The late 19th century was a period of profound transformation for South Africa. Between the diamond rush in Kimberley in 1870 and the conclusion of the South African War in 1902, the region underwent a dramatic shift from agrarian societies to a bustling hub of urbanization and industrialization. The discovery of vast diamond reserves and the world’s largest gold fields on the Witwatersrand fuelled a capitalist mining industry that reshaped South Africa’s economic, political, and social landscapes.
The Diamond Rush and its Impact:
In 1867, a chance discovery of diamonds along the Orange, Vaal, and Harts rivers triggered a massive influx of fortune seekers. By 1870, richer deposits in “dry diggings” spurred a large-scale migration to the area that would become Kimberley. Initially, small-scale diggers—both Black and white—extracted diamonds by hand. However, mechanization and consolidation led to the rise of powerful mining capitalists like Cecil Rhodes. By 1889, Rhodes’s De Beers Consolidated Mines monopolized the diamond industry.
The industry’s expansion came with stark racial divisions. While white diggers transitioned to supervisory roles, the workforce became dominated by Black migrant laborers confined to closed compounds. These compounds not only controlled the labor force but also marked the beginning of an exploitative labor system that would persist for decades.
Imperialist Interventions and British Expansion:
The diamond-rich region became a contested zone, with claims from the Orange Free State, the South African Republic, and local African leaders like Nicolaas Waterboer. The British annexed the area as Griqualand West in 1871, signaling a shift toward more aggressive territorial expansion.
Under the influence of Lord Carnarvon, the British sought to confederate South Africa’s republics and colonies into a federation within the British Empire. Early efforts to unite the Cape and the Free State failed, leading to a focus on annexing the struggling Transvaal Republic in 1877. However, British administration faced resistance from Afrikaner factions, culminating in the Transvaal reclaiming self-government after the London Convention of 1884.
Gold and the Witwatersrand Revolution:
The discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886 marked a new phase in South Africa’s economic evolution. Gold became essential to global trade, bolstering national currencies and spurring industrialization. The newfound wealth drew international attention and intensified competition among British colonies, Boer republics, and African kingdoms.
