The Cape slave code of 1754
- Slaves are to be in-doors after 10 pm or carry a lantern at night. Thus Slaves are not permitted to be on the street at night after 22h00 without a torch [1760];
- Slaves are not to ride horses nor wagons in the streets;
- Slaves are not to sing , whistle or make any other sound at night. Thus Slaves are not allowed to whistle loudly, and thereby entice other slaves from their master’s homes;
- Slaves are not to meet in bars, buy alcohol, or form groups on public holidays;
- Slaves are not to gather near entrances of a church during the time of religious services being conducted;
- Slaves are not to stop in the street to talk to other slaves;
- Slaves who insulted or falsely accused a freeman, would be flogged. Thus Slaves are not permitted to be cheeky with any slaveowner in public;
- Slaves who struck a slaveholder – were to be put to death;
- Slaves are not permitted to own guns or to carry dangerous weapons(1686);
- Free Blacks aren’t equal to white Free Burghers;
- Freed slave women are not to wear coloured silk or hoop skirts, fine lace, or any decoration on their hats, or earrings made of gems or imitation gems[1765];
- Slaves are banned from public assemblies in groups of 3, 4 or more in the streets or anywhere else. VOC law enforcement officials had standing instructions to disperse any crowd of slaves of 3 or more[1696];
- Slaves nor any-one else are permitted to walk-about with a burning tobacco pipe in public – in order to prevent fires;
Primary source: JACOBS, Rayda : THE SLAVE BOOK, Kwela Publishers, Cape Town, RSA
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