Today in Kimberley's History
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The first flight in Kimberley takes off - 1911
On 18 June 1911 John Weston flew the first flight in Kimberley creating a South African flight record of eight-and-a-half minutes in his Weston-Farman biplane. Fearing numerous attempts of this nature, the Aeronautical Society of South Africa was established in 1911. It was the start of the John Weston Aviation Company of South Africa, which did much to popularise flight in the country by travelling to the main centres and offering flights to the public. (Source: SAHistory.org.za) |
(Photo Public Domain)
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Kimberley City Hall re-opens after renovations - 1976
The Kimberley City Hall, an outstanding piece of Victorian architecture (in Roman Corinthian style), was designed by the well-known Kimberley architect Fergus Carstairs-Rogers and opened on 20 September 1899, a mere few weeks before the siege of Kimberley commenced. Kimberley’s previous Town Hall had been destroyed by fire on 29 March 1898, and on 13 April it was decided to build a new hall to meet the requirements of a growing town. The Directors of De Beers donated a sizable sum of money towards the building costs. Fergus Carstairs-Rogers won the design competition from nine finalists, pocketing the £100 prize money. On 16 November 1898 the foundation stone was laid by Moses Cornwall, then Mayor of Kimberley, the plans for the building consisting of a main hall and council chamber, a supper room, a Mayor’s parlour, a committee room, the Town Clerk’s office, and several administrative offices. The Hall was built by local firm, Grant and Downie, and completed at a cost of £26000, and was officially opened by the Mayor of Kimberley, Robert H. Henderson. The Hall would be the administrative and executive centre of Kimberley up until 1962 when the municipality moved to the current Civic Centre. During the siege - 14 October 1899 to 15 February 1900 - the Hall was used as the pivotal point for the issuing and rationing of food and for a time was a haven for refugees. A public poll to save the City Hall from demolition was held in 1971, and was successful due to the effort by former Mayor Lawrie Shuttleworth. The so-called coloured population were permitted to vote, and it was their vote that saved the Hall. It was officially re-opened on 18 June 1976.
The Kimberley City Hall, an outstanding piece of Victorian architecture (in Roman Corinthian style), was designed by the well-known Kimberley architect Fergus Carstairs-Rogers and opened on 20 September 1899, a mere few weeks before the siege of Kimberley commenced. Kimberley’s previous Town Hall had been destroyed by fire on 29 March 1898, and on 13 April it was decided to build a new hall to meet the requirements of a growing town. The Directors of De Beers donated a sizable sum of money towards the building costs. Fergus Carstairs-Rogers won the design competition from nine finalists, pocketing the £100 prize money. On 16 November 1898 the foundation stone was laid by Moses Cornwall, then Mayor of Kimberley, the plans for the building consisting of a main hall and council chamber, a supper room, a Mayor’s parlour, a committee room, the Town Clerk’s office, and several administrative offices. The Hall was built by local firm, Grant and Downie, and completed at a cost of £26000, and was officially opened by the Mayor of Kimberley, Robert H. Henderson. The Hall would be the administrative and executive centre of Kimberley up until 1962 when the municipality moved to the current Civic Centre. During the siege - 14 October 1899 to 15 February 1900 - the Hall was used as the pivotal point for the issuing and rationing of food and for a time was a haven for refugees. A public poll to save the City Hall from demolition was held in 1971, and was successful due to the effort by former Mayor Lawrie Shuttleworth. The so-called coloured population were permitted to vote, and it was their vote that saved the Hall. It was officially re-opened on 18 June 1976.
Thabo Mbeki is born in Idutywa, Transkei - 1942
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki was born in Idutywa in Transkei on June 18 1942. Both his parents were activists. His father, Govan Mbeki, was a prominent member of the African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Cape. The young Mbeki joined the ANC Youth League at the age of 14 and became active in student politics. After his schooling at Lovedale Academy was interrupted by a strike in 1959, he completed his studies at home. He later moved to Britain where he completed a Masters degree in economics at Sussex University. During the years of apartheid, he played a major role in turning the international media against the system. After South Africa's first democratic election in April 1994, Nelson Mandela chose Mbeki to be the first deputy president in the new Government of National Unity (GNU). Another deputy president was leader of the Nationalist Party (NP). The NP withdrew from the GNU in June 1996 and Mbeki became the only deputy president. Mbeki was elected President of South Africa on 14 June 1999 and was inaugurated as President on 16 June 1999. In 2005 Mbeki removed Jacob Zuma from his post as Deputy President of the country after he was implicated in a corruption scandal. However, Zuma was cleared when a high court judge ruled that the charges were unlawful. Mbeki resigned from the presidency in 2008, just a few months before he was to complete his second term in office.
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki was born in Idutywa in Transkei on June 18 1942. Both his parents were activists. His father, Govan Mbeki, was a prominent member of the African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Cape. The young Mbeki joined the ANC Youth League at the age of 14 and became active in student politics. After his schooling at Lovedale Academy was interrupted by a strike in 1959, he completed his studies at home. He later moved to Britain where he completed a Masters degree in economics at Sussex University. During the years of apartheid, he played a major role in turning the international media against the system. After South Africa's first democratic election in April 1994, Nelson Mandela chose Mbeki to be the first deputy president in the new Government of National Unity (GNU). Another deputy president was leader of the Nationalist Party (NP). The NP withdrew from the GNU in June 1996 and Mbeki became the only deputy president. Mbeki was elected President of South Africa on 14 June 1999 and was inaugurated as President on 16 June 1999. In 2005 Mbeki removed Jacob Zuma from his post as Deputy President of the country after he was implicated in a corruption scandal. However, Zuma was cleared when a high court judge ruled that the charges were unlawful. Mbeki resigned from the presidency in 2008, just a few months before he was to complete his second term in office.