Participation of Poles in the formation of the South African Cape Colony

Abstract

The contribution of Poles to colonization and development of the Cape Colony is not commonly known. Yet, Poles have been appearing in this colony since its very inception (1652). During the entire period here considered this presence of Poles was the outcome of the strong economic ties linking Poland with the Netherlands. At the end of this period an increase took place of their share, in connection with the presence of numerous alien military units on the territory of the Colony, Poles having served in such units. Numerous newcomers from Poland settled in South Africa for good, established families, and their progeny made up the local society.

In 1814 Cape Colony became in formal terms a part of the British Empire (while being under British occupation since 1806). This, however, did not hamper the inflow of immigrants from Poland. In the majority of cases they also melted into the Afrikaner society. An especially important group, together with emigrants from Germany, came during the decades of 1850s, 1860s and 1870s.

Poles were very often involved in the pioneering undertakings within the far-off fringes of the Colony. Jan Liske took part in the expedition to Namaqualand, Michiel Kowalski and four other emigrants from Poland – in the expedition to Cobuquas people, Stephanos gained fame as a humbug and false missionary among the Nama and Griqua peoples, Jan Michiel Sowiecki settled the eastern borderland of the Colony and remained in close relations with the Boer pioneer and rebel Conraad de Buys, Jan Latsky became the pioneer of the European colonization of the High Karoo. This concerned also the later Polish settlers – even those from the second half of the 19^th century – like, for instance, Ankiewicz, Mendelski, Szukała, Waberski – many of whom settled within the eastern borderland of the Colony in the British Caffraria. In an indirect manner the participation of Poles in the extension of the boundaries of the Colony is perceived by R. Shell in the article The Forgotten Factor in Cape Colonial Frontier Expansion, 1658 to 1817. In his opinion, “all we may conclude is that it was the Cowalskys [Kowalskis] of this world rather than the Van der Merwes who opened up the frontier in this early period”.

The evidence for this phenomenon is provided by the present-day Afrikaner families of, for instance, Ankiewicz, Aproskie, Beirowski, Drotsky, Hohowsky, Jankowitz, Jewaskiewitz, Kitshoff, Kolesky, Latsky, Masuriek, Troskie, Waberski, Zowitsky, and others. Quite superficial estimation implies that the settlers coming from Poland could make up a bit over 1% of the ancestors of the present-day Afrikaners.