Unit 2: Deep-level gold mining on the Witwatersrand 1886 onwards

1. Unit 2:Deep-level gold mining on the Witwatersrand 1886 onwards Textbook page 112 - 129 Powerpoint presentation created by: Mr L Taute ltaute@hsmontana.co.za

2. 1. Why is gold valuable? • Gold is a precious metal. Others are platinum & silver. • Durability – Does not corrode under normal circumstances. • Flexibility – Most flexible/pliant of all metals. • Conductivity – Good conductor of electricity & heat • Heat reflecting – Can reflect heat rays. Thus very valuable as a heat protector in space suits & vehicles. • Colour – One of very few metals (copper is another) that is coloured, making it ideal for jewellery making.

3. 2. The discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand • In 1872 gold was discovered on the farm Spitskop, in the Z.A.R. , by Edward Button. • In 1886 a second, much larger deposit of gold was struck on the Witwatersrand. • On the farm Langlaagte. • This discovery changed S.A. to becoming the largest gold-producing country in the world.

4. 2.1 How gold is mined Open-pit mining vs Underground gold mines Self-study p.113 2.2 What are the conditions underground? Self-study p.114

5. 2.3 Randlords and the Chamber of Mines 2.3.1 Randlords 2.3.2 Chamber of Mines 2.4 Migrant workers p.115 LEAVE out! • There was huge demand for a cheap labour system. • Africans would be promised jobs on the mines in return for wages and accommodation, but they had to sign contracts that forced them to work on the mined for a stipulated number of years. • When black migrant workers arrived at the mines, they were placed in a mine compound.

6. 2.4 Migrant workers (continues) 3 Maatreëls is ingestelom swart trekarbeid by die myneverdertebeheer: • Passe is uitgereik. Dié het hullegekeeromhulkontraktevroegteeindig OF om van eenmynna ‘n anderoortegaan. • Swart vakbonde was verbode. • ‘n Dopstelsel is begin: Deel van hulsalaris is met alkoholbetaal. Dit het geleidathul later afhanklik van alkohol word.

7. 2.5 Burden on women in the reserves and erosion of families. • Life for the families of the migrant workers became very hard without the men to help. There was an increasing burden on women in the reserves and the family structure began to erode. Self-study p.118 (Read through)

8. 2.6 Skilled and unskilled white workers • Deep-level mining was new to S.A. And experienced miners were needed. • In 1897 skilled miners earned £18-22 p.m. , while unskilled miners were earning only £ 2-3 p.m. • Further tensions: Mine owners had imported more than 60 000 Chinese men to work on the gold mines in the gold mines in 1904-1910.

9. Self-study 2.6.1 The role of unions 2.6.2 Job reservation 2.7 Anti-Indian legislation 2.8 Forms of labour resistance 2.8.1 The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union p.120 -122 (Read through)

10. 2.9 The city Johannesburg • The gold discovered at Langlaagte seemed to never run dry. The discovery of gold attracted many prospectors from all over the world! • New shops and houses made out of corrugated iron were erected almost overnight. It soon became a lively town with pubs, shops and canteens opening all the time. • Johannesburg only officially became a city in 1928 it was set up as a town as early as 1886. • Within 10 years, the town was already the largest in S.A. , outstripping the growth of Cape Town, which was more than 200 years older.

11. Homework: Act 6 p. 123-124

12. Interactive video on p.125 in e-book

13. 3. The Mineral Revolution:a turning point in S.A.’s history • Caused a population movement in all race groups from rural to urban areas in search for work. 3.1 The shifting balance of power • This began with the British move to unite S.A. After the defeat of the Boer Republics • (Anglo Boer War 1899-1902), and strengthened • the Union in 1910 and the passing of the Natives’ Land Act in 1913.

14. 3.1.1 Defeat of the Boer Republics in 1902 • In October 1899, the South African War (Anglo Boere War) between the Boers and the British began. • At first the Boers were successful, but in 1900 more British troops arrived and the Boers finally surrendered in 1902.

15. 3.1.1 Defeat of the Boer Republics in 1902 (continues) Textbook page 126

16. 3.1.2 African Political Organisation: 1902 3.1.3 Transvaal Indian Congress: 1903 3.1.4 Bambatha Rebellion: 1906 p.126 until p. 127 LEAVE out ! 3.1.5 Formation of the Union of S.A. • On 31 May 1910 the above was formed under British dominium. • This was exactly 8 years after the signing of the Treaty of V Vereeniging, which had brought the South African War to an end.

17. 3.1.6 Formation of the South African Native National Congress • In 1912 opposition to the Natives’ Land Act led to the formation of the above. • Renamed the African National Congress (ANC) in 1923. 3.1.7 The Satyagraha-Campaign p127 LEAVE out!

18. 3.1.8 The Natives’ Land Act in1913 • This was the first mayor piece of legislation passed by the Union government. • It excluded black South Africans from “white” South Africa by giving each “tribe” its own reserve. In total, these reserves amounted to about 7% of the land in South Africa. • This act formed the cornerstone of apartheid when the National Party came to power.

19. 3.2 Map of Southern Africa: 1860 and 1913 • Interactive map on p. 129 in e-book!

20. Unit 2:Deep-level gold mining on the Witwatersrand 1886 onwards Textbook page 112 - 129 Handboek bladsy 44 - 59 End of Unit 4 Topic 2 Powerpoint presentation created by: Mr L Taute ltaute@hsmontana.co.za 20