Today in Kimberley's History
April 30th
"Every day has a story about Kimberley's past."
On this day...
The thirtieth of April has witnessed events that shaped both Kimberley and South Africa in very different ways. In 1925, the future King Edward VIII arrived in South Africa to begin an ambitious three-month royal tour that would bring him to Kimberley later that winter. Half a century later, schoolchildren in Soweto took the first steps in a protest that would change the course of South African history. In 1991, as apartheid drew to a close, young activists gathered in Kimberley to demand the release of all remaining political prisoners.
1925 – The Prince of Wales Begins His South African Tour
On 30 April 1925, Edward, Prince of Wales, stepped ashore from HMS Repulse in Table Bay to begin one of the most extensive royal tours ever undertaken in southern Africa.
The visit had been planned to strengthen ties between Britain and its southern African dominions following the First World War. It was also intended to promote reconciliation between English- and Afrikaans-speaking South Africans following the South African War (Anglo-Boer War). Throughout the tour, the Prince made a conscious effort to honour both communities, laying wreaths at the graves of former Boer leaders Paul Kruger and Marthinus Steyn, while also thanking South Africans for their wartime service.
Travelling aboard a specially prepared "White Train", the Prince would cover almost 10,000 miles across South Africa, Basutoland (Lesotho), Swaziland (Eswatini), Bechuanaland (Botswana), Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). His schedule was relentless. During the tour he received dozens of formal addresses, reviewed military parades, met thousands of people and shook so many hands that he sprained his right wrist, eventually greeting people with his left hand instead.
Among the many memorable moments were receiving a beautifully crafted kaross from Charlotte Maxeke on his thirty-first birthday, opening the central block of the University of the Witwatersrand, visiting Victoria Falls, and exchanging gifts with Barolong leaders at Mafikeng. Almost three months later, on 23 July 1925, the Prince arrived in Kimberley, where he visited the Honoured Dead Memorial, the Big Hole, Wesselton Mine, schools, community gatherings and civic celebrations, making it one of the busiest days of his remarkable tour.
Did You Know?
During the tour, the Prince estimated that he shook hands around 10,000 times. He later joked that he felt "like a man caught in a revolving door" as he was hurried from one engagement to the next.
1976 – Student Protests Begin Against Afrikaans in Schools
On 30 April 1976, pupils at Orlando West Junior School in Soweto began a boycott of classes in protest against the apartheid government's decision to enforce Afrikaans as a medium of instruction.
The students believed they were being forced to learn in the language of oppression and drafted memoranda explaining their objections. Their peaceful protest spread to other schools across Soweto and laid the foundations for the nationwide student uprising that erupted on 16 June 1976, becoming one of the defining moments in South Africa's struggle against apartheid.
Did You Know?
The Soweto Uprising of 16 June 1976 began just six weeks after these early school boycotts, changing South African history forever.
1991 – Kimberley Youth Demand the Release of Political Prisoners
On 30 April 1991, members of the ANC Youth League gathered in Kimberley's city centre to publicise the ANC's deadline for the release of all remaining political prisoners.
The demonstration was organised by Boithumelo Sebopedi, the regional secretary of the ANC Youth League, and Junior Nkabo of Lawyers for Human Rights. It reflected the growing momentum towards democracy as South Africa negotiated the dismantling of apartheid. The peaceful gathering formed part of a nationwide campaign pressing for the fulfilment of commitments made during the country's transition to democratic rule.
Did You Know?
By 1991, Kimberley had become an important centre for political meetings and civic activism as South Africa prepared for its first democratic elections just three years later.
Can't find a Kimberley connection for a particular date? Our Today in Kimberley's History collection is continually expanding as we research Kimberley's rich history. If you know of a notable local event that occurred on a specific date, we'd love to hear from you using the Contact Us page.
Kimberley's Story Continues
History is often remembered through great national events, but it is also experienced in local communities. From welcoming a future king to witnessing the struggle for democracy, Kimberley has played its own part in many of South Africa's defining moments. Every street and landmark has a story waiting to be discovered.
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