The dispute arose from the refusal of the Barolong to pay the dogtax to the Mafeking Divisional Council, the Barolong preferring to come under the direct administration of the Department of Native Affairs. They claimed that the imposition of the tax was a direct violation of their rights as given to them by the Treaty of 1884 May (Ba8) and the letter of Sir Sidney Shipyard, 1895 August (Ba13). Includes correspondence, summonses to the trial and evidence given to the commission by Chief Lekoko Montsioa, Stephen Lefenya and Silas Molema.
The pages were compensated from a copy of the Golden Number, held at the Library of the University of the Witwatersrand, which is not part of the collection. Available here in digital format only.
Recruitment of Barolong as transport drivers towards the end of the South African War; illtreatment of servant; recruitment of labour for the mines; conditions of service.
Plaatje persuaded Silas Molema to finance the first Tswana-English newspaper in 1901 and the papers reflect the financial difficulties suffered by Molema and Plaatje in order to keep the newspaper going. The paper ceased publication c 1906 and later, on Plaatje's removal to Kimberley, he established the Tsala ea Batho referred to by Gorinyane in his correspondence with Molema.
Dennison who has previously spoken out for them at elections is bankrupt; asks him to speak for them and also to approach someone called Aldred; regrets that Chief Lekoko has not helped him and that he [Molema] has not sent his biographical sketch of Ma Siako. typed letter signed. 1p. Photocopy (original with Molema family).