History must tell everyone’s stories: Why SA must decolonise the curriculum

Daily Maverick · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · May 27, 2026 · 1356 words · By Michael le Cordeur

Educational Reform Decolonization of History National Identity and Reconciliation

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What to know about Educational Reform

I still remember how, more than 50 years ago, Miss Ontong, our Grade 4 teacher, read us the story of “Onse Jan”.

Claims checked 11

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center88%

Right12%

8 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

I still remember how, more than 50 years ago, Miss Ontong, our Grade 4 teacher, read us the story of “Onse Jan”.

Why it matters

The history of the three ships that arrived in Cape Town on 6 April 1652 was gripping.

Common ground

Recent disagreements about the proposed new history curriculum made me think back to that story.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Transfer, Glittering Generalities: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Educational Reform story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has followed a thorough consultation process. The revision of the curriculum is the result of a process that began in 2019 when a ministerial task team was appointed to develop a new history curriculum for grades 4 to 12?
How does this story connect Educational Reform with Decolonization of History over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-05-27-history-must-tell-everyon…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

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Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Transfer 60% confidence

Projecting positive or negative qualities of one thing onto another to make it accepted or rejected.

Why it matters: Recognizing transfer helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Glittering Generalities 70% confidence

Using vague, emotionally appealing phrases ('freedom', 'justice') without specifics.

Why it matters: Recognizing glittering generalities helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 11 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

verified Verified By Reference 3

check_circle Corroborated 2

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

schedule Pending 1

verified Verified 1

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Claim 1: “the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has followed a thorough consultation process. The revision of the curriculum is the result of a process that began in 2019 when a ministerial task team was appointed to develop a new history curriculum for grades 4 to 12.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web search results from the South African Government and news sources confirm that a ministerial task team was appointed in 2019 by Minister Angie Motshekga to develop a new history curriculum for grades 4-12.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is one of the departments of the South African government. It oversees primary and secondary education in South Africa. It was created in 2009 after the electio…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Basic_Education

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Education in South Africa is governed by two national departments, namely the Department of Basic Education (DBE), which is responsible for primary and secondary schools, and the Department of Higher …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_South_Africa

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Minister of Basic Education is the minister in the Cabinet of South Africa who has political responsibility for the Department of Basic Education. The portfolio includes both primary and secondary…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Basic_Education

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 2: “Consultations were conducted in all nine provinces during 2023 and 2024.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of general definitions of 'curriculum' and does not mention the specific provincial consultations in South Africa for 2023 and 2024.

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web search NEUTRAL — Kerr defines curriculum as "all the learning which is planned and guided by the school, whether it is carried on in groups or individually, inside or outside of school." [4]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curriculum

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web search NEUTRAL — Aug 27, 2025 · A curriculum is an inventory of activities related to the design, organization and planning of an education or training action. It defines learning objectives, content, methods, assessm…
https://www.unesco.org/en/curriculum/need-know

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web search NEUTRAL — Aug 25, 2025 · Defining curriculum has never been straightforward. Different educationists have approached the concept from different angles, and their definitions reflect the evolving understanding o…
https://teachers.institute/managing-teaching-learning/unders…

schedule

Claim 3: “Traditional history, including colonialism and apartheid as covered in the current CAPS curriculum, will remain part of the syllabus.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 4: “The curriculum moves away from a history that begins with the European arrival of Jan van Riebeeck. Instead, it focuses on precolonial Africa.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to support or refute this claim.

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Claim 5: “Since then, it has been reviewed by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, the Heads of Education Departments Committee, the Council of Education Ministers and Umalusi. All approved its release for public comment in November 2025.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to support or refute this claim.

verified

Claim 6: “thousands of black and coloured soldiers who also fought against British forces, for example at the battles of Ladysmith and Mafikeng”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia confirms the Second Boer War (South African War) occurred, but the provided evidence does not mention the specific involvement of thousands of Black and Coloured soldiers at Ladysmith and Mafikeng.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The British diaspora in Africa is a population group broadly defined as English-speaking people of mainly (but not only) British descent who live in or were born in the African continent. The majority…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_diaspora_in_Africa

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN) is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the government merged the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Provin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KwaZulu-Natal

