In 1895 the government of the Transvaal Republic introduced a hut tax on people living in their suzerainty. Kgosi Maleboho of the Bahananwa refused to pay these taxes. He also could see no reason why he should acknowledge any authority higher than his own. In this extract from this little-known story of an early freedom fighter, we meet Kgosi Maleboho and the Bahananwa as they prepare their resistance. Prompted by Swart Barend Vorster, who was determined to force the Kgosi and his people into submission, the Boer forces gathered at the foot of the Blouberg in what is now the Limpopo Province.

During May and the early part of June 1894, the Boer forces travelled to Blouberg and began to position themselves. The royal village, called the hoofstad by the Boers, was on a plateau close to the top of the mountain. We know that there is only one way up and that this is steep. It also passes through thick forest and bush, which makes it difficult to attack but easy to defend....