Today in Kimberley's History
|
|
|
|
Amy Mollison sets world record when she flies from England to Cape Town - 1936
Amy Mollison (Nee Johnson) was an English Aviator who set numerous flying records during the 1930’s. She married fellow aviator Jim Mollison and the couple often flew together. in 1936, she broke her husband’s record when she flew from England to Cape Town in 3 days, 6 hours and 36 minutes. Mollison’s pilot career only began as a hobby, but it would bring her critical acclaim. She was the first woman ever to fly solo. She died in 1941 when her plane got caught in bad weather and was forced to abandon it by launching her parachute. She was spotted landing in water, but the bad weather and snowfall meant that she was not fully visible. She is assumed to have drowned in the cold water as her body was never recovered. A man who dived into the water to try and rescue her also lost his life in the process.
Amy Mollison (Nee Johnson) was an English Aviator who set numerous flying records during the 1930’s. She married fellow aviator Jim Mollison and the couple often flew together. in 1936, she broke her husband’s record when she flew from England to Cape Town in 3 days, 6 hours and 36 minutes. Mollison’s pilot career only began as a hobby, but it would bring her critical acclaim. She was the first woman ever to fly solo. She died in 1941 when her plane got caught in bad weather and was forced to abandon it by launching her parachute. She was spotted landing in water, but the bad weather and snowfall meant that she was not fully visible. She is assumed to have drowned in the cold water as her body was never recovered. A man who dived into the water to try and rescue her also lost his life in the process.
South Africa's first democratic elections held - 1994
The first democratic elections in South Africa took place on 27th April 1994. On 7th May 1994, just three days before President Mandela was sworn into office, the Northern Cape Legislature was inaugurated with ANC member Emsley Manne Dipico, elected as the first Premier of the province.
The first democratic elections in South Africa took place on 27th April 1994. On 7th May 1994, just three days before President Mandela was sworn into office, the Northern Cape Legislature was inaugurated with ANC member Emsley Manne Dipico, elected as the first Premier of the province.
Mass memorial services for 51 workers who drowned on May 1st - 2003
51 union workers, 41 from the Sol Plaatje municipality, drown in a terrible bus accident near Bethlehem in the Free State, in the early hours of May 1st 2003. The workers were on their way to the national May Day rally in Qwa Qwa when the bus driver lost his way and drove the bus into the Saulspoort dam near Bethlehem.
Memorial services were held for the dead in two locations on Wednesday 7th May - at the scene of the disaster and in Kimberley's Galeshewe Stadium.
At the dam, about 600 people - many from Bethlehem itself - turned up to pay their respects. Speakers expressed their grief over an incident which had shocked their town, as well as the entire Free State. As mourners listened to the speeches, others, mostly elders, stood in rows and directed their eyes to the dam, where the flow was not as strong and violent as it had been on May 1.
Feelings ran high when Spirit Mohoje, an unscheduled speaker, took the podium to pray for those who had died. He had travelled from QwaQwa to Bethlehem to express his sorrow that the victims had not made it as far as his hometown. In his prayer, he said: "They were travelling all the way from the Cape. It is unfortunate that they saw QwaQwa from under the water. Their bodies motionless. They could not talk and had to be returned home as corpses. Oh, God! Do something about it."
In Kimberley, as thousands of relatives and other mourners commemorated the dead in the stadium, Cosatu president Willie Madisha urged the Sol Plaatje municipality to reinstate four of the dead workers, who had been fired ahead of May Day. The four had been among 13 workers fired following their involvement in a labour dispute with the authorities.
Madisha said Northern Cape Premier Manne Dipico had to intervene to ensure that the four were recognised as legitimate employees at the time of their death. He demanded that a decision be made before their burial on Sunday. Madisha explained that if 13 people were out of work, about 130 mouths went unfed. "So let this be corrected quickly, even before we bury the deceased over the weekend."
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana, speaking on behalf of the government, said as the country joined Kimberley in mourning, "we should bear in mind that the victims deserve a fitting farewell. The nation should not simply mourn their deaths but also celebrate the lives they had lived.” "I still cannot understand how a bus so big can make so many wrong turns and cause the loss of so many lives," said the minister.
South African Local Government Association spokesperson Georgina Lefifi said: "The death of the 51 comrades is not only a loss to all of us, but to the South African economy at large. These comrades died in their line of duty on the day that is commemorated by workers worldwide. We are humbled by their support, loyalty and commitment towards the development of our country."
Source: IOL News
51 union workers, 41 from the Sol Plaatje municipality, drown in a terrible bus accident near Bethlehem in the Free State, in the early hours of May 1st 2003. The workers were on their way to the national May Day rally in Qwa Qwa when the bus driver lost his way and drove the bus into the Saulspoort dam near Bethlehem.
Memorial services were held for the dead in two locations on Wednesday 7th May - at the scene of the disaster and in Kimberley's Galeshewe Stadium.
At the dam, about 600 people - many from Bethlehem itself - turned up to pay their respects. Speakers expressed their grief over an incident which had shocked their town, as well as the entire Free State. As mourners listened to the speeches, others, mostly elders, stood in rows and directed their eyes to the dam, where the flow was not as strong and violent as it had been on May 1.
Feelings ran high when Spirit Mohoje, an unscheduled speaker, took the podium to pray for those who had died. He had travelled from QwaQwa to Bethlehem to express his sorrow that the victims had not made it as far as his hometown. In his prayer, he said: "They were travelling all the way from the Cape. It is unfortunate that they saw QwaQwa from under the water. Their bodies motionless. They could not talk and had to be returned home as corpses. Oh, God! Do something about it."
In Kimberley, as thousands of relatives and other mourners commemorated the dead in the stadium, Cosatu president Willie Madisha urged the Sol Plaatje municipality to reinstate four of the dead workers, who had been fired ahead of May Day. The four had been among 13 workers fired following their involvement in a labour dispute with the authorities.
Madisha said Northern Cape Premier Manne Dipico had to intervene to ensure that the four were recognised as legitimate employees at the time of their death. He demanded that a decision be made before their burial on Sunday. Madisha explained that if 13 people were out of work, about 130 mouths went unfed. "So let this be corrected quickly, even before we bury the deceased over the weekend."
Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana, speaking on behalf of the government, said as the country joined Kimberley in mourning, "we should bear in mind that the victims deserve a fitting farewell. The nation should not simply mourn their deaths but also celebrate the lives they had lived.” "I still cannot understand how a bus so big can make so many wrong turns and cause the loss of so many lives," said the minister.
South African Local Government Association spokesperson Georgina Lefifi said: "The death of the 51 comrades is not only a loss to all of us, but to the South African economy at large. These comrades died in their line of duty on the day that is commemorated by workers worldwide. We are humbled by their support, loyalty and commitment towards the development of our country."
Source: IOL News
Cosatu president Willie Madisha at mass funeral in Kimberley -May 2003. (Photo by Richard Jones)
|
Mass memorial services for 51 workers who drowned on May 1st 2003. (Photo by Richard Jones)
Mass memorial services for 51 workers who drowned on May 1st 2003. (Photo by Richard Jones)
|