Solomon (Sol) Plaatje (1876 - 1932)
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.
Bronze statue of Sol Plaatje seated on his monument in the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Gardens in Kimberley Photo: © Richard Jones, 2010
Sol Plaatje: Writer, Journalist and Statesman
Few individuals have shaped the history of Kimberley—and indeed South Africa—as profoundly as Solomon (Sol) Tshekisho Plaatje. Remembered as a journalist, author, linguist, political leader and tireless campaigner for justice, Plaatje was also one of the founding figures of modern South Africa.
His remarkable life bridged two worlds. He witnessed the transformation of Kimberley from a bustling diamond town into one of the country's most influential cities, while his writings and political work brought the experiences of Black South Africans to audiences around the world.
Today, his legacy is woven into the fabric of Kimberley. The city forms part of the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, while Sol Plaatje University, established in 2014 as one of South Africa's newest public universities, continues his lifelong belief that education has the power to transform lives.
Visitors can explore his former home at the Sol Plaatje Museum & Library, pay their respects at his grave in West End Cemetery, or view his bronze statue in the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Gardens.
Voices for Social Change in Kimberley
Kgosi Galeshewe, Kgosi Jantjie & Kgosi Toto - defenders of land and independence
Olive Schreiner – novelist, feminist and social critic
Sol Plaatje – writer, journalist and founding political leader
Arthur & Mary Letele – medical pioneers and community leaders
ZK Matthews – educator, lawyer and constitutional thinker
Frances Baard – trade unionist and anti-apartheid activist
Robert Sobukwe – political thinker and pan-Africanist leader
Mittah Seperepere – organiser, diplomat and parliamentarian
Why Sol Plaatje Matters Today
A Legacy Beyond Kimberley
Few South Africans have left such an enduring legacy. Plaatje's name is encountered throughout Kimberley—not simply because he once lived here, but because his life embodied many of the values the city continues to celebrate: education, public service, multilingualism, literature, journalism and the pursuit of justice.
Whether studying at Sol Plaatje University, dealing with the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality or visiting his former home in Angel Street, people are reminded daily of a man whose influence extends far beyond Kimberley.
Portrait of Sol Plaatje as a young man
Early Life
Sol Plaatje was born on 9 October 1876 on the Doornfontein Farm in the north-western Orange Free State, approximately 45 kilometres north-east of Kimberley. Raised in a Christian family, he attended the mission school at Pniel, near Barkly West, before continuing his education at a Church of England mission school in Beaconsfield, now a suburb of Kimberley.
Although his formal schooling ended at an early age, Plaatje possessed an extraordinary gift for languages. He became fluent in several African languages as well as English, Dutch and German, abilities that would define much of his life's work as an interpreter, journalist, translator and writer.
After working briefly as a pupil teacher, Plaatje joined the Kimberley Post Office. During these years, he refined his command of English and became involved with the South Africans' Improvement Society, a group of educated African professionals committed to intellectual advancement, public debate and community leadership. These experiences laid the foundations for his future career.
The Siege of Mafeking
In 1898, shortly after his marriage, Plaatje accepted the position of court interpreter in Mafeking (now Mahikeng). When the Anglo-Boer War broke out the following year, he experienced the famous Siege of Mafeking at first hand.
Alongside his official duties, he kept a detailed diary that was later published as Mafeking Diary: A Black Man's View of a White Man's War, now recognised as one of the most important eyewitness accounts of the conflict written by a Black South African. The experience also introduced him to journalism and international war correspondents, skills that would shape the rest of his career.
Book: Mafeking Diary: A Black Man's View of a White Man's War
Journalism and Political Leadership
Returning to Kimberley in 1910, Plaatje devoted himself to journalism, founding and editing newspapers including Tsala ea Becoana and Tsala ea Batho. Through his writing, he encouraged education, political awareness and social progress at a time when opportunities for Black South Africans were becoming increasingly restricted.
In 1912, he became the first General Secretary of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), the organisation that later became the African National Congress (ANC).
The South African Native National Congress delegation to England, June 1914. Left to right: Thomas Mapike, Rev. Walter Rubusana, Rev. John Dube, Saul Msane, Sol Plaatje
Following the introduction of the Natives Land Act of 1913, Plaatje travelled to Britain as part of a SANNC delegation to appeal directly to the British Government. He later visited Canada and the United States, speaking in churches, universities and public meetings to raise international awareness of the discrimination faced by Black South Africans.
His experiences inspired Native Life in South Africa (1916), one of the most influential books ever written about the impact of the Land Act. More than a century later, it remains an essential work for understanding one of the defining moments in South African history.
