[2] They were sent to South Africa as missionaries by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and they arrived in Inanda, north of Durban, in 1881.

[6] Dube gave a number of lectures, which formed the basis of his pamphlet, "A Familiar Talk Upon My native Land and some things found there" (Rochester, N.Y.: R.M.

The company led to acquiring land for thousands of black natives in Natal Province, which was met with disapproval by the local government.

As a result of their opposition, the couple were driven to bankruptcy in 1918 by the administration and white colonial South Africans who were afraid of what might happen if the native population was allowed to own land.

[9] The Wilcoxes contribution to South Africa's history was recognised when the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zweli Mkhize, visited Los Angeles to honour them in 2009.

Mkhize said "William and Ida Belle Wilcox sacrificed all that they had in solidarity with the South African people.

"[8] Their work was awarded the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo also in 2009 - the highest South African honour available to foreigners.