During 1847, John Connellan from Glendree, in the Parish of Tulla, near Ennis in County Clare, Ireland, arrived in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha).
With him was his wife, the widow Mary, her son John Kilfoil, as well as their three-year-old son Jim. Their first home was in the Somerset East district, where Connellan managed the farm Glen Avon for Hannah Brown during the seventh frontier war against the Ngqika, Ndlambe and Thembu tribes.
This war was known as the War of the Axe, because of allegations from a settler that his axe had been stolen by a Xhosa tribesman.
They attacked and wiped out the villages of Auckland, Woburn and Ely at the foot of Hogsback Mountain, near to the present-day town of Alice, on a Christmas Day.
They attacked the occupants while they were having their Christmas midday meals and celebrations.
ARROGANCE
Three years later, during 1850, the Eighth Frontier War erupted when Sir Harry Smith, the governor of the Cape, deposed the Xhosa chief Sandile, and declared him a fugitive.
This had come about by Sandile not attending a meeting at Fort Cox to discuss their differences over new boundaries.
The arrogance of the governor towards the Xhosa was unacceptable to them and led to the conflict, which ended three years later. At the conclusion of the Crimean War, Britain had on their hands a battalion of the German Legion, and sent them to Qonce (formerly King William’s Town) to bolster the defences of the frontier and to offer them land to settle and farm on. It was a failure, because the troops, led by Count von Stutterheim, were receiving army pay and did not want to work the land.
SUICIDE
Denne historien er fra October 27, 2023-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra October 27, 2023-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
