J.H. Hofmeyr and the Afrikaner Bond : a challenge to William Milton's "Englishness" and the advance of the "coloured" cricketer

Abstract

In the late nineteenth century, the Western Province CC - with William Milton dominant - strengthened its position as Cape cricket's controlling power. Their intention was to become the "MCC of southern Africa" in keeping with press-led initiatives to promote "Englishness". Such developments were opposed by J.H. "Onze Jan" Hofmeyr, who championed Afrikaner sport and wished to create a cricket administration that served as a chamber of fair debate for all white clubs. He challenged the hegemony of the Western Province CC through the establishment of the Cape Town CC, and then engineered a new governing body, the Western Province Cricket Union, which would be headed - controversially - by Milton. The developments mirrored the wider political events taking place. As leader of the influential Afrikaner Bond, Hofmeyr was able to secure the Cape premiership for Cecil John Rhodes. That Milton should be appointed as the prime minister's secretary helped consolidate a process through which Hofmeyr became the major force behind Cape politics and Western Province cricket. Milton would in turn ensure cricket's administration adhered to the official racist ideologies and policies of the Cape government, notably when threatened with plans to include a player of colour, "Krom" Hendricks, in the national cricket side.

J.H. Hofmeyr en die Afrikaner Bond : 'n uitdaging tot William Milton se "Englishness" en die bevordering van die "gekleurde" krieket speler In die laat negentiende eeu, het die Westerlike Provinsie KK - met William Milton dominant - hulle posisie versterk as die beherende mag in Kaapse krieket. Hul doelwit was om die "MCC van suidelike Afrika" te word in ooreenstemming met pers-gelei inisiatiewe om "Englishness" te bevorder. Sulke ontwikkelinge is teengewerk deur J.H. "Onze Jan" Hofmeyr, wat Afrikaner sport ondersteun het, en hy wou 'n krieket administrasie vorm wat diens sou gee as 'n raad vir eerlike debat vir alle wit klubs. Hy het die heerskappy van die Westerlike Provinsie KK uitgedaag deur die verstiging van die Kaapstad KK, en dan het hy 'n nuwe beheerliggaam ontwerp, die Westerlike Provinsie Krieket Unie, wat onder die omstrede leiding van Milton sou wees. Die ontwikkelinge het die breër politieke gebeure weerspieël. As die invloedryke leier van die Afrikaner Bond kon Hofmeyr die posisie van die Kaapse Premier, Cecil John Rhodes, beinvloed. Die feit dat Milton aangestel was as die eerste minister se sekretaris het gehelp om Hofmeyr te konsolideer as die groot krag agter Kaapse politiek en Westerlike Provinsie krieket. Op sy beurt sou Milton verseker dat die administrasie van krieket sou vasklou aan die amptelike rassistiese ideologieë en beleid van die Kaapse regering, veral wanneer dit bedreig is met planne om 'n gekleurde speller, "Krom" Hendricks, in die nasionale krieket span in te sluit.