Today in Kimberley's History
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South African Native National Congress (now the ANC) holds a special conference in Kimberley - 1914
From 27th February to 2nd March 1914, the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), the forerunner of the African National Congress (ANC), convened a special donference in St John's Hall, Kimberley, to discuss the Natives' Land Act of 1913. Joseph Kokozela welcomed delegates of the SANNC to the Kimberley Congress, on behalf of the Kimberley and Beaconsfield branches of the Congress.
The Act, introduced by the British Colonial Government, mandated that Africans and Whites live in separate areas. African tenants were not allowed to work on white farms. African farmers could live on white-owned land only as workers. SANNC started a major campaign to oppose the racist conditions of the Act. Kimberley resident and ANC activist, Sol Plaatje, traveled the lenght and breadth of the country on a bicycle, gathering evidence of the hardships caused by the Act.
From 27th February to 2nd March 1914, the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), the forerunner of the African National Congress (ANC), convened a special donference in St John's Hall, Kimberley, to discuss the Natives' Land Act of 1913. Joseph Kokozela welcomed delegates of the SANNC to the Kimberley Congress, on behalf of the Kimberley and Beaconsfield branches of the Congress.
The Act, introduced by the British Colonial Government, mandated that Africans and Whites live in separate areas. African tenants were not allowed to work on white farms. African farmers could live on white-owned land only as workers. SANNC started a major campaign to oppose the racist conditions of the Act. Kimberley resident and ANC activist, Sol Plaatje, traveled the lenght and breadth of the country on a bicycle, gathering evidence of the hardships caused by the Act.
Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe died from lung complications at Kimberley General Hospital - 1978
Robert Sobukwe began studying Law while he was under house arrest. He completed his articles in Kimberley, and established his own law firm in 1975. The government’s Department of Justice initially denied him permission to enter the courts, but reversed the decision and withdrew the prohibition after the government relaxed a clause that banned Sobukwe from entering a court of law except as an accused or as a witness. However, newspapers were not allowed to quote him when he argued in court.
Shortly after opening his law practice, Sobukwe fell ill. In July 1977 he applied for permission to go for medical treatment in Johannesburg. Benjamin Pogrund, a close family friend, intervened and on 9 September Sobukwe was allowed to leave Kimberley for Johannesburg under strict conditions. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and his condition was deemed serious. Consequently, Sobukwe was transferred to Groote Schuur hospital in Cape Town. While he was in the hospital the security branch instructed the medical staff not to permit any visitors to visit him except his family. Sobukwe’s wife applied for permission from the Cape magistrate for him to stay with a family friend, Bishop Pat Matolengwe. After deliberate delays by the government, on 14 October he was temporality discharged and Bishop Matolengwe took him from the hospital. Sobukwe was sent back to Kimberley, from where he was due to travel back to Cape Town for another round of treatment. Each time he left Kimberley, he had to report to the police station – which he also had to do when he arrived at or left Cape Town.
The government deliberately made it harder for Sobukwe to receive treatment by insisting that he should comply with the conditions of his restrictions, despite his evidently failing health. On 27 February 1978 Sobukwe died from lung complications at Kimberley General Hospital. His funeral was held on 11 March 1978 and he was buried in Graaff-Reinet. Today, he remains a celebrated political figure in the struggle for a democratic South Africa.
Robert Sobukwe began studying Law while he was under house arrest. He completed his articles in Kimberley, and established his own law firm in 1975. The government’s Department of Justice initially denied him permission to enter the courts, but reversed the decision and withdrew the prohibition after the government relaxed a clause that banned Sobukwe from entering a court of law except as an accused or as a witness. However, newspapers were not allowed to quote him when he argued in court.
Shortly after opening his law practice, Sobukwe fell ill. In July 1977 he applied for permission to go for medical treatment in Johannesburg. Benjamin Pogrund, a close family friend, intervened and on 9 September Sobukwe was allowed to leave Kimberley for Johannesburg under strict conditions. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and his condition was deemed serious. Consequently, Sobukwe was transferred to Groote Schuur hospital in Cape Town. While he was in the hospital the security branch instructed the medical staff not to permit any visitors to visit him except his family. Sobukwe’s wife applied for permission from the Cape magistrate for him to stay with a family friend, Bishop Pat Matolengwe. After deliberate delays by the government, on 14 October he was temporality discharged and Bishop Matolengwe took him from the hospital. Sobukwe was sent back to Kimberley, from where he was due to travel back to Cape Town for another round of treatment. Each time he left Kimberley, he had to report to the police station – which he also had to do when he arrived at or left Cape Town.
The government deliberately made it harder for Sobukwe to receive treatment by insisting that he should comply with the conditions of his restrictions, despite his evidently failing health. On 27 February 1978 Sobukwe died from lung complications at Kimberley General Hospital. His funeral was held on 11 March 1978 and he was buried in Graaff-Reinet. Today, he remains a celebrated political figure in the struggle for a democratic South Africa.