"Every day has a story about Kimberley's past."

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By the middle of January 1900, Kimberley had been under siege for three months. Food was becoming scarcer, prices were rising, and rumours spread almost as quickly as news. Yet, despite the hardships, the people of Kimberley continued to display remarkable resilience, humour and determination.

1900 – The Price of Survival

90 days into the Siege of Kimberley

On 13 January 1900, the reality of the siege became increasingly evident as the official meat price was raised once again.

Fresh food had become one of Kimberley's most precious commodities. Beef was now selling at 1 shilling per pound, while horse meat, introduced only days earlier, cost 9 pence per pound. The decision reflected the growing pressure on the town's dwindling food supplies. Hundreds of cattle still remained, but military authorities needed to conserve forage for the horses that were essential to Kimberley's defence. Increasingly, spare horses were slaughtered to supplement the town's meat supply.

Although many residents had initially recoiled at the idea of eating horse meat, necessity soon overcame prejudice. The horse-meat soup kitchen established by Cecil Rhodes and his colleagues was serving thousands of nourishing meals each day, helping many families survive the siege. As one observer later remarked, hunger has a remarkable way of changing opinions.

Did You Know?

Horse meat sold for slightly less than beef during the siege, but for many Kimberley residents it became an essential source of nourishment during the final weeks before relief arrived.

Rumours, Hope and Everyday Life

Living under siege meant living with uncertainty. The arrival of reliable news was rare, and rumours spread rapidly through the streets of Kimberley. Every distant gunshot, every unfamiliar rider and every whispered conversation sparked speculation that relief might finally be at hand.

Writing after the siege, T. Phelan recalled that rumours became almost a form of entertainment. Stories circulated daily about British relief columns, secret victories or dramatic Boer defeats. Most proved to be exaggerated or entirely false, yet people eagerly repeated them because they offered hope during an increasingly difficult time.

Humour also became a valuable coping mechanism. Newspapers, conversations and public gatherings often used wit and satire to lift morale, reminding Kimberley's residents that they had not lost either their spirit or their determination. In many ways, maintaining hope became just as important as conserving food.

Did You Know?

During the siege, rumours travelled so quickly that many residents joked Kimberley had become the fastest place in South Africa for news—whether true or not.

Kimberley Opens Its Doors

The siege affected far more than the town's permanent residents. As Boer forces tightened their grip around Kimberley, people from surrounding farms and settlements sought safety behind the town's defences. At the same time, many African mine workers and their families were relocated from exposed mining compounds to safer accommodation.

Temporary camps and shelters were established at places including the Racecourse, Jubilee Hall and Salvation Army Barracks, where thousands of people waited out the siege together. Despite severe shortages of food and supplies, Kimberley became a place of refuge for many who had nowhere else to go.

Did You Know?

By the end of the siege, tens of thousands of people were living inside Kimberley's defensive perimeter, placing enormous pressure on the town's food, water and medical services.

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.

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