Members of the Royal Griqua Tribe, which organised the event, were dressed in full regalia.

Goab Bishop Kenneth Visser, a provincial leader of the Griqua Royal House, said it was of great significance to come back to the castle, where Adam Kok had once been imprisoned. “For us it means the freedom of the Griqua nation,” he said.

Maurice Vivian Kok, head of the Kok family, implored the ANC and the government to protect the “descendants of Adam Kok”.

“Our people’s morale is very low. This is leading people to crime. Our people feel rejected and we urgently need the assistance of government.

“The Khoi and the San people are seen to be a marginalised people. We must not destroy our status as an aboriginal group,” he said.

Shanti Aboobaker of Cape Times.