Fingo Village is one of the oldest townships in South Africa. In 1854, Sir George Grey gave freehold land rights in Grahamstown to Christianised African converts (known as Mfengu or Fingoes) who had become subjects of the Cape Colony. Between 1921 and 1970, Fingo’s population grew as Africans moved from the rural areas into the urban centres. In the mid 1950’s, the apartheid state threatened to relocate Fingo Village under the new Group Areas Act. Over the next 15 years, a number of Fingo residents organised formal petitions against the impending forced removals. Their protest was joined by Rhodes academics and other concerned members of the Grahamstown community. It was argued that Fingo Village had a historical and legal right to remain where it was because the land was granted by the Cape colonial government. The legend goes that, ‘It was Queen Victoria herself who gave the Mfengu their freehold rights.’ Fingo residents were going to be relocated to Committee’s Drift, a dry, thorny bush area 50km outside of Grahamstown. By 1972, the Grahamstown council conceded to the protests and Fingo remained. Throughout its history, Fingo has faced problems typical of most South African townships such as lack of inadequate infrastructure and housing, overcrowding, unemployment and poverty. Fingo is also home to the Nathaniel Nyaluza High School, the oldest black high school in South Africa. The Egazini Monument commemorating the Battle of Grahamstown of 1819 was erected in Fingo at the site of this historic battle. It is a vibrant and exciting community where we just about all know each other. |
