Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation examines the identity of hunters, sportsmen and their associated communities in
two diverse regions of southern Africa during the last two decades of the nineteenth and the first
decade of the twentieth centuries. It argues that this was a critical period during which new patterns
of hunting and local tradition were created. In the eastern Cape districts of Albany, Fort Beaufort
and Bathurst kudu and buffalo were hunted pursuant to permits granted in terms of the Game Act,
1886. An analysis of the identity of those to whom these permits were granted or refused provides
insights into power, connection and influence amongst the English-speaking colonial elite of the
region who sought to control the right to hunt “royal game”. It also reveals their interaction with
civil servants who exercised the power to grant or withhold the privilege. Kudu were transferred
from public to private ownership, through a process of “privatization” and “commodification” on
enclosed private land, and there preserved for sporting purposes by the local rural gentry. The
survival – and even growth – in numbers of kudu in the region was achieved in these private spaces.
Buffalo, on the other hand, were hunted into local extinction notwithstanding their protection as
“royal game”. In the north-eastern Transvaal Lowveld wild animals in public ownership were
hunted by a wide variety of hunters with competing interests. The identity of the “lost” Lowveld
hunters, previously hidden from history, including an important but overlooked component of elite
recreational hunters from the eastern Cape, is explored as a window into the history of hunting in
the region prior to the establishment of game reserves. Both the identity and networks of these
hunters and sportsmen are considered in the context of enduring concerns about race, class, gender and the exercise of power. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die identiteit van die jagters, sportmanne en die gepaardgaande
gemeenskappe in twee verskillende streke van Suider-Afrika gedurende die laaste twee dekades van
die negentiende en die eerste dekade van die twintigste eeu. Dit voer aan dat hierdie 'n kritieke
tydperk was waartydens nuwe patrone van jag en plaaslike tradisie geskep is. In die Oos-Kaapse
distrikte van Albany, Fort Beaufort en Bathurst is die jag op koedoes en buffels toegelaat op grond
van permitte toegestaan in terme van die Wild Wet, 1886. Die ontleding van die identiteit van
diegene aan wie hierdie permitte toegestaan of geweier was, bied insae oor die uitoefening van mag,
verhoudings en invloed onder die Engelssprekende koloniale elite van die streek, wat probeer het
om beheer uit te oefen oor die jag van die “koninklike wild”. Dit openbaar ook hul interaksie met
staatsamptenare wat hulle magte gebruik het om permitte uit te ruik of te weerhou. Eienaarskap van
koedoes was oorgedra vanaf openbare na privaat besit, deur 'n proses van "privatisering " en
"kommodifikasie" op geslote private grond, met die verstandhouding dat dit vir sport – doeleindes
deur die plaaslike landelike burger gebruik kon word. Die oorlewing – en selfs groei – in die getal
koedoes in die streek is behaal in die private besit. Buffels, aan die ander kant, is tot plaaslike
uitwissing gejag ondanks hul beskerming as "koninklike wild". In die Noord-Oos Transvaalse
Laeveld is wilde diere in openbare besit gejag deur 'n wye verskeidenheid van jagters met
mededingende belange. Die identiteit van die "verlore" Laeveld jagters, voorheen verborge in die
geskiedenis, wat 'n belangrike maar oor die hoof verwaarloosde komponent van elite rekreasionele
jagters van die Oos-Kaap insluit, word ondersoek as 'n venster op die geskiedenis van jag in die
streek voor die totstandkoming van wildreservate. Beide die identiteit en netwerke van hierdie
jagters en sportmanne word beskou in die konteks van blywende belangstelling met ras, klas, geslag
en die uitoefening van mag.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/86262 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Gess, David Wolfgang |
| Contributors | Swart, Sandra, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 192 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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