Today in Kimberley's History
|
|
|
|
John Orr was born in Ireland in 1858
John Orr was born to Dickson and Letitia Orr on 7 January 1858 in Benburb, County Tyrone, Ireland, and died, while on holiday, in Dublin, Ireland on 30 June 1932. He served as mayor of Kimberley from 1909 to 1910 and again from 1916 to 1918. In 1910 he issued Kimberley souvenir cups to celebrate the formation of the Union of South Africa. He was a member of the first Management Board of the Alexander McGregor Memorial Museum, and was founder of the Kimberley Horticultural Society. In 1918 he was awarded an MBE.
John Orr was born to Dickson and Letitia Orr on 7 January 1858 in Benburb, County Tyrone, Ireland, and died, while on holiday, in Dublin, Ireland on 30 June 1932. He served as mayor of Kimberley from 1909 to 1910 and again from 1916 to 1918. In 1910 he issued Kimberley souvenir cups to celebrate the formation of the Union of South Africa. He was a member of the first Management Board of the Alexander McGregor Memorial Museum, and was founder of the Kimberley Horticultural Society. In 1918 he was awarded an MBE.
Leander Starr Jameson handed over to the British government for punishment in 1896
Since the finding of gold in the Witwatersrand in 1884, the Boers had resented the influx of uitlanders (foreigners) that had entered the Transvaal Republic to work the mines. The Kruger government put pressure on the mining companies in the form of taxes and controlling the supply of dynamite, to the frustration of Cecil Rhodes and other mine owners.
In 1895 the Reform Movement, led by mine owners in the Transvaal Republic and secretly supported by Cecil Rhodes, plotted to overthrow the Transvaal government. A raid was launched on 29 December 1895, when Leander Starr Jameson led a band of 600 British armed men across the border from Mafikeng in Bechuanaland in an illegal attempt to support the rebellious Uitlanders. Jameson, however, had been too hasty. Communication was poor and plans were botched when all telegraph lines were not cut as planned.
Consequently, the Boers received warning of the attack, and Jameson was forced to surrender at Doornkop on 2 January 1896. Jameson and his officers were sent to Pretoria, and, after a short delay, during which time sections of the Boer populace clamoured for the execution of Jameson, President Kruger handed them over to the British government for punishment following the on the surrender of Johannesburg on 7 January 1896.
Since the finding of gold in the Witwatersrand in 1884, the Boers had resented the influx of uitlanders (foreigners) that had entered the Transvaal Republic to work the mines. The Kruger government put pressure on the mining companies in the form of taxes and controlling the supply of dynamite, to the frustration of Cecil Rhodes and other mine owners.
In 1895 the Reform Movement, led by mine owners in the Transvaal Republic and secretly supported by Cecil Rhodes, plotted to overthrow the Transvaal government. A raid was launched on 29 December 1895, when Leander Starr Jameson led a band of 600 British armed men across the border from Mafikeng in Bechuanaland in an illegal attempt to support the rebellious Uitlanders. Jameson, however, had been too hasty. Communication was poor and plans were botched when all telegraph lines were not cut as planned.
Consequently, the Boers received warning of the attack, and Jameson was forced to surrender at Doornkop on 2 January 1896. Jameson and his officers were sent to Pretoria, and, after a short delay, during which time sections of the Boer populace clamoured for the execution of Jameson, President Kruger handed them over to the British government for punishment following the on the surrender of Johannesburg on 7 January 1896.
84 days since beginning of the Siege of Kimberley, 1900
Extract from "The Diary of a Doctor's Wife – During the Siege of Kimberley October 1899 to February 1900" by Winifred Heberden.
A quiet day, being Sunday, though there was an attempt on the part of the Boers to capture some of our cattle. Sixty Dutchmen dashed forward towards Kenilworth, but the moment the Maxim turned on them they fled as fast as they could.
Extract from "The Diary of a Doctor's Wife – During the Siege of Kimberley October 1899 to February 1900" by Winifred Heberden.
A quiet day, being Sunday, though there was an attempt on the part of the Boers to capture some of our cattle. Sixty Dutchmen dashed forward towards Kenilworth, but the moment the Maxim turned on them they fled as fast as they could.
Peter Mokaba is born - 1959
Peter Mokaba, a notable freedom fighter and patriot, was born on 7 January 1959. Mokoba played a significant role in the struggle for freedom especially amongst the youth, and this determination was clearly seen in his various occupations and activities regarding the youth. His childhood can be seen as motivation for his later involvement in youth movements. He was born under the cruel injustices and violence of the Apartheid system. His parents, Albert and Priscilla, were forcibly removed from their home to reside as squatters in Mankweng, where they survived living as migrant workers. While attending Hwiti High School in Mankweng, he became a leader of the school boycotts in the northern parts of South Africa. After his capture in 1977, which was preceded by his attempt to evade arrest, Mokoba was banned from attending school by authorities. Nevertheless, he completed his Matric in 1978, and enrolled for tertiary study at The University of the North (University of Limpopo) in 1980. Interruptions through state harassment and various arrests did not stop him from completing his Masters in Development Management at the University of Witwatersrand. He later initiated his second at the University of Stellenbosch in Economics, but was unable to complete it due to his untimely death.
Mokaba served as an Educational Officer for the Northern Transvaal UDF Regional Youth Coordinating Committee. He was one of the founding members of the South African Youth Congress (SAYCO), which led to him being appointed as the congress’ first president in 1987. Since Mokaba was seen as a freedom fighter amongst and for the youth, he became the president of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) and occupied this position during the period of 1991 and 1994 after various assassination attempts. Mokaba then served as a Member of Parliament in 1994 as well as in 1999. After his time in parliament, Mokoba was then elected to serve as the deputy minister of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism under the government of the Nelson Mandela. His legacy is honoured by a stadium in Polokwane that was named after him for the 2010 World Cup, as well as the current emphasis of South African government on youth issues today.
Source: SA History Online
Peter Mokaba, a notable freedom fighter and patriot, was born on 7 January 1959. Mokoba played a significant role in the struggle for freedom especially amongst the youth, and this determination was clearly seen in his various occupations and activities regarding the youth. His childhood can be seen as motivation for his later involvement in youth movements. He was born under the cruel injustices and violence of the Apartheid system. His parents, Albert and Priscilla, were forcibly removed from their home to reside as squatters in Mankweng, where they survived living as migrant workers. While attending Hwiti High School in Mankweng, he became a leader of the school boycotts in the northern parts of South Africa. After his capture in 1977, which was preceded by his attempt to evade arrest, Mokoba was banned from attending school by authorities. Nevertheless, he completed his Matric in 1978, and enrolled for tertiary study at The University of the North (University of Limpopo) in 1980. Interruptions through state harassment and various arrests did not stop him from completing his Masters in Development Management at the University of Witwatersrand. He later initiated his second at the University of Stellenbosch in Economics, but was unable to complete it due to his untimely death.
Mokaba served as an Educational Officer for the Northern Transvaal UDF Regional Youth Coordinating Committee. He was one of the founding members of the South African Youth Congress (SAYCO), which led to him being appointed as the congress’ first president in 1987. Since Mokaba was seen as a freedom fighter amongst and for the youth, he became the president of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) and occupied this position during the period of 1991 and 1994 after various assassination attempts. Mokaba then served as a Member of Parliament in 1994 as well as in 1999. After his time in parliament, Mokoba was then elected to serve as the deputy minister of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism under the government of the Nelson Mandela. His legacy is honoured by a stadium in Polokwane that was named after him for the 2010 World Cup, as well as the current emphasis of South African government on youth issues today.
Source: SA History Online