Today in Kimberley's History
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21 days since beginning of the Siege of Kimberley, 1899
Extract from "The Diary of a Doctor's Wife – During the Siege of Kimberley October 1899 to February 1900" by Winifred Heberden.
A letter was brought in to Colonel Kekewich from Head Commandant Wessels stating that unless Kimberley surrendered in 24 hours he would take it the following evening. Our Colonel sent a message to say that he would reply to that letter when they came within reach of our guns; warning Wessels, that owing to the wrong use of the white flag on the part of the Boers, he had instructed his officers to fire upon any parties of Boers advancing under cover of that emblem.
The same afternoon Reggie and I, escorted by Jack and Major McGregor, went to enjoy a concert given in the Gardens by the combined bands of the Lancashire and Kimberley Regiments in aid of the Refugee Fund. We were comfortably settled, and hungry to hear some good music once more, when the alarm sounded - and away flew the bandsmen, and everyone in uniform dashed to his camp or his post.
After all, it turned out to be a mistake of the telephonist, the Colonel merely requiring 125 men - not an alarm for the entire amount. N.B. The 'Hooter' is to be discontinued, as the Boers can hear it on the veld and promptly run away. They call it 'Rhodes's Devil' - and it certainly sounds like one! The Search Light they call 'Rhodes's Eye', and they are reported (by an escaped prisoner) to have a great fear of it.
To-day, for the first time, people remaining in the West of Kimberley have been warned by the Colonel to leave their homes for the time being and to come into the town. Various large buildings have been offered for the use of those unable to afford other lodgings.
Extract from "The Diary of a Doctor's Wife – During the Siege of Kimberley October 1899 to February 1900" by Winifred Heberden.
A letter was brought in to Colonel Kekewich from Head Commandant Wessels stating that unless Kimberley surrendered in 24 hours he would take it the following evening. Our Colonel sent a message to say that he would reply to that letter when they came within reach of our guns; warning Wessels, that owing to the wrong use of the white flag on the part of the Boers, he had instructed his officers to fire upon any parties of Boers advancing under cover of that emblem.
The same afternoon Reggie and I, escorted by Jack and Major McGregor, went to enjoy a concert given in the Gardens by the combined bands of the Lancashire and Kimberley Regiments in aid of the Refugee Fund. We were comfortably settled, and hungry to hear some good music once more, when the alarm sounded - and away flew the bandsmen, and everyone in uniform dashed to his camp or his post.
After all, it turned out to be a mistake of the telephonist, the Colonel merely requiring 125 men - not an alarm for the entire amount. N.B. The 'Hooter' is to be discontinued, as the Boers can hear it on the veld and promptly run away. They call it 'Rhodes's Devil' - and it certainly sounds like one! The Search Light they call 'Rhodes's Eye', and they are reported (by an escaped prisoner) to have a great fear of it.
To-day, for the first time, people remaining in the West of Kimberley have been warned by the Colonel to leave their homes for the time being and to come into the town. Various large buildings have been offered for the use of those unable to afford other lodgings.
Govan Mbeki is released from Robben Island Prison - 1987
On 5 November 1987, Govan Mbeki, member of African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) High Command, was released from Robben Island after twenty-three years in prison. His release followed a call for all political prisoners to be freed, as apartheid was dying. Upon his release the government restricted him to the magisterial district of Port Elizabeth until November 1989. In February 1990, when the ANC and other liberation movements were unbanned he resumed his duties on the ANC’s national committee.
While on Robben Island, Mbeki wrote many songs and manuscripts, which were smuggled out of prison. These writings are referred to as the Govan Mbeki Collection and are housed at the University of Fort Hare. In 1954 Govan Mbeki joined the editorial team of the political newspaper, the New Age. Mbeki was sentenced to life imprisonment during the 1964 Rivonia Trial with Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada,Dennis Goldberg and others. In 1980 he received the Isitwalandwe Medal, the highest award within the ANC, for his dedication to securing freedom and democracy in South Africa. Govan Mbeki passed away on 30 August 2001 at the age of 91.
On 5 November 1987, Govan Mbeki, member of African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) High Command, was released from Robben Island after twenty-three years in prison. His release followed a call for all political prisoners to be freed, as apartheid was dying. Upon his release the government restricted him to the magisterial district of Port Elizabeth until November 1989. In February 1990, when the ANC and other liberation movements were unbanned he resumed his duties on the ANC’s national committee.
While on Robben Island, Mbeki wrote many songs and manuscripts, which were smuggled out of prison. These writings are referred to as the Govan Mbeki Collection and are housed at the University of Fort Hare. In 1954 Govan Mbeki joined the editorial team of the political newspaper, the New Age. Mbeki was sentenced to life imprisonment during the 1964 Rivonia Trial with Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada,Dennis Goldberg and others. In 1980 he received the Isitwalandwe Medal, the highest award within the ANC, for his dedication to securing freedom and democracy in South Africa. Govan Mbeki passed away on 30 August 2001 at the age of 91.