The selflessness and courageous deeds of former Batlhaping Kgosis, Luka Jantje and Galeshewe were honoured by the Northern Cape Provincial Government during heritage month. The two Kgosis have been honoured during a cleansing ceremony at the Luka Farm which is situated at the Langerberg near Olifanshoek in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District on Friday, 25 September 2015. The farm is an 1890s battlefield were British colonials killed and displaced over 2 000 Batlhaping men, women and children for their land.
Luka Jantje was of the Tlhaping Kgosi and was bitterly opposed to the colonists.
Together with Galeshewe and Toto, Jantje resisted against British rule and after some initial defeats; most of the surviving warriors under Jantje retreated into the Langeberg Hills. There they withstood an eight-month siege, before being defeated.
The attack on Gamasep took place on 30 July 1897, and the Langeberg Rebellion ended on 3 August. Following the death of over 2,000 men, women and children, Batlhaping positions were overrun by about 2,000 colonial troops, and the surviving warriors were arrested or executed.
Jantje was beheaded, and Galeshewe and Toto were imprisoned on Robben Island. Jantje’s death marked the collapse of the Tswana resistance. About 4,000 Tswana men, women and children were taken captive and sent to the Western Cape to work as unpaid labourers for local white farmers.