Britain, Diamond Mining, and Labour Control in South Africa

Origins (1866-1871): Discovery of the first diamond by Erasmus Jacobs on the De Kalk farm (1866) and an 83.5-carat diamond in 1871 triggered a diamond rush.
Kimberley: The center of mining, featuring open-pit mining (the "Big Hole"). Individual claims were amalgamated in 1888 under De Beers Consolidated Mines.
Economic Impact: Transformed South Africa from an agricultural to an industrial nation. Diamond wealth later financed gold mining on the Witwatersrand (1886).
British Objectives: Britain sought to control land and ensure a steady supply of cheap labour for large-scale mining.

Definition: Fenced, guarded, prison-like hostels located near the mines where black workers were forced to live for the duration of their contracts.
Implementation (1885): Introduced to reduce diamond theft, ensure regular/disciplined labour for underground mining, and allow full workplace supervision.
Compulsory Use (1888-1889): Became mandatory after De Beers Consolidated Mines took control. By 1889, all 10,000 black mineworkers in Kimberley lived in closed compounds.
Conditions: Harsh, overcrowded, and unhealthy. Workers slept on cement beds, lacked privacy, received meagre rations, and faced high death rates.
Labour Restrictions: The system prevented workers from selling labour for higher wages, effectively turning them into "inmates" who could not leave for the duration of their contracts.

Patterns: Workers traveled up to 1,500 km to reach mines. They often stayed only long enough to earn money for firearms and gunpowder.
Control Mechanisms: A pass system was instituted in 1872 to control movement. Closed compounds (from 1885) further tightened authority.
Government Role: The government favored the migrant system to prevent a permanent black population from developing in cities.

Britain systematically defeated African kingdoms to secure cheap labour and imperial control.

The Xhosa (1779-1879): Engaged in nine Frontier Wars. The British used white settlers (1820 settlers) and built forts. The ninth Frontier War (1878) against the Gcaleka resulted in the final annexation of the Eastern Cape.
The Zulu (1879): Sir Henry Frere used a border dispute and an incident involving "infidelity" to issue an ultimatum to King Cetshwayo. Despite a Zulu victory at the Battle of Isandlwana (22 January 1879), the British won at the Battle of Ulundi (4 July 1879). Cetshwayo was captured on 28 August 1879.
The Pedi (1879): Led by Sekhukhune (succeeded Sekwati in 1861). After wars with Boers and Swazi, the British annexed the Transvaal (1877). Sekhukhune was defeated and captured on 28 November 1879.

The Closed Compound System: Discuss the ethics of the system. Were workers better off in compounds than having no work at all?
Defeat of African Kingdoms: How did the British systematically break the power of these kingdoms by 1900, and what were their primary objectives?
Settler Relations: What was the relationship between settlers and indigenous Africans considering cattle raids and new borders?
Activity 1 (Source 1 Analysis): 1. What is a mining compound? 2. What does the term "inmates" imply about the workers? 3. Where are inmates normally found? 4. Give two reasons why compounds were used. 5. Why did these buildings have fences around them?