The 1908-10 Campaign Against Incorporation Into South Africa (Part 5)

There they were united in protesting to the acting Resident Commissioner, Barry May, that they wanted nothing to do with the then emerging Union of South Africa, preferring instead to maintain their status quo as an imperial protectorate.

Unlike Khama, the southern rulers proved eager to forward petitions of their desire to prevent any change in British sovereignty over them. A second Bakwena petition to the High Commissioner, drafted the day after the meeting, was followed by similar initiatives on behalf of the Bakgatla, Balete and Bangwaketse.The Bakwena and Bangwaketse appeals were particularly notable for both there lawyerly arguments with regard to their alleged 1895 “contract” with Queen Victoria, and forthright condemnations of discriminatory practices within the settler colonies.