MPL will not cut hair until Khoi chief?s remains are returned

MORE than 200 years after his death, historic Eastern Cape figure and one of the country’s earliest struggle heroes – Khoikhoi chief Dawid Stuurman – may find himself at the centre of another struggle, this time over his remains.Born near the Gamtoos River in the Eastern Cape in 1773, Stuurman, widely recognised as the last rebel Khoikhoi chief to resist colonialism, lived a colourful, adventurous life, which included time spent in Bethelsdorp in Nelson Mandela Bay and time as a prisoner on Robben Island, from which he twice escaped.




Stuurman, who has been the subject of books and research, was ultimately deported to Sydney, Australia, where he died in 1830 and where his remains are still believed to lie buried.

Last week, Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature member and outspoken activist for Khoi and San heritage Christian Martin spoke about a personal and rather hair-raising campaign he was launching around the remains of Stuurman, the crux of which involved a vow undertaken by Martin not to cut or comb his hair until Stuurman’s remains have been repatriated to Bethelsdorp.

Following the publication of Martin’s campaign, S outh End Museum officials contacted The Herald to reveal that recognition of Stuurman’s struggle life and history and the repatriation of his remains had been under consideration and discussion for the past 10 years.

Demonstrating an exhibition and book published on Stuurman, former Port Elizabeth mayor and chairman of the South End Museum board, Errol Heynes, said the museum had been surprised by the new campaign by Martin.

“All we want to say is hey, we have been working on this for 10 years already. Where has everyone been? We even commissioned a book on Stuurman entitled Rogue, Rebel or Revolutionary which was researched and written by Candy Malherbe,” Heynes said.

Revealing a number of practical issues around the remains, Heynes said the museum, which was tasked primarily with research and facilitating history, but which had a keen, active interest in the repatriation of Stuurman’s remains, “extended its welcome to anyone with an interest in the repatriation of the remains ”.

Highlighting some of the issues involved, Heynes named funding as a primary concern and then the exact location of the remains, among others.

“ We have two possible locations, one of which is under the current Sydney Station [railway] which would obviously then make it very difficult to recover the remains.
“Research also points to Stuurman having converted to Roman Catholicism.
“If this is the case, then it is very possible that he was buried in a church cemetery, which means that we then have a good chance of finding his remains.

“We have been in touch with Australian officials about this, but they have not really been co-operative ,” he said, adding that another consideration was that Stuurman was also believed to have changed his name to “Shurman”.

Heynes said The Herald report around Martin’s campaign had caused a stir among the area’s eight Khoikhoi chiefs.
A meeting will be held between the chiefs tomorrow when the matter will be discussed.

SOURCE: Dispatch online