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Second Boer War (Afrikaans: Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, lit. 'Second Freedom War', 11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, w…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Boer_War

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 7: “This proverb, associated with several African countries, including Ghana and Kenya”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm the proverb and associate it with various African regions, specifically mentioning Ghana (Ewe-mina) and other parts of Africa.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Apr. 2006: “Until the lion has his or her own storyteller, the hunter will always have the best part of the story.” – Ewe-mina (Benin, Ghana, and Togo) Proverb.
https://afriprov.tangaza.ac.ke/april-2006-proverb-quntil-the…

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web search NEUTRAL — It exists in different forms in many parts of Africa. Variations in other African languages are: “Until lions have their own historians, tales of the hunt shall ...
http://thelionandthehunter.org/about-this-project/

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web search NEUTRAL — Sep 30, 2022 ... And so what. Mel Gibson did It in the patriot. We have so few stories that reflect what was because our history has been erased, ...
https://www.facebook.com/viola.davis/posts/until-the-lion-le…

info

Claim 8: “Sol Plaatje... recorded a large part of the Great Trek”

SINGLE SOURCE

Web search results confirm Sol Plaatje recorded the political history of South Africa and wrote 'Native Life in South Africa', but there is no specific confirmation in the provided evidence that he recorded a 'large part of the Great Trek'.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Maritz rebellion, also known as the Third Boer War, or the Five Shilling rebellion, was an armed pro-German insurrection in South Africa in 1914, at the start of World War I. It was led by Boers w…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritz_rebellion

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thaba 'Nchu, also known as Blesberg (bald mountain in Afrikaans), is a town in Free State, South Africa, 63 km east of Bloemfontein and 17 km east of Botshabelo. The population is largely made up of T…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaba_'Nchu

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — uMkhonto weSizwe (Xhosa pronunciation: [um̩ˈkʰonto we ˈsizwe]; abbreviated MK; lit. 'Spear of the Nation') was the paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC), founded by Nelson Mandela i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMkhonto_weSizwe

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 9: “Feedback gathered there was incorporated into draft documents before being submitted to the minister in January 2025.”

VERIFIED

A web search result specifically states that inputs from consultations were incorporated into draft documents before being presented to the Minister in January 2025.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Apr 9, 2026 ... Inputs arising from those consultations were incorporated into the draft documents before they were presented to the Minister in January 2025.
https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/basic-education-inv…

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web search NEUTRAL — Sep 3, 2025 ... *Key Policy Shifts* Admission outcomes must now be given within 14 days (faster than before). Grade R, 1 and 8 are recognised as official entry ...
https://www.facebook.com/GovernmentZA/posts/new-draft-regula…

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web search NEUTRAL — Jan 30, 2026 ... The Secretary proposes to amend the regulations for the Federal student loan programs authorized under title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) ...
https://www.regulations.gov/document/ED-2025-OPE-0944-0001

verified

Claim 10: “three ships that arrived in Cape Town on 6 April 1652”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While Wikipedia confirms the Cape Colony was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, the provided evidence does not specifically mention the number of ships (three) or the exact date of April 6, 1652.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's second-largest city by population, afte…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Town

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Cape Town Spurs F.C. (formerly known as Ajax Cape Town) is a South African professional football club based in Parow in the city of Cape Town that plays in the National First Division. Dutch Eredivisi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Town_Spurs_F.C.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Cape Town Stadium (Afrikaans: Kaapstad-stadion; Xhosa: Inkundla yezemidlalo yaseKapa; known since 2021 as the DHL Stadium for sponsorship reasons) is a football (soccer) and rugby union stadium in…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Town_Stadium

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 11: “the emancipation of slaves on 1 August 1834”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provides general information about slavery and the Atlantic slave trade, but does not specifically confirm the date of August 1, 1834, as the date of emancipation.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Atlantic slave trade or transatlantic slave trade involved the transportation by slave traders of enslaved African people to the Americas. This trade was operated by slave ships from both Europe a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_slave_trade

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regard to their labour. It is an economic phenomenon and its history resides in economic history. Slavery typically involves compulsory …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Chattel slavery was a major institution and a significant part of the Ottoman Empire's economy and traditional society. The main sources of slaves were wars and politically organized enslavement exped…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_Ottoman_Empire

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.