Today in Kimberley's History
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Decision taken to build a new Kimberley City Hall - 1898
The Kimberley City Hall, an outstanding piece of Victorian architecture (in Roman Corinthian style), was designed by the well-known Kimberley architect Fergus Carstairs-Rogers and opened on 20 September 1899, a mere few weeks before the siege of Kimberley commenced. Kimberley’s previous Town Hall had been destroyed by fire on 29 March 1898, and on 13 April it was decided to build a new hall to meet the requirements of a growing town. The Directors of De Beers donated a sizable sum of money towards the building costs. Fergus Carstairs-Rogers won the design competition from nine finalists, pocketing the £100 prize money. On 16 November 1898 the foundation stone was laid by Moses Cornwall, then Mayor of Kimberley, the plans for the building consisting of a main hall and council chamber, a supper room, a Mayor’s parlour, a committee room, the Town Clerk’s office, and several administrative offices. The Hall was built by local firm, Grant and Downie, and completed at a cost of £26000, and was officially opened by the Mayor of Kimberley, Robert H. Henderson. The Hall would be the administrative and executive centre of Kimberley up until 1962 when the municipality moved to the current Civic Centre. During the siege - 14 October 1899 to 15 February 1900 - the Hall was used as the pivotal point for the issuing and rationing of food and for a time was a haven for refugees. A public poll to save the City Hall from demolition was held in 1971, and was successful due to the effort by former Mayor Lawrie Shuttleworth. The so-called coloured population were permitted to vote, and it was their vote that saved the Hall. It was officially re-opened on 18 June 1976.
The Kimberley City Hall, an outstanding piece of Victorian architecture (in Roman Corinthian style), was designed by the well-known Kimberley architect Fergus Carstairs-Rogers and opened on 20 September 1899, a mere few weeks before the siege of Kimberley commenced. Kimberley’s previous Town Hall had been destroyed by fire on 29 March 1898, and on 13 April it was decided to build a new hall to meet the requirements of a growing town. The Directors of De Beers donated a sizable sum of money towards the building costs. Fergus Carstairs-Rogers won the design competition from nine finalists, pocketing the £100 prize money. On 16 November 1898 the foundation stone was laid by Moses Cornwall, then Mayor of Kimberley, the plans for the building consisting of a main hall and council chamber, a supper room, a Mayor’s parlour, a committee room, the Town Clerk’s office, and several administrative offices. The Hall was built by local firm, Grant and Downie, and completed at a cost of £26000, and was officially opened by the Mayor of Kimberley, Robert H. Henderson. The Hall would be the administrative and executive centre of Kimberley up until 1962 when the municipality moved to the current Civic Centre. During the siege - 14 October 1899 to 15 February 1900 - the Hall was used as the pivotal point for the issuing and rationing of food and for a time was a haven for refugees. A public poll to save the City Hall from demolition was held in 1971, and was successful due to the effort by former Mayor Lawrie Shuttleworth. The so-called coloured population were permitted to vote, and it was their vote that saved the Hall. It was officially re-opened on 18 June 1976.
Primary information source courtesy of Kimberley Calls...and Recalls Facebook Group (except where otherwise stated)
The first large group of French Huguenots arrive at the Cape - 1688
The first Huguenots arrived as early as 1671, when the first Huguenot refugee, Francois Villion (later Viljoen), arrived at the Cape. By 1692, a total of 201 French Huguenots had settled at the Cape of Good Hope.
The Huguenots were French Protestants who were members of the Calvinist Reformed Church that was established in 1550. From the mid 1500s until the mid 1600s, Huguenots were persecuted in France for their religious beliefs. Therefore, thousands of Huguenots fled to countries such as Switzerland, Germany, England, America, the Netherlands, Poland and South Africa, where they could enjoy religious freedom. Simon van der Stel (Governor of the Cape) set aside land for Huguenot settlement in Franschhoek ('French corner') and Drakenstein (present day Paarl), and gave orders for the French to be interspersed with the other burghers. His reasoning for this integration was 'that they could learn our language and morals, and be integrated with the Dutch nation'. Today, many farms in these areas retain their French names.
The Dutch East India Company encouraged the Huguenots to immigrate to the Cape because they shared the same religious beliefs (Protestant), and also because most Huguenots were highly trained craftsmen or experienced farmers. Huguenots were particularly experienced in viticulture and oenology (the growing of grapes and making of wine, brandy and vinegar). The Huguenots quickly proved their conscientious and industrious nature, and their efforts led to a marked increase in the improvement of the quality of Cape wines. The Huguenots played an integral part in the stabilisation of the free burgher population. This is because without a fatherland to return to, they were forced to take root or disappear. Religious persecution had also made them more determined and more prepared to overcome obstacles.
The first Huguenots arrived as early as 1671, when the first Huguenot refugee, Francois Villion (later Viljoen), arrived at the Cape. By 1692, a total of 201 French Huguenots had settled at the Cape of Good Hope.
The Huguenots were French Protestants who were members of the Calvinist Reformed Church that was established in 1550. From the mid 1500s until the mid 1600s, Huguenots were persecuted in France for their religious beliefs. Therefore, thousands of Huguenots fled to countries such as Switzerland, Germany, England, America, the Netherlands, Poland and South Africa, where they could enjoy religious freedom. Simon van der Stel (Governor of the Cape) set aside land for Huguenot settlement in Franschhoek ('French corner') and Drakenstein (present day Paarl), and gave orders for the French to be interspersed with the other burghers. His reasoning for this integration was 'that they could learn our language and morals, and be integrated with the Dutch nation'. Today, many farms in these areas retain their French names.
