Today in Kimberley's History
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The unveiling of the Cenotaph - 1928
The Cenotaph, in memory of Kimberley’s 400 men who died during the Great War 1914-1918, was unveiled on Sunday 15 July 1928 in front of a crowd numbering eight to ten thousand persons, and coincided with the annual commemoration of Delville Wood. Although not the only war memorial in South Africa dated 1914 – 1919, it is unusual and the reason is that although hostilities ceased on 11 November 1918, the Peace Treaty was only signed in 1919.
The Cenotaph, in memory of Kimberley’s 400 men who died during the Great War 1914-1918, was unveiled on Sunday 15 July 1928 in front of a crowd numbering eight to ten thousand persons, and coincided with the annual commemoration of Delville Wood. Although not the only war memorial in South Africa dated 1914 – 1919, it is unusual and the reason is that although hostilities ceased on 11 November 1918, the Peace Treaty was only signed in 1919.
Kimberley Cenotaph (Photo Richard Jones)
Natal is formally separated from the Cape Colony - 1856
On 15 July 1856, Natal Colony (now known as Kwazulu Natal) was formally separated from the Cape Colony by means of the Charter of Natal. The Cape Governor still held the position of the High Commissioner, but the Lieutenant-Governor of Natal would not report directly to him. The Colony would have limited self-government through a partly elected Legislative Council. Ten years later, in 1866, Natal invaded a portion of the Mpondo Paramount, Chief Faku’s No Man’s Land which was located between the Mzimkhulu and Mtamvuna rivers. The rest of No Man’s Land was later to become part of the Cape Colony, known as Griqualand East. In 1884, Natal occupied Port St Johns on the same day that the Cape attempted to occupy it – Natal later conceded the estuary to the Cape.
On 15 July 1856, Natal Colony (now known as Kwazulu Natal) was formally separated from the Cape Colony by means of the Charter of Natal. The Cape Governor still held the position of the High Commissioner, but the Lieutenant-Governor of Natal would not report directly to him. The Colony would have limited self-government through a partly elected Legislative Council. Ten years later, in 1866, Natal invaded a portion of the Mpondo Paramount, Chief Faku’s No Man’s Land which was located between the Mzimkhulu and Mtamvuna rivers. The rest of No Man’s Land was later to become part of the Cape Colony, known as Griqualand East. In 1884, Natal occupied Port St Johns on the same day that the Cape attempted to occupy it – Natal later conceded the estuary to the Cape.
Walter Sisulu and Duma Nokwe travel overseas under false names - 1953
African National Congress (ANC) members, Walter Sisulu and Duma Nokwe, went overseas under false names and without passports. The two arrived in London, England and from there they went to Bucharest, Romania, where they attended the communist "World Festival of Youth and Students for Peace and Friendship". After this, they embarked on an extensive tour through the countries behind the iron curtain as guests of the Communists. They travelled through Czechoslovakia, Poland, Russia and Communist China. They returned to South Africa on December 1953 and attended the 41st annual conference of the ANC at Queenstown, where it was decided to begin a boycott campaign.
African National Congress (ANC) members, Walter Sisulu and Duma Nokwe, went overseas under false names and without passports. The two arrived in London, England and from there they went to Bucharest, Romania, where they attended the communist "World Festival of Youth and Students for Peace and Friendship". After this, they embarked on an extensive tour through the countries behind the iron curtain as guests of the Communists. They travelled through Czechoslovakia, Poland, Russia and Communist China. They returned to South Africa on December 1953 and attended the 41st annual conference of the ANC at Queenstown, where it was decided to begin a boycott campaign.