Moses Kamsali Banda

Johannesburg, South Africa on May 8, 1927

Interview by H.G. Falwasser

Subjects - Maphunziro:

Born in Chinteche, Kamsai Moses Banda first entered South Africa at Messina in 1915. Masquerading as a Mozambican, he worked at a Brakpan mine for 9 years. In 1925, he moved to work on the Messina copper mines. By mid-1927, when he applied to be re-employed on the mines, his family lived in Louis Trichardt while he was working further south in Lydenburg.

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Born in Chinteche, Kamsai Moses Banda first entered South Africa at Messina in 1915. Masquerading as a Mozambican, he worked at a Brakpan mine for 9 years. In 1925, he moved to work on the Messina copper mines. By mid-1927, when he applied to be re-employed on the mines, his family lived in Louis Trichardt while he was working further south in Lydenburg.
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Born in Chinteche, Kamsai Moses Banda first entered South Africa at Messina in 1915. Masquerading as a Mozambican, he worked at a Brakpan mine for 9 years. In 1925, he moved to work on the Messina copper mines. By mid-1927, when he applied to be re-employed on the mines, his family lived in Louis Trichardt while he was working further south in Lydenburg.
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I. Moses Kamsali Banda TP 34228 K of Louis Trichardt, Transvaal, do hereby make a statement and declare:-

II. That I left Nyasaland in 1914 and came to the Transvaal via Messina. I was recruited with Shangaan boys for the mine in 1915 and was allotted to the Brakpan mines. I worked on that mine as a hammer boy underground for 9 years.

In 1924, I applied to the Director for Native Labour for permission [to work] on the mines, and the permission was granted. (Note: Tropical Register shows that Moses Kamsali Banda pp.433683 M/Banoni applied for permission to be employed on mines and was authorised on the 20/5/24.)

I produce herewith a piece of the passport I worked on at the Brakpan mines from 1924 to December inclusive. The passport was inadvertently washed in my coat and this is the only part of it I could keep. (pp.573844 M/Benoni coy no: 2183.

[Note: I asked Mr MacMaster to ring up Benoni for particulars of the pp. no: coy 2183:- The following are particulars given by Benoni pass office:

First Name:- Kamsali

Also known by:- Moses

Surname:- Banda

Chief:- Mazumba

Kraal:- Mzimba

Magistracy:- Chintechi B.N.P.

This native was registered as a Transvaal native as he was so previously registered to the same mine under passport 433683 M/Benoni when he was allotted to that mine by the WNLA.]

III. That I October 1925 I worked on the Messina Copper Mine till Sept 1926 when I was made to pay Transvaal Native tax by the S.N.A Louis Trichardt. I am a married man and my family is living at Louis Trichardt. My mine no at Messina was 186. I have no intention of returning to Nyasaland. I was working at Lydenburg for three months during this year.

I pray for permission to be re-employed on mines.

Re-employment on mines approved Director previous no:28A/1924 and no: 18/1927 to be quoted on every subsequent pass issued to this native

Director of Native Labour [stamped 8 May 1927]