Introduction.
Mining
enterprise refers to the process of produces and
marketing non ferrous metals. This included lead, zinc, copper, silver, and
other mineral, according to oxford dictionary.
According to Wilson and
Thompson (1971), the Mining enterprise in South Africa began with the discovery
of diamonds at the town of Kimberley in 1867. The discovery of diamonds led to
a rush of prospectors descending on the town, whose population skyrocketed as
increasing numbers of prospectors arrived to seek their fortune Kimberley,
diamond-mining increased in scale, focusing in open-pit mining of three main
sites. As surface deposits of diamonds were excavated, deeper pits had to be
dug, propelling the Mineral Revolution into a new phase. Davenport et al.
(2000).
The following were the
outcomes of the mining enterprise to the society of colonial South Africa;
Emergence of the state
of fear and insecurity; some of the activities in mining-affected people. Communities
have experienced threats, physical attacks, and damage of their property that
they believe is a consequence of their activism. Mining enterprisers created
the base of industrialization in South Africa, For example some of industries
were established in south Africa after the first world war industries such as
chemical and iron industries as these
industries was built because of the mineral discover. Davenport et al. (2000).
Growth
of towns and cities, The mining enterprises in South Africa
influenced the growth of the different towns and cities due to presence of
rapid population since the areas where mining activities were conducted
attracted many people in order to provide their labor power in those mines for
the purpose of getting money in order to run their lives. For example Kimberly Davenport
et al. (2000).
It
formed the base of industrialization in South Africa. Mining
enterprises in South Africa was the bases or step of South Africans to develop
in the sector of industries because the minerals were used as the raw materials
for feeding machines in different industries and producing the different
commodities. For example chemical and iron industries.
It led
to the construction of physical infrastructure, The owners of mines in south Africa funded the construction of physical infrastructures in
order to facilitate the transportation of minerals and labour from one place to
another. For example railway was constructed from Cape Town to the Kimberly. Although these physical
infrastructures constructed benefited more the
Whiteman but somehