Cape Town Return of Slaves 1834 - 35

The database primarily contains records of slave registrations that were made mandatory by the British from 1816 onwards. Slavery was abolished by the British at the Cape on 01 December 1834 but slaves had to serve a four year "apprenticeship".  On 01 December 1838 all forms of forced labour was ended and slavery officially came to an end. 

❗The historical database and records presented on this web page contain terminology assigned by VOC (Dutch East India Company) and British colonial authorities. These terms oversimplify complex historical identities and may include language that is derogatory, offensive, or reflective of colonial violence, enslavement, and systemic racism. They are preserved on this website solely for historical accuracy and archival integrity.

Slave records - South African National Archives

Archive copying by Lara Seaward

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