburg, on 3/11/1948, there being present Mr. Cowan,
573 Interview, Jonathan Laka, Kgatu village, 6 November 2003.
574 Ibid.
326