The Dutch East India Company encouraged the Huguenots to immigrate to the Cape because they shared the same religious beliefs (Protestant), and also because most Huguenots were highly trained craftsmen or experienced farmers. Huguenots were particularly experienced in viticulture and oenology (the growing of grapes and making of wine, brandy and vinegar). The Huguenots quickly proved their conscientious and industrious nature, and their efforts led to a marked increase in the improvement of the quality of Cape wines. The Huguenots played an integral part in the stabilisation of the free burgher population. This is because without a fatherland to return to, they were forced to take root or disappear. Religious persecution had also made them more determined and more prepared to overcome obstacles.
Mass funeral for 28 people killed at Langa township in Uitenhage – 1985
Eighty thousand Blacks attended a mass funeral in KwaNobuhle township for the twenty-eight people killed by police during a demonstration in Langa on 21 March 1985. The demonstrators were observing the 25th anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre of 21 March 1960. The incident happened when marchers gathered in Langa, a township on the outskirts of Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, preparing to move on to Kwanobuhle, 10 km away, where the commemorative service for the 1960 massacre was to be held. Unbeknown to the Langa demonstrators, however, the government had banned the event. Police opened fire on the crowd, killing between 20 and 43 people (sources vary).
On 13 April 1985 the crowd of mourners packed KwaNobuhle stadium, the intended destination of the marchers on 21 March. Members of African National Congress (ANC)-aligned United Democratic Front (UDF) refused entry to members of competing organisations, notably the National Forum and the Azanian Peoples' Organization (AZAPO). Such tensions would become a recurrent theme. Though there were small-scale conflicts between the mourning masses and the heavy police presence, it was clear that no one was prepared for a large-scale confrontation, and participants in potential crises situations were usually able to defuse tensions before they escalated. The Langa township at Uitenhage is not to be confused with the township with the same name in Cape Town, which is known for the anti-pass march held there on 21 March 1960, the same day on which the Sharpeville massacre took place.
Eighty thousand Blacks attended a mass funeral in KwaNobuhle township for the twenty-eight people killed by police during a demonstration in Langa on 21 March 1985. The demonstrators were observing the 25th anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre of 21 March 1960. The incident happened when marchers gathered in Langa, a township on the outskirts of Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, preparing to move on to Kwanobuhle, 10 km away, where the commemorative service for the 1960 massacre was to be held. Unbeknown to the Langa demonstrators, however, the government had banned the event. Police opened fire on the crowd, killing between 20 and 43 people (sources vary).
On 13 April 1985 the crowd of mourners packed KwaNobuhle stadium, the intended destination of the marchers on 21 March. Members of African National Congress (ANC)-aligned United Democratic Front (UDF) refused entry to members of competing organisations, notably the National Forum and the Azanian Peoples' Organization (AZAPO). Such tensions would become a recurrent theme. Though there were small-scale conflicts between the mourning masses and the heavy police presence, it was clear that no one was prepared for a large-scale confrontation, and participants in potential crises situations were usually able to defuse tensions before they escalated. The Langa township at Uitenhage is not to be confused with the township with the same name in Cape Town, which is known for the anti-pass march held there on 21 March 1960, the same day on which the Sharpeville massacre took place.
Nelson Mandela announces separation from his wife, Winnie Mandela - 1992
Just two years after coming out from prison, Nelson Mandela announced his intention to separate from his wife of 34 years, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Mandela and Madikizela-Mandela were married in 1958, having met the previous year. The couple had two daughters, Zenani born in 1959 and Zindzi born in 1960. In 1962, Mandela was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island. The couple were re-united in 1990 after Mandela's release, however, they eventually separated. The divorce was finalised in 1996. While Madikizela-Mandela never remarried, Mandela went on to marry the former first lady of Mozambique, Graca Machel in 1998.
Just two years after coming out from prison, Nelson Mandela announced his intention to separate from his wife of 34 years, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Mandela and Madikizela-Mandela were married in 1958, having met the previous year. The couple had two daughters, Zenani born in 1959 and Zindzi born in 1960. In 1962, Mandela was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island. The couple were re-united in 1990 after Mandela's release, however, they eventually separated. The divorce was finalised in 1996. While Madikizela-Mandela never remarried, Mandela went on to marry the former first lady of Mozambique, Graca Machel in 1998.
Cyril Ramaphosa announces decision to leave parliament - 1996
Cyril Ramaphosa, secretary-general of the African National Congress (ANC) and chairman of the Constitutional Assembly, announced his intention to resign from Parliament once the final Constitution is agreed upon. He will become deputy executive chairman of New Africa Investment Ltd (NAIL). Ramaphosa was the only real challenger to Thabo Mbeki in the race to succeed outgoing president Nelson Mandela. However, he continued to be an active member of the ANC, becoming president of the ANC and the country some 22 years later.
Cyril Ramaphosa, secretary-general of the African National Congress (ANC) and chairman of the Constitutional Assembly, announced his intention to resign from Parliament once the final Constitution is agreed upon. He will become deputy executive chairman of New Africa Investment Ltd (NAIL). Ramaphosa was the only real challenger to Thabo Mbeki in the race to succeed outgoing president Nelson Mandela. However, he continued to be an active member of the ANC, becoming president of the ANC and the country some 22 years later.