Our History
Griqua National Conference of South Africa
Griqua people from the early 1800’s originate from the Chariguriqua, Grigriqua and others became neo-Griqua descendants through intra-Griqua mixing over generations. Adam Kok, who emerged as Khoekhoe leader of the last-mentioned tribes in the late 1700s, left his farm in the Piketberg area, to settle with his followers near the Gariep River. The name Griqua was first used from 1813 at the mission station of Klaarwater, renamed later as Griqua town. Griqua leadership through separate captaincies and at different locations provided for a bases for the possible development of specific Griqua Identities
Abraham le Fleur, the father of Andrew Abraham Stockenström le Fleur (born on 2 July 1867, Herschel, near Aliwal North), was a secretary to Adam Kok III at Philippolis. He was also a member of the Commission to No Mans Land that was sent to explore the new territory in 1860. God’s calling upon the young A.A.S. Fleur I (1867 -1941) on 9 May 1889 to gather the dead bones of Adam Kok into a nation so that they can become God’s people and God their God. He was furthermore told by God that Lady Margret Kok will pass on the next morning (10 May 1889) and that he must inform his father (Abraham le Fleur) accordingly. Since 1894 A.A.S. le Fleur I, became a prominent Griqua leader in East Griqua Land as he advocated for the restoration of the rights of the Griqua peoples, for example, land rights, protection of the Griqua identity, constitutional recognition, etc. Through his leadership and persistence, Le Fleur I was subsequently elected as Paramount Chief and legitimate successor to Adam Kok and to his late (murdered) father-in-law Adam ‘Muis’ Kok (presumed Heir to Adam Kok III). The hereditary le Fleur family and dynasty also emanated from the marriage of le Fleur I and Rachel Susanna Kok (1870 -1947) in 1896. The last mentioned is buried at the Griqua Volksmonument at Kranshoek.
In his endeavours to fight for the rights of Griqua Peoples Le Fleur was persecuted by the colonial ‘authorities and convicted in 1898 for fourteen years, he was released on 3 April 1903 from the Breakwater prison in Cape Town. Paramount Chief le Fleur continued with his mission to serve the Griqua Peoples. He started the Griqua National Conference of South Africa (1904), the Griqua Choirs (1919), Griqua Independent Church of South Africa (1920), Griqua Men (Burger) Society, Griqua Christian Youth Society. He also master-minded self-help schemes and started a newspaper The Griqua and Coloured Peoples Opinion (an official newspaper) in early 1920’s. Le Fleur’s many initiatives and noble plans all failed because of direct interference and sabotage by the non-Griqua ‘authorities’. He managed to lead various treks of Griqua people for example approximately 700 Griqua people from Kokstad were brought with a train from Maclear station in the Eastern Cape to Touwsrivier in 1917 and whereafter they also moved to Cape Town. In 1927 Paramount Chief Le Fleur I moved with group of his followers to Plettenberg Bay, and I initially resided in Jakkalskraal in a cottage at Robberg. In 1939 Griqua people under the leadership of Paramount Chief le Fleur settled as pioneers at Kranshoek. On 11 June 1941 le Fleur I passed on and was buried at the farm Brakkloof, adjacent to the Robberg Nature Reserve.
Paramount Chief le Fleur I was succeeded by his eldest son, Abraham Andrew le Fleur (1897 – 1951), in 1941. Paramount Chief Abram le Fleur led the Griqua Peoples for ten years and made critical contributions regarding the protection of Griqua culture and socio-economic upliftment of the Griqua Peoples. He was succeeded by his eldest son Andrew Abraham Stockenström le Fleur II (1923 -2004). Paramount Chief le Fleur II made various invaluable contributions to the towards the promotion of the Griqua people’s self-recognition, constitutional accommodation and development. Paramount Chief Alan Andrew le Fleur (born 1967), eldest son Paramount Chief le Fleur II follow-up his father at a national ceremony held on 30 December 2004, Kranshoek.
The Griqua leadership formally petitions the state to restore dispossessed land and to recognise the Griqua as a distinct people with constitutional standing.
The government grants the Griqua an official classification, giving the community formal recognition and allowing members to register under the Griqua identity.