First free burgher farms established along the Liesbeeck River

The VOC settlement at Table Bay struggled to produce enough grain and fresh food for its ships and garrison. In February 1657, nine Company employees were released from service as free burghers and received farms in two groups along the Liesbeeck River. They were expected to cultivate grain and sell produce to the Company under specified conditions.

The grants were made by the VOC government, which treated the land as available for allocation. Khoekhoe pastoralists, however, already used the Liesbeeck area seasonally for grazing, water and movement. No agreement transferring those customary rights preceded the grants. Early farmers also faced drought, unfamiliar conditions, limited infrastructure and the danger of livestock raids.

Significance

The free-burgher scheme was a practical response to food shortages and the cost of direct Company farming. It also changed the character of the station by establishing permanent private farms and increasing demand for land and labour. The overlap between legally recognised VOC grants and unrecognised Khoekhoe use became a principal cause of the First Khoekhoe–Dutch War.