Sol Plaatje on his bicycle in South Africa in 1913. Courtesy: Sol Plaatje Educational Trust, Kimberley
A Literary Pioneer
Alongside his political work, Plaatje established himself as one of South Africa's greatest literary figures. His novel Mhudi, published in 1930 after many years of work, is widely regarded as the first English-language novel written by a Black South African. It remains an important milestone in African literature and is studied around the world.
Plaatje also believed that great literature should be accessible to everyone. Drawing on his exceptional linguistic abilities, he translated several of Shakespeare's plays—including The Merchant of Venice, The Comedy of Errors and Othello—into Setswana, demonstrating both his love of literature and the richness of the language.
Novel: Mhudi by Sol Plaatje
Whether writing newspaper editorials, translating Shakespeare or documenting the injustices of his time, Plaatje consistently used words to educate, inspire and promote understanding.
His Final Years
During his later years, Plaatje remained active as a journalist, lecturer and community leader. He also devoted considerable time to the Independent Order of True Templars, campaigning against the harmful effects of alcohol abuse.
One of his final public addresses in Kimberley was delivered in 1931 at the opening of the Abantu-Batho Hall in what is now Galeshewe, where he passionately opposed the forced eviction of families from Riverton and spoke out against the social injustices of the day.
After travelling to Johannesburg in 1932 to arrange the publication of some of his writings, Plaatje contracted influenza, which developed into pneumonia. He died on 19 June 1932 at the age of 55. In accordance with his wishes, he was buried at West End Cemetery in Kimberley, where his grave remains an important place of remembrance and is itself a Provincial Heritage Site.
Sol Plaatje's grave at West End Cemetery in Kimberley (Photo courtesy of DFA)
The Sol Plaatje Museum & Library
The modest house at 32 Angel Street in Kimberley offers visitors a deeply personal insight into Sol Plaatje's final years. In 1929, grateful citizens purchased the house and presented it to Plaatje in recognition of his outstanding service to the community. Here, he continued writing, welcomed visitors, and worked on many of the projects that secured his place among South Africa's greatest writers and public intellectuals.
Today, the house is preserved as the Sol Plaatje Museum & Library, where visitors can explore exhibits relating to his life, writings, journalism and political work. The museum also provides an excellent introduction to why Kimberley's municipality and university proudly bear his name.
Established by the Sol Plaatje Educational Trust, the house was declared a National Monument in 1992 and is now recognised as a Provincial Heritage Site, ensuring that this important part of South Africa's literary and political heritage is preserved for future generations.
32 Angel Street in Kimberley
Visitor Information
Location: 32 Angel Street, Kimberley
Duration: 30 min to 1 hour
Extras: Why not combine it with a visit to view the new Sol Plaatje University?
The Sol Plaatje Bronze Statue
One of Kimberley's most recognisable modern monuments stands in the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Gardens off Jan Smuts Boulevard. The bronze statue portrays Sol Plaatje in a relaxed seated position, inviting visitors to pause alongside one of South Africa's greatest thinkers. Created by sculptor Johan Moolman, the monument reflects both Plaatje's personality and his life's work. His relaxed lower body symbolises his peaceful, non-violent nature, while his upright posture and alert expression represent his intellectual curiosity and lifelong commitment to learning.
Around the base of the sculpture are three bronze relief panels illustrating different aspects of his remarkable career. One depicts Plaatje as a newspaper editor, recognising his pioneering role in African journalism. Another features William Shakespeare, celebrating Plaatje's celebrated Setswana translations of the Bard's plays. A third reflects the devastating impact of the 1913 Natives Land Act, using powerful imagery to portray the dispossession of Black South Africans. Beneath this relief, Halley's Comet symbolises the approaching catastrophe that the legislation represented. President Jacob Zuma unveiled the statue on 9 January 2010 during celebrations marking the 98th anniversary of the founding of the African National Congress.
Unveiling of the bronze statue of Sol Plaatje in Kimberley by President Zuma in 2010 Photo: © Richard Jones, 2010
Interestingly, the sculpture itself predates its installation by several years. Before it was installed in the gardens in 2010, it was displayed in the William Humphreys Art Gallery, where visitors could view it before its permanent unveiling (these photos taken in 2006).
The bronze statue of Sol Plaatje on display in the William Humphreys Art Gallery in 2006, several years before it was installed in the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Gardens. Photos: © Richard Jones, 2006
An Enduring Legacy
More than ninety years after his death, Sol Plaatje remains one of South Africa's most admired intellectuals and public figures.
His influence is visible throughout Kimberley. His name is carried by the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, whose administrative area includes the city he loved, and by Sol Plaatje University, established to expand access to higher education in the Northern Cape. Together they honour a man who believed deeply in the power of learning, communication and public service.
Visitors can follow his remarkable story by exploring the Sol Plaatje Museum & Library, paying their respects at West End Cemetery, and viewing the bronze statue of Plaatje in the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Gardens.
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.