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South Africa

How did the drive for resources dominate the history of this country?. South Africa. Objectives . Identify history of South Africa Evaluate effect of gold on South Africa’s economy and society. History Prior to Europeans. Khoisan language groups Bantu language groups

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South Africa

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  1. How did the drive for resources dominate the history of this country? South Africa

  2. Objectives • Identify history of South Africa • Evaluate effect of gold on South Africa’s economy and society

  3. History Prior to Europeans • Khoisan language groups • Bantu language groups • Migrated from central Africa • Nguni • Ancestors of the Zulu and Xhosa

  4. First to come • Portuguese • Cape of Good Hope (1488) • (1652) – Dutch East India Company • French Huguenots refugees, the Dutch and Germans settled • Afrikaners • (1779)- Dutch authorities and the Xhosa fought first frontier war • British gained control of the Cape of Good Hope by the end of the 18th century

  5. Great Trek • Afrikaner farmers – Boers • Great northern migration to escape British rule • Conflict with the Zulus • Shaka (1787-1828) • Conquered most of the territory • Shaka assassinated replaced by half-brother Dingane • Defeated by the Boers • Zulus remained a formidable force • Battle of Isandhlwana • Finally conquered in 1879

  6. Anglo-Boer Wars • 1880-81 and 1899-1902 • Discovery of gold and diamonds • Influx of Europeans (mainly British) • Many from neighboring areas moved to work in mines • Mine owners • Hostels • Conflicts arose • British prevailed • 1910 – Union of South Africa

  7. Early 1900’s • 1910 British exerted their control over South African territories forming Union of South Africa • Continued discrimination and segregation of Africans • Prelude to Apartheid system • Diminished rights of black majority

  8. Legislation • Mines and Works Act of 1911 • Limited black mine workers to menial labor • Cheap Labor • Native Lands Actof 1913 • Divided land between blacks and whites • 13% of land to blacks who made up majority • Forced into wage work • Why would the government want to force them into wage labor?

  9. World War I • Recession following WWI • Mine owners reduced costs by hiring more black workers • Resulted in Rand Rebellion -armed uprising of white mine workers

  10. World War II • Black labor needed in manufacturing industries • Squatter camps sprung up among major white cities • 1948 elections Nationalist Party victorious • Policy of Apartheid • Conflict arose

  11. Protest to Apartheid • South African Native National Congress & Pan African Congress 1959 • Began demonstrations against laws • Protesting banned • Prominent leaders tried for treason • Nelson Mandela • Led the struggle to replace the apartheid regime with a multi-racial democracy • Jailed for 27 years • Country's first black president 1994-99

  12. Late 1900’s • Government continued to ban new political parties and enforce apartheid legislation • 1970’s South African Student Organization • Black Consciousness Movement • Black pride and non violent opposition Steve Biko

  13. Becoming a Republic • May 1961 • South Africa withdrew from the commonwealth • 1984 – new constitution • Allowed blacks and Asians a limited role in government • All power remained in white hands • Uprisings in 1967 and 1985 started to convince some members of the NP for the need for change

  14. New Leader • 1984 P.W. Botha came to power • Began movement to reform apartheid • Some reforms but protests continued • Government continued censorship of media and resistance to protestors

  15. Need for change • 1986 -Secret discussion began between those members and Nelson Mandela • 1989 – Mandela released from prison • Unbanned the ANC and PAC • 1991- the Group Areas Act, Land Acts and the Population Registration Act • Last “pillars of apartheid” were abolished

  16. System Repealed • 1989 new president F.W. de Klerk • Admitted apartheid a failure • 1991 Convention for a Democratic South Africa • Multiracial transitional government • Equal rights • Freedom of speech and religion • Prohibited discrimination

  17. An end to apartheid • December 1993 – new interim constitution • First nonracial elections were held on April 26-28, 1994 • Nelson Mandela president on May 10, 1994 • Established a Government of National Unity (GNU) • Permanent constitution on May 9, 1996 • Mandela signed it on December 10, 1997 and went into effect of February 3, 1997

  18. Mandela’s Five Year Term • Committed to reform • Focused on social issues such as unemployment, housing shortages and crime • Reintroduced South Africa into the global economy

