War and Regime in Africa: A southern pattern?

Seegers, Annette

War and Regime in Africa: A southern pattern?

Open Education Resource

2001-05-16

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Political Studies

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

Nearly 100 years ago the good men and women of the town of Murraysburg met, early in the morning, to discuss the previous day’s events: a Free State commando had raided them again. Murraysburg should have been out of harm’s way – in today’s terms; the town lies over 200km south of the Orange River. But to the Boers Murraysburg was an irresistible target and as a result, life for the people of Murraysburg had often and in a flash, become “nasty, brutish and short”. What to do? What to do? The Boers were not deterred by the town-guard. The British Army was not going to ride to their rescue; the Army had their own problems with the Boers. Murraysburg had to face its problem alone. And then a bold idea swam into view: Why not invite the Boers to visit Murraysburg and convince them that the townsfolk were nice people, too nice to be attacked. There would be games. A swim in the afternoon. A ball would be held in the evening, with fine dining, inoffensive music, dancing, and some comely young ladies in attendance. The British authorities were not going to be told of any of this, lest they swoop on the festivities and arrest everybody. The Boers, particularly if they knew of this deception, would trust Murraysburgers all the more and direct their attentions elsewhere.

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