Today in Kimberley's History
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Johannesburg Stock Exchange is established - 1887
The Johannesburg's Stock Exchange (JSE) is established in Johannesburg to facilitate the explosion of trade sparked by the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand. The discovery of gold in 1886 resulted in the formation of mining and financial companies with investors who needed a central facility to access primary capital. Initially trading took place in a miner' tent and moved to the stables at the corner of what in now Saur and Commissioner Streets. Benjamin Minors Wollan proposed to a meeting of the Exchange and Chambers Company board and members that 'the Johannesburg Stock Exchange should be established. On 8th November 1887 Woollan founded the JSE by providing a facility to conduct trading. The establishment of the JSE at this time made it the oldest stock exchange facility in the subcontinent.
The Johannesburg's Stock Exchange (JSE) is established in Johannesburg to facilitate the explosion of trade sparked by the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand. The discovery of gold in 1886 resulted in the formation of mining and financial companies with investors who needed a central facility to access primary capital. Initially trading took place in a miner' tent and moved to the stables at the corner of what in now Saur and Commissioner Streets. Benjamin Minors Wollan proposed to a meeting of the Exchange and Chambers Company board and members that 'the Johannesburg Stock Exchange should be established. On 8th November 1887 Woollan founded the JSE by providing a facility to conduct trading. The establishment of the JSE at this time made it the oldest stock exchange facility in the subcontinent.
24 days since beginning of the Siege of Kimberley, 1899
Extract from "The Diary of a Doctor's Wife – During the Siege of Kimberley October 1899 to February 1900" by Winifred Heberden.
A mysterious lull in the enemy's quarter has now been explained by the Boers bombarding us from Otto's Kopje with their biggest gun and two smaller ones. It seems that large waggons with big red crosses spread right over the canvas were observed yesterday moving towards Otto's Kopje at sunset, leading our men on the Forts to suppose that funerals were going on. It is certain now that these guns were on the waggons!
Extract from "The Diary of a Doctor's Wife – During the Siege of Kimberley October 1899 to February 1900" by Winifred Heberden.
A mysterious lull in the enemy's quarter has now been explained by the Boers bombarding us from Otto's Kopje with their biggest gun and two smaller ones. It seems that large waggons with big red crosses spread right over the canvas were observed yesterday moving towards Otto's Kopje at sunset, leading our men on the Forts to suppose that funerals were going on. It is certain now that these guns were on the waggons!
13 people killed and 78 wounded by police during what is now known as the Mayibuye Uprising - 1952
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 known 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."
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 known 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."
P.W. Botha funeral - 2006
Pieter Willem Botha was the prime minister and then president of South Africa from 1978 to 1989. He is commonly referred to as "Die Groot Krokodil" for his strong advocacy of the apartheid system. Botha's political career began when he joined the National Party, and acted as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs. Following Voster's resignation, Botha became Prime Minister, hoping to implement a federal system in South Africa, whereby more autonomy could be provided to homelands and power could remain in the hands of the White centralized government. During this time, Botha was set on curbing what he perceived as the communist threat on the African continent and so pursued a policy to strengthen the military capabilities of South Africa. This included providing military support for the anti-communist group, UNITA during the Angolan Civil War as well as the secret nuclear collaboration with Israel, resulting in the creation of six nuclear bombs. In his role as president of South Africa, Botha proposed a new constitution, in which two houses of Parliament would be created for "Coloureds" and Indians, allowing them to vote for parliamentary representatives.
The Tricameral Parliament, as this became known, was met with criticism, as was Botha's "Crossing the Rubicon" speech. It was expected that new reforms would be announced, but he only confirmed his obstinacy in refusing to grant concessions to the Black majority, which included the release of Nelson Mandela. Botha's defiance of the international community in his speech intensified the international condemnation of apartheid as economic sanctions were called for, isolating South Africa even further. The internal opposition to his leadership resulted in a number of strikes and protests around the country. Botha responded by implementing a nationwide state of emergency in 1986, resulting in 8000 murders, mostly of a political nature.
Botha's political career came to an end in 1989, as he suffered a stroke. He resigned from the National Party and was succeeded by F.W. de Klerk, who has been praised for the steps he took to dismantle the system of apartheid. Botha was called upon to testify at the hearing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1996, but refused to do so. He also refused to apologise for apartheid and stated in an interview marking his 90th birthday that he had no regrets in the way he governed the country. In October 2006, Botha died of a heart attack and was buried on 8 November 2006. The then president, Thabo Mbeki, led a government delegation to the funeral service, stating that his attendance was in the interest of pursuing national reconciliation and nation building. He called for a balanced appraisal of Botha's life, crediting Botha with the eventual unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC), as it was during his term of office that secret talks with the ANC were held.
Pieter Willem Botha was the prime minister and then president of South Africa from 1978 to 1989. He is commonly referred to as "Die Groot Krokodil" for his strong advocacy of the apartheid system. Botha's political career began when he joined the National Party, and acted as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs. Following Voster's resignation, Botha became Prime Minister, hoping to implement a federal system in South Africa, whereby more autonomy could be provided to homelands and power could remain in the hands of the White centralized government. During this time, Botha was set on curbing what he perceived as the communist threat on the African continent and so pursued a policy to strengthen the military capabilities of South Africa. This included providing military support for the anti-communist group, UNITA during the Angolan Civil War as well as the secret nuclear collaboration with Israel, resulting in the creation of six nuclear bombs. In his role as president of South Africa, Botha proposed a new constitution, in which two houses of Parliament would be created for "Coloureds" and Indians, allowing them to vote for parliamentary representatives.
The Tricameral Parliament, as this became known, was met with criticism, as was Botha's "Crossing the Rubicon" speech. It was expected that new reforms would be announced, but he only confirmed his obstinacy in refusing to grant concessions to the Black majority, which included the release of Nelson Mandela. Botha's defiance of the international community in his speech intensified the international condemnation of apartheid as economic sanctions were called for, isolating South Africa even further. The internal opposition to his leadership resulted in a number of strikes and protests around the country. Botha responded by implementing a nationwide state of emergency in 1986, resulting in 8000 murders, mostly of a political nature.
Botha's political career came to an end in 1989, as he suffered a stroke. He resigned from the National Party and was succeeded by F.W. de Klerk, who has been praised for the steps he took to dismantle the system of apartheid. Botha was called upon to testify at the hearing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1996, but refused to do so. He also refused to apologise for apartheid and stated in an interview marking his 90th birthday that he had no regrets in the way he governed the country. In October 2006, Botha died of a heart attack and was buried on 8 November 2006. The then president, Thabo Mbeki, led a government delegation to the funeral service, stating that his attendance was in the interest of pursuing national reconciliation and nation building. He called for a balanced appraisal of Botha's life, crediting Botha with the eventual unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC), as it was during his term of office that secret talks with the ANC were held.
