Harry Oppenheimer (1908 - 2000)
Why Kimberley Matters
Over the years, we have noticed that many of our guests—whether visiting Kimberley for business or leisure—have wondered why this remarkable city has played such an important role in South Africa's history over the past 160 years.
These pages invite you on a coffee-table journey through Kimberley's past, from the discovery of the Eureka Diamond in 1867 and the Great Diamond Rush, through wars, political change and the rise of the world's diamond industry, to the city we know today. They are not intended to be an academic history, but rather an enjoyable introduction to the people, places and events that shaped Kimberley.
So, make yourself comfortable, pour a cappuccino or a cup of chai, and enjoy exploring the remarkable story of one of South Africa's most fascinating cities.
Harry Oppenheimer in later life. As Chairman of Anglo American and De Beers, he became one of the most influential figures in the international mining industry while remaining closely associated with Kimberley's diamond heritage. Photo by William Campbell/Sygma via Getty Images
Kimberley's Global Mining Statesman
Few individuals shaped twentieth-century South African business as profoundly as Harry Frederick Oppenheimer. Born in Kimberley in 1908, he inherited his father, Ernest Oppenheimer's vision and transformed Anglo American and De Beers into global mining giants with interests spanning diamonds, gold, platinum, coal and many other minerals.
Admired by some as a visionary businessman and criticised by others as the embodiment of mining capitalism, Harry Oppenheimer remains one of South Africa's most influential—and most debated—public figures. Throughout his life, he retained close ties to Kimberley, the city where both he and the modern De Beers organisation began.
Born into Kimberley's Diamond Story
Harry Oppenheimer was born on 28 October 1908 at the family home at 7 Lodge Road, Kimberley, the eldest son of Ernest Oppenheimer and Mary Lina Pollock. His father had arrived in Kimberley just six years earlier as a young diamond buyer before founding Anglo American Corporation in 1917.
Harry was educated at Charterhouse School in England before reading Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating in 1931. Returning to South Africa, he joined the family business and began learning every aspect of the mining industry under his father's guidance.
Harry Oppenheimer photographed in Amsterdam on 30 November 1945, shortly after the Second World War. Within a decade he would succeed his father as Chairman of both Anglo American and De Beers. Photo: Koos Raucamp / Anefo (CC0)
Building a Global Empire
Following military service during the Second World War, Harry Oppenheimer became Managing Director of Anglo American in 1945. When Ernest Oppenheimer died in 1957, Harry assumed the chairmanship of both Anglo American and De Beers. Over the next twenty-five years, he expanded the companies into one of the world's largest mining groups, with operations across Africa and beyond. By the early 1980s, Anglo American accounted for an estimated quarter of South Africa's gross domestic product, while De Beers controlled around 90% of the world's rough diamond trade.
Politics, Reform and Debate
Harry Oppenheimer was never simply a businessman. Between 1948 and 1957 he served as Member of Parliament for Kimberley, representing the United Party.
Although he resigned from Parliament to lead the family companies, he remained an influential public voice throughout the apartheid era. He consistently argued for constitutional reform, an independent judiciary and the rule of law, while opposing many of apartheid's racial policies.
His political views evolved over time. Earlier in his career, he supported gradual reform and a qualified franchise rather than full democracy.
Following the Soweto uprising in 1976, however, he increasingly accepted that South Africa's future depended on negotiations leading to universal political participation.
Behind the scenes, he quietly supported educational initiatives, funded legal assistance for anti-apartheid activists during the Treason Trial and became one of the country's leading philanthropic figures. He also developed working relationships with leaders across the political spectrum, including Nelson Mandela during South Africa's democratic transition.
Nelson Mandela meets Harry Oppenheimer in Johannesburg in 1999. Despite coming from very different backgrounds, the two men maintained a respectful relationship during South Africa's democratic transition. Photo: De Beers Group.
A Complex Legacy
Oppenheimer's legacy remains the subject of continuing debate. Supporters point to his commitment to constitutional government, his philanthropy and his efforts to encourage peaceful political change during some of South Africa's most turbulent decades.
Critics have argued that the wealth of both Anglo American and De Beers depended upon a mining system built on cheap Black labour, migrant workers and deeply unequal social conditions. They also question whether his liberal reforms went far enough in challenging the injustices of apartheid.
Today, historians generally view Harry Oppenheimer neither as a hero nor a villain, but as one of the most influential and complex figures in modern South African history.
Harry Oppenheimer and National Union of Mineworkers General Secretary Cyril Ramaphosa during discussions in the 1980s. Their exchanges reflected the growing dialogue between business leaders and the anti-apartheid labour movements.
Enduring Connection to Kimberley
Although Harry Oppenheimer spent much of his life in Johannesburg, Kimberley always remained central to his family's story. In September 1973, the City of Kimberley awarded him the Freedom of the City in recognition of his contribution to business and public life.
His connection with Kimberley continues today through the Harry Oppenheimer House. Opened in 1974 as one of De Beers' principal diamond sorting facilities, the fourteen-storey building became one of the city's best-known landmarks.
Following De Beers' relocation of its Sightholder Sales business, the company donated the building to Sol Plaatje University in 2023. The university plans to retain the building's name and establish a diamond sorting museum, preserving its historic connection with Kimberley's mining heritage while transforming the building into a centre for higher education.
The transition reflects Kimberley's own evolution—from a city built on diamonds to one increasingly shaped by education, research and innovation.
Confirming the donation. Moses Madondo (left), Managing Director of De Beers Group Managed Operations, and Professor Andrew Crouch, Vice-Chancellor of Sol Plaatje University, stand outside the Harry Oppenheimer House in Kimberley following the official handover of the building to the university in November 2023.
Did You Know?
At its height during Harry Oppenheimer's leadership, De Beers marketed around 90% of the world's rough diamonds, making Kimberley the symbolic heart of a global diamond empire.
A Lasting Legacy
Harry Oppenheimer retired as Chairman of Anglo American in 1982 and of De Beers in 1984 but remained active in business, conservation and philanthropy until his death in Johannesburg on 19 August 2000.
For visitors to Kimberley, his story illustrates how the city's influence extended far beyond the Big Hole. From a house on Lodge Road emerged a business leader whose decisions shaped international mining, global finance and South African politics for more than half a century. Whether admired, criticised, or both, Harry Oppenheimer remains one of the most significant figures ever to emerge from Kimberley.
Continue Exploring Kimberley
Whether your interests lie in history, culture, dining, shopping, entertainment, or simply discovering somewhere new, we hope these guides help you make the most of your time in Kimberley. If you're planning a visit to the City that Sparkles, Solomon Edwardian Guest House offers elegant accommodation in the historic suburb of Beaconsfield. Ideally situated for business and leisure travellers alike, The Solomon provides a comfortable base from which to explore.