Person

Stanford, Walter Ernest Mortimer

1850-1933

Sir Walter Ernest Mortimer Stanford, (1850-1933) was born in Alice and educated at Lovedale. He married Alice Sarah Walker in 1883 and there were 3 sons and 4 daughters. Stanford worked as a clerk with his uncle, J C Warner, who was agent with the Thembu, then in the civil service where he was stationed at Queenstown, East London and Glen Grey. In April 1876 he was appointed magistrate to the Qwathi chief, Dalasile, and settled at Engcobo. In 1885 he was promoted to chief magistrate of Griqualand East at Kokstad. Stanford was involved in negotiations with the Mpondo and in December 1886 reached an agreement with them which settled all outstanding issues and provided for future relations. He was awarded the C.M.G. in 1891 and then became responsible for the administration of eastern Pondoland. In 1897 Stanford was appointed under-secretary for native affairs, where his min concern was the administration and amendment of the Glen Grey Act (1894). He became the first chief magistrate of the Transkeian territories in 1902. In 1904 Stanford was reappointed under-secretary for native affairs without relinquishing his chief magistracy. Special duties during this period included his attendance as an adviser at the inter-state customs conference, 1903, membership of the native affairs commission, 1903-1905, and acting as adviser to Lord Selborne on Swazi affairs in 1906. Illhealth compelled Stanford's retirement in 1907, but did not end his public life, as he entered the Cape Legislative Assembly in 1908 as an independent member for Tembuland. From 1910-1929, Stanford served in the Senate, being nominated on the grounds of his thorough acquaintance with the needs of the coloured races in South Africa. In 1924 he was appointed a K.B.E. and an honorary LL.D. was conferred on him by the University of Cape Town in 1927.

BC293