Qn. How did the Dutch east Indian company govern the cape colony between 1662 and 1795 or ) ➢ The cape colony was organized in the interest of DEICO • It had four major instruments i.e. the council of policy, defense, justice and the Dutch reformed church • As a colony was under the governor who was being supervised by the company directors. Summarized notes of the History of South Africa, July 2019 Page | 25 • The governor was responsible for planning and administering the cape and other territories in Far East. • The governor resided at Batavia and was assisted by the council policy • The council of policy was made up of 17 people including seven senior officials e.g. Jan van Reinbeck, Simon van der – stel, willen Adrian-der-stel e.t.c. • The council was charged with supervision of judicial, executive, social and economic affairs of the cape. • It was also charged with all officials working for the company • It debated, considered and passed bills in the interest of the company. • The council of policy failed to represent the settlers and African interest in the cape colony. • It was the highest executive and legislation authority. • The council of justice was appointed and approved by the council of policy. • The council of justice had its headquarters at the cape colony. • It acted as the main court of appeal. • The governors at the cape never attended its meetings. • The magistrates were not independent and presided over local courts in each district. • In courts there was no justice because lawyers and judges were ignorant, unintelligent, inexperienced or corrupt because they were just appointed to fulfill the company’s interests. • In the interior, a matrimonial court was set up to advice the young Boers who wanted to marry them selves. • The chief of police acted as the prosecutor. • The defense council had Boer commando unit to defend the coast from foreign attacks. • The settlers formed burgher local military units to protect the settlers internally against Africans. • The Dutch reformed church was responsible for performing baptism and confirmation ceremonies. • It also confirmed the belief that the Africans were harm and the whites were sham as per the book of genesis • It controlled literacy and education at the cape colony
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