  19. After Mandela • Stepped down in 1997 • 1999 – Thabo Mbeki • Focused on bringing economic power to the black majority • April 2004 – re-elected, “recalled” in 2007 • 2008 – KgalemaMotlante • 2009 elections – Jacob Zuma • New elections in 2012

  20. Economy Natural Resources such as Diamonds and Gold have been a major factor in South African economy

  21. Gold Mining Begins • The first Gold Rush in South Africa began in the late 1800’s • Large amount found in 1886 • Mining was a strong industry by 1887 • Rand Mines • New township of Johannesburg filled with settlers

  22. Gold Mining • Archaean Witwatersrand Basin • Main gold producing area • Mined for more than 100 years • Archaean greenstone belts Smaller gold producers

  23. Divisions of South Africa

  24. The Second Boer War • 1899-1902 • Two centuries of conflict • British migrated to: • Natal • Then the Orange Free State and Transvaal • Discovery of gold sparks the second war

  25. The farm where gold was first discovered in 1886

  26. The Rush for Riches • 1869- 21 –karat diamond found along the Orange River • Kimberley diamond field • Gold discovered near Johannesburg • Boer leader – Stephanus Paul Kruger • Cecil Rhodes – De Beers Consolidation Mine

  27. The Second Boer War ends • 1900- British had captured capitals of both Boer nations • Afrikaners set up a guerrilla campaign • British looted, razed villages and killed livestock • Set up concentration camps for Boer women and children • 20,000 died • Surrendered May 1902 • British now controlled all of South Africa

  28. All That Glitters • Changed South Africa from an agricultural society to the largest gold-producer • More than diamonds • Gold Standard • Gold discovered in 1886 • Transvaal became the richest gold mining area in the world Langlaate becomes part of the big mining camp of Johannesburg

  29. Johannesburg • Became the biggest town in Transvaal

  30. People of the mining towns • Prospectors • Great hopes of “striking it rich” • Laborers • Young African men who came to pay; bride-price, taxes, guns or tools • Others • Made money off the needs of the people

  31. Improved Transportation • Improved roads then railways • Joined the ports to the gold mines then to Kimberley • New towns grew up around the stations • Farmers also sent produce by train • More people would now: • Work for a wage • Buy their clothes and food from a shop • Lived in a compound, township or suburb

  32. Ways to mine • Dig up the ground with picks and shovels • Deep-level mining • By 1906 the Robinson Deep Mine (Johannesburg) became the deepest mine in the world at 800 meters • Pumps and ventilation • Low-grade ore • Had to crush up the ore to get to the gold • All very labor intensive!

  33. Mine labor • Plentiful supply of cheap labor made gold mines in South Africa viable • Most African farmers were not interested in working in the mines • Once the African kingdoms were defeated government taxes and land control measures gave few options for survival

  34. Taxes • Raised taxes so that a man had to work extra to meet the required tax • Had to be paid in cash • Had two choices: • Earn money by selling produce or working for a short time on white farms or in town • Or avoid paying the labor tax by working for wages for short periods either on farms or in towns • Most chose to work in the mines because the wages were higher than farm work

  35. Working in the mines • “Touts” – recruiters • Paid by recruiting agencies for every worker they recruited • Created a situation where there were more workers than jobs • Low wages • Governments cooperated with mines because they were major taxpayers

  36. Artisanal gold miners at work in Kanga-Isine

  37. Gold Producers • AngloGold Ashanti is a leading global producer of gold • Operations in South Africa at West Wits and Vaal River. • Anglogold produced 4.98 million ounces of gold in 2008. • Deep-level operations employ 37,000 people and produced 42% of the group’s production in 2008 • Gold Fields is one of the world’s largest producers • operations at Driefontein, Kloof, Beatrix and South Deep • DRDGold is a medium-sizedgold producer • 4th largest in South Africa.

  38. Gold Mining • Half million South Africans rely on industry • 40% of all gold • One of World’s largest producers • China surpassed South Africa in gold in 2007

  39. Gold Mining • Mines in South Africa are very deep • Not surface mines-95% are underground operations • depths of 3.8km • Can be dangerous and expensive

  40. Costs of Mining • Coupled with declining grades, increased depth of mining and a slide in the gold price, costs have begun to rise • Steady fall in production • Highest cost is wages • National Union of Mine Workers • Better wages and working conditions

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