Today in Kimberley's History
January 7th
"Every day has a story about Kimberley's past."
On this day...
The seventh day of January celebrates the birth of one of Kimberley's greatest civic leaders, marks another important moment in the aftermath of the Jameson Raid, and offers a brief but revealing glimpse into life during the Siege of Kimberley.
1858 – John Orr is Born
On this day in 1858, John Orr was born in Benburb, County Tyrone, Ireland. He would later become one of Kimberley's most respected civic leaders and leave a lasting mark on the city's cultural and public life.
After arriving in Kimberley during the diamond era, Orr became deeply involved in municipal affairs and community organisations. He served as Mayor of Kimberley from 1909 to 1910 and again from 1916 to 1918, guiding the city through periods of both celebration and wartime hardship.
One of his most enduring initiatives came in 1910, when he commissioned the famous Kimberley souvenir cups to commemorate the formation of the Union of South Africa. Today these commemorative pieces are highly prized by collectors and remain an important reminder of Kimberley's place in the country's history.
Orr's interests extended well beyond local government. He was a founding member of the Alexander McGregor Memorial Museum Management Board, established the Kimberley Horticultural Society, and worked tirelessly to improve the city's public spaces and cultural institutions.
In recognition of his public service, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1918.
John Orr died while on holiday in Dublin, Ireland, on 30 June 1932, but his contribution to Kimberley's civic development is still remembered today.
Did You Know?
John Orr served as Kimberley's Mayor twice and helped establish organisations that continue to preserve the city's history and natural heritage more than a century later.
1896 – Leander Starr Jameson Handed Over to Britain
On this day in 1896, Leander Starr Jameson and his officers were formally handed over by the South African Republic (Transvaal) to the British Government to stand trial for their role in the Jameson Raid.
Jameson had led approximately 600 armed men across the border from Bechuanaland on 29 December 1895, expecting to support an uprising by Uitlanders in Johannesburg against President Paul Kruger's government. The planned rebellion failed to materialise, communications broke down, and Jameson's force surrendered at Doornkop on 2 January 1896.
After being held in Pretoria for several days, President Kruger agreed to hand Jameson and his officers over to British authorities rather than try them in the Transvaal. The decision eased immediate tensions but did little to repair relations between Britain and the Boer republics.
For Kimberley, the consequences were profound. The failed raid destroyed the political career of Cecil Rhodes, who resigned as Prime Minister the previous day, and further deepened the mistrust that eventually led to the Anglo-Boer War in 1899.
Jameson was later tried in London and sentenced to imprisonment, although he served only a few months before being released. Remarkably, he later returned to politics and eventually succeeded Rhodes as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony.
Did You Know?
Despite leading an illegal armed invasion of the Transvaal, Leander Starr Jameson later served as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1904 to 1908. Rudyard Kipling's poem, "If..." is said to have been written about Jameson.
1900 – A Quiet Sunday Under Siege
84 days into the Siege of Kimberley
Sunday, 7 January 1900, proved to be one of the quieter days during the Siege of Kimberley. In The Diary of a Doctor's Wife – During the Siege of Kimberley, October 1899 to February 1900, Winifred Heberden recorded little military activity beyond an attempted Boer raid on British cattle.
Around sixty Boer horsemen advanced towards Kenilworth, hoping to capture livestock grazing beyond the town's defences. However, the attempt was quickly abandoned when British defenders opened fire with a Maxim machine gun. Faced with its rapid and devastating firepower, the Boer force retreated as quickly as it had appeared.
Although only a brief skirmish, the incident illustrated how valuable cattle had become during the siege. Livestock represented one of Kimberley's last reliable sources of fresh meat, making them an important military target for both sides.
Did You Know?
The Maxim gun was the world's first fully automatic machine gun and became one of the most feared weapons of the late nineteenth century.
1959 – Peter Mokaba is Born
On this day in 1959, Peter Mokaba was born in Mankweng, near Polokwane.
Raised during the height of apartheid, Mokaba became one of the country's most prominent youth activists. As a school pupil he helped organise student boycotts, and despite repeated arrests and restrictions imposed by the apartheid government, he continued his education while remaining active in the struggle against apartheid.
Following South Africa's transition to democracy, Mokaba served as a Member of Parliament and later as Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. Although remembered as a passionate and often controversial political figure, he also played an important role in mobilising young South Africans during the final years of apartheid.
His death in 2002, at the age of just forty-three, brought an early end to a political career that had begun during the struggle years.
Did You Know?
Despite repeated arrests and political persecution during apartheid, Peter Mokaba completed postgraduate studies while continuing his public career.
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
These are just two of the many events that helped shape Kimberley. Every date on the calendar reveals another chapter in the city's remarkable history.
Continue exploring...