Lord Grey, the Colonial Secretary in London in November 1848 proposed to modify the penal transport provisions to include the Cape Colony as a destination for convicts. The British had stopped using Australia as their dumping ground for convicts. When news of this idea reached the Cape there was widespread outrage. Dutchmen and Englishmen, farmers and townsfolk, joined in utter condemnation of the plan. Strong views were expressed. Never would this be allowed. Within ten days some 5 000 residents, ‘one of the largest and most respectable public meetings ever held in Cape Town’ gathered to protest (see main image). A pledge was signed not to receive or employ any convicts. Petitions were widely signed and sent to Queen Victoria. An Anti-Convict Committee was formed of which John Fairbairn was elected secretary. John Fairbairn was a prominent and liberal citizen and founder of Old Mutual, amongst many other achievements. His involvement would lead to him getting beaten up and his house in Green Point wrecked by government thugs, such was the tension that arose.
The following year in September, the first convict ship, Neptune, sailed into Table Bay with 300 convicts aboard. The fury of the populace was uncontained. There would be a total ban on any contact with the ship. No produce, no food, no visitors, not even the sick would be landed. Neptune relocated to Simon’s Bay to avoid the bitter campaign. The ban on selling food to the Neptune was extended to all government institutions to prevent them...
