Answer to Question #136606 in History for Nonhlanhla

Question

What were the main difficulties faced by freeburgher farmers in the south-western Cape in the early decades of the VOC settlement?

Answer 1

In 1799, VOC became bankrupt as it struggled to pay the Free burgers wages and support its governance. As a result, free burger farmers faced massive economic troubles. The VOC company dominated the market, and as a result, Free Burger farmers had no option but to play along to the set standards and policies.

The Free Burger farmers faced countless challenges; they got low prices for their grains and vegetables. The free burgers had restrictions on the types of crops they could plant. Financial constraints prevented Free Burgers from practicing agriculture that had its basis on the Dutch cultures. VOC forced the Free Burgers to pay taxes and tithes, jeopardizing farming activities and other economic activities among the Free Burgers. Furthermore, the Khoikhoi people attacked the free Burgers taking away their livestock and occupying their lands due to resettlement grievances.