ELIAJAH MAKIWANE

The period when newspapers begin to live in the history of any people is an important era. . . The reception it meets will help to determine whether those ambitious thoughts and deplorable deeds that are shaking mankind at the other side of the world can be read with any interest in the native village, the mission station, and towns of this colony, by those for whom the paper is chiefly intended. . . The newspaper of the present day is undoubtedly a great educator. And were The Kaffir Express to become an established fact, it might be the double means of educating and informing, of carrying ideas and stimulating the desire to be able to read. . . We call the attention of our native friends to this very striking performance, and respectfully ask their consideration to what is stated below and in the prospectus, to prevent its repetition. . . The newspaper will be unsectarian in its character. It will represent no denominational body, but the cause of missions generally, and the interests of the native people. It does not profess to be more than a newspaper. . . The paper will be addressed to the intelligent portion of the native community who are able to read, or have an interest in what is goimg on in the world beyond their own dwellings.

-Elijah Makiwane, "To Our Readers" [First Editorial], The Kaffir Express [Isigidimi Sama Xosa], October 1, 1870.