It is the 200th anniversary of slave revolting today

By Yamkela Xhaso
25 October

Today in 1808 was the day when Cape slaves revolted against their masters. It is reported that this day where the biggest and first slave uprising is commemorated by Iziko Slave Lodge Museum.


A number of events are taking place in the museum during the course of the weekend, where a conference on the event and a dramatic play about the uprising by theatre group the Rooster Collective will take place today.


Louis of Mauritius who worked is Strand Street is famously known to have led that first revolt by Cape Slaves.

It is believed that Louis and other slaves went to Vogelgezang, Petrus Gerhardus Louw’s farm north of present-day Malmersbury, to start the uprising.

The slaves were disguised as lieutenants and visiting sea captains and began the rebellion the following day. Louis is said to have collected a force of slaves from both Koeberg and Swartland farms and went to 30 farms spreading slave rebellion.

The slaves attacked several a number of farms and more than 300 slaves marched to Salt River and the Cape of Good Hope.

Iziko Slave Lodge Museum possesses the reminder of the day, a silver beaker which was located through the detective work of Iziko Museums' social history department.