The Border Historical Society's scheduled talk for April 2024 (in association with the Friends of the East London Museum) will be presented by Mike Kenyon titled 'The Cape Qualified Franchise and Land Rights in the Eastern Cape, 1872-1910. Happening on Saturday 6 April 2024 at 10:00 in the Museum Classroom on First Floor at the East London Museum.

The Cape of Good Hope had a qualified, non-racial and male-only franchise from the time of responsible government in 1853. However within a generation the eligibility for registration as a voter was contested at many levels including in the Cape Parliament and at local level (while attempts to increase the labour supply ran in parallel).

Parliament increasingly restricted the eligibility of black citizens while local officials in charge of registration appear to have exercised wide discretion and some may simply have been incompetent. The exact number of citizens who were disenfranchised in the short and long term has recently been debated and this debate will no doubt continue. 

The Stutterheim district provides an illustration of some of the dynamics involved.

Who is Mike Kenyon? Mike Kenyon has a Masters degree in Economic History and is a researcher at the Govan Mbeki Research and Development Centre at the University of Fort Hare in East London.

All are welcome to attend. There will be time for questions. Tea unfortunately cannot be served as the Classroom is within the Museum premises.

Border Historical Society | Gordon Campbell | Secretary | 083 284 6173