Unisa Press
The Moltenos of the Cape
| Author: | Selina Molteno, Robert Molteno, Catherine Corder and Hugh Corder |
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| ISBN: | 978-1-77615-222-3 |
| Number of pages: | 264 |
| This book is not available in electronic format |
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About the book
The Moltenos of the Cape tells the story of a remarkable family of Anglo-Italian origin, who located at the Cape. The commanding figure was Sir John Charles Molteno, the first prime minister of the Cape Colony, who fought fiercely for South African interests.
His children included Percy (a director of the Union Castle Line and a politician in the UK), Betty (a radical in touch with many advanced thinkers) and Charlie, who opposed Cecil Rhodes and was instrumental in keeping Bechuanaland out of his hands. The book also features Barkly who joined the British navy, fought slavers near Zanzibar and commanded a warship at the critical battle of Jutland. In the next generation, Donald earned the Xhosa name Dilizintaba (‘Remover of mountains’) for his staunch opposition to segregationist policies.
Leading members of the Molteno family sought to bridge the divides between black and white and English- and Afrikaans-speaking South Africans. They were antiracists and anti-imperialists long before their time and their tradition of dedicated public service will inspire new generations of South Africans.
This account is based primarily on original sources, including interviews, private correspondence and archival material. Written in lively style, the two principal authors are closely allied to their family’s politically-engaged tradition. Selina Molteno was arrested during the apartheid regime and worked for the Anti-Apartheid Movement in London. Her co-author, the late Robert Molteno, was a lecturer at the University of Zambia and worked as an editor at Zed Books, the progressive London publisher.
Additional chapters have been provided by Hugh Corder and Catherine Corder.