Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

-llO-
ill 1840." 0 Numerous Zulu orphans were taken to the magistrate who
officially "booked them in" as apprentices, similar to a system previously
applied in the Cape Colony during punative commandos'" Thus, the
magistrate accepted responsibility for the boys up to the age of 25 and
girls up to the age of21 years. 1I2 This apprentice system had malpractices,
which the landdrosts fiercely resisted. lllegal "booking-in" and sale of
children by traders outside the borders of Natal took place. '13 Serious
transgressions ofthe apprenticeship law prompted the Republic of Natalia
to re-register the children. The primary objective was to provide shelter
for the abandoned children.'" Zulu refugees in Natal trusted the system
that when parents lost their cattle and belongings through theft , they
simply took their children to the Voortrekkers to be apprenticed. lIS Zulu
children were provided with clothes and taught responsibility by their
masters. After the termination of their service contract many preferred
stayed with their masters and worked for a wage."· Some British
110
III
112
113
'"
115
11.
H. Slander: Die Verbouding tussen die Boere en Zoe.loe tot die doed van Mpande in
1872, p. 264.
Ibid., p. 264.
A.J. du Plessis: Die Republiek atalia p. 158; De Natalier, 31 May 1844, p. 2
W.J. Leyds: Die Eerste Annexatie, p. 164.
Ibid., p. 164.
A.J. du Plessis: Die Republiek Natalia, p. 160.
W.J. Leyds: Die Eerste Annexatie, p. 165.