Today in Kimberley's History
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Resistance to apartheid in Kimberley was mounted as early as mid-1952 as part of the Defiance Campaign. Dr Arthur Letele put together a group of volunteers to defy the segregation laws by occupying 'Europeans Only’ benches at Kimberley Railway Station on September 16th 1952 – which led to arrest and imprisonment.
On 7th November 1952 protesters demonstrated against apartheid by occupying racially segregated public spaces in Kimberley. Dr Letele and seven other Galeshewe executive ANC members were arrested. The arrests fuelled further resentment and led to public uprisings in the streets of No. 2 Location, where both public and private property were destroyed. The protest continued on 8th November with more arrests, and the police station and several other buildings including the creche were burnt. Police, municipal and private vehicles were set alight. Protesters intended to march towards the centre of Kimberley and threatened to burn the petrol depot in Cecil Sussman Road. However, before they could reach the depot, the police stopped the march by firing indiscriminately into the crowd. Thirteen people were killed and 78 wounded. This protest became know as the Mayibuye Uprising. The subsequent mass funeral was held on 12 November 1952 at Kimberley’s West End Cemetery. Detained following the massacre were alleged ‘ring-leaders’ Dr Arthur Letele, Sam Phakedi, Pepys Madibane, Olehile Sehume, Alexander Nkoane, Daniel Chabalala and David Mpiwa. Archdeacon Wade of St Matthew’s Church, as a witness at the subsequent inquiry, placed the blame squarely on the policy of apartheid – including poor housing, lighting and public transport, together with "unfulfilled promises" – which he said "brought about the conditions which led to the riots." |
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