Today in Kimberley's History
March 18th
"Every day has a story about Kimberley's past."
On this day...
History is still being uncovered. Every day on the Diamond Fields brought new discoveries, remarkable people and events that helped shape Kimberley. While we have not yet identified a significant local event for 18 March, our research continues through newspapers, archives, museum collections and private records.
1936 – F.W. de Klerk is Born
On 18 March 1936, Frederik Willem de Klerk was born in Johannesburg. He would become South Africa's last Executive State President and one of the central figures in the country's peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy. After qualifying as a lawyer, De Klerk entered politics through the National Party and served in a number of ministerial positions before succeeding P.W. Botha as party leader in 1989.
On 2 February 1990, he announced the unbanning of the African National Congress, Pan Africanist Congress and other political organisations, and the imminent release of Nelson Mandela. Mandela walked free nine days later after 27 years in prison, beginning negotiations that would eventually lead to South Africa's first democratic elections. In 1993, De Klerk and Mandela jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to negotiate a peaceful transition to democracy.
For Kimberley, these changes brought profound transformation. The city's segregated institutions, neighbourhoods and public facilities gradually gave way to a new democratic order, while many local landmarks associated with apartheid were renamed to honour leaders such as Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe and Frances Baard.
Did You Know?
The Nobel Peace Prize awarded jointly to Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk in 1993 recognised not victory over one another, but their shared commitment to negotiating a peaceful constitutional settlement for South Africa.
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
Kimberley's history reflects every chapter of South Africa's journey—from the discovery of diamonds and the rise of industry to the struggle for equality and the birth of democracy. As new historical sources continue to emerge, we hope to uncover a uniquely Kimberley story for this date and add it to this growing collection. Join us tomorrow as we continue exploring the remarkable history of the Diamond City.
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