After more than a century of neglect, hundreds of black South African servicemen who died during World War I have finally been recognized with a new memorial in Cape Town. These 1,772 men served in East Africa in dangerous, grueling non-combatant roles such as porters, wagon drivers, and railway workers, yet had remained unacknowledged, with no known graves or memorials until now.
The Cape Town Labour Corps Memorial features individually engraved timber posts bearing each serviceman’s name. Princess Anne, president of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), unveiled the memorial during an emotional ceremony attended by relatives of the deceased.
In 2021, the UK government issued an apology following a report that identified “pervasive racism” as the reason for failing to properly honor over 100,000 black and Asian troops who died while fighting for Britain. The unveiling of this memorial is seen as a step toward correcting that historical oversight.
Relatives of the servicemen expressed pride and joy in seeing their ancestors’ contributions finally recognized. Elliot Malunga Delihlazo, the great-nephew of Bhesengile Delihlazo—a driver who died on January 21, 1917—shared how the family was happy to learn when he died, even though the exact location remains unknown. The family had already honored him with a private memorial, but Elliot said this public recognition “makes us proud… to be one of the families that people can talk about in the course of history.”
Similarly, Zweletu Hlakula, the great-grandson of Job Hlakula, described the family’s feelings as “humbled” and “proud.” He added, “We even rejoice when we talk about Job. It’s a pride that we’ve got in our name for him to be remembered.”
The CWGC’s director general, Claire Horton, emphasized the significance of the memorial as a “culmination of years of work,” calling it a “poignant tribute” to the predominantly black South Africans who served during the war but were overlooked at the time.
This memorial stands as a long-overdue acknowledgment of the sacrifices and contributions of these servicemen, ensuring that their legacy is finally preserved for future generations.