From the 1650s through the late 1800s, South Africa was a focal point for European colonists. Initially, the Dutch, and later the British, sought to claim the region for themselves. Their struggle intensified after discovering the area’s abundant natural resources. In their ruthless scramble for control, both colonial powers violently displaced numerous Indigenous communities from their ancestral lands. Despite these conflicts, the colonizers often claimed they were settling in empty land devoid of local people. These reports were corroborated in letters and travelogues by various administrators, soldiers, and missionaries. Maps were drawn reflecting these claims, and prominent British historians supported this narrative.
Publications codifying the so-called Empty Land Theory had three central arguments. First, most of the land being settled by Europeans had no established communities or agricultural infrastructure. Second, any African communities that were in those regions had allegedly entered the area at the same time as Europeans, so they didn’t have an ancestral claim to the land. Third, since these African communities had probably stolen the land from earlier, no-longer-present Indigenous people, the Europeans were within their rights to displace these African settlers.
The problem is that all three of these arguments were completely false. Almost none of this land was empty, and Africans had lived here for millennia. Indigenous South Africans simply had a different practice of land ownership from the Dutch and British. The land belonged to families or groups, not individuals. And even that ownership was more focused on the land’s agricultural products than the land itself. Community leaders would distribute seasonal land rights, allowing various nomadic groups to graze cattle or forage for vegetation. Even the groups that did live in large agricultural settlements didn’t believe they owned the land as private property.
However, the colonizing Europeans had no respect for this system of ownership. They concluded the land belonged to no one and could therefore be divided amongst themselves. In this context, claims that the land was “empty” were an ignorant oversimplification of a much more complex reality. However, the Empty Land Theory allowed British academics to rewrite history and minimize native populations.
In 1894, the European Parliament in Cape Town took this exploitation even further by passing the Glen Grey Act. This decree made it functionally impossible for native Africans to own land, shattering the system of collective tribal ownership and creating a class of landless people. To justify the theft, Europeans painted the locals as barbarians who lacked the capacity for reason and were better off being ruled by the colonizers.
This strategy of stripping locals of their right to ancestral lands and casting native people as savages has been employed by many colonizers. Now known as the Empty Land Myth, this is a well-established technique in the colonial playbook, and its impact can be found in the history of many countries, including Australia, Canada, and the United States.
In South Africa, the influence of this narrative can be traced directly to a brutal campaign of institutionalized racism. Barred from their lands, the once self-sufficient population struggled as migrant laborers and miners on European-owned property. The law forbade them from working certain skilled jobs and forced Africans to live in racially segregated areas. Over time, these racist policies intensified, mandating separation in urban areas, restricting voting rights, and eventually building up to apartheid.
Under this system, African people had no voting rights, and the education of native Africans was overhauled to emphasize their legal and social subservience to white settlers. This state of legally enforced racism persisted through the early 1990s, and throughout this period, colonists frequently invoked the Empty Land Theory to justify the unequal distribution of land. South African resistance movements fought throughout the 20th century to gain political and economic freedom. Since the 1980s, South African scholars have been using archaeological evidence to correct the historical record.
Today, South African schools are finally teaching the region’s true history. But the legacy of the Empty Land Myth still persists as one of the most harmful stories ever told.
Examine historical maps of South Africa from the 1650s to the late 1800s. Compare these maps with modern maps of South Africa. Identify and discuss the differences in territorial boundaries and the representation of Indigenous communities. Consider how these maps might have been used to support the Empty Land Theory.
Participate in a classroom debate on the Empty Land Theory. Divide into two groups: one supporting the theory as it was historically presented, and the other refuting it with evidence from the article. Use historical documents, letters, and travelogues to support your arguments. Reflect on how this debate helps you understand the perspectives of both the colonizers and the Indigenous people.
Choose a historical figure from the article, such as a European colonist, an Indigenous leader, or a British historian. Research their background and role during the colonization of South Africa. Write a monologue from their perspective and present it to the class. Discuss how their actions and beliefs contributed to the spread of the Empty Land Myth.
Conduct a research project on the Glen Grey Act of 1894. Investigate its provisions, implementation, and impact on Indigenous communities. Create a presentation that explains how this act furthered the goals of European colonizers and contributed to the systemic disenfranchisement of native Africans. Include primary sources and historical accounts in your research.
Write a short story or diary entry from the perspective of a native African living under apartheid. Describe their daily life, struggles, and resistance against the oppressive system. Use historical facts and details from the article to make your narrative realistic and engaging. Share your story with the class and discuss the long-term effects of the Empty Land Myth on South African society.
colonization – the act of establishing a colony or colonies in a territory – The colonization of America by European powers led to significant changes in the indigenous population and culture.
South Africa – a country located at the southernmost tip of the African continent – Nelson Mandela played a crucial role in the transition to democracy in South Africa.
Dutch – relating to the people, language, or culture of the Netherlands – The Dutch brought their language and customs to the colonies they established in South Africa.
British – relating to the people, language, or culture of Great Britain – The British Empire had a significant influence on the development of colonies worldwide.
Indigenous communities – communities of people who are native to a particular region or land – The indigenous communities of North America have a rich cultural heritage.
natural resources – materials or substances that exist in nature and can be used for economic gain – Oil and gas are valuable natural resources found in many countries around the world.
empty land – land that is unoccupied or not being used for any specific purpose – The pioneers claimed the empty land and started building their homesteads.
land ownership – the legal rights and responsibilities associated with possessing and controlling land – The dispute over land ownership between the two neighboring countries led to a long-standing conflict.
Glen Grey Act – a law passed in 1894 in South Africa that restricted the land ownership rights of black people – The Glen Grey Act was one of the discriminatory policies enforced during the apartheid era.
institutionalized racism – a system or practice within institutions that discriminates against certain races or perpetuates racial inequality – The Jim Crow laws in the United States were examples of institutionalized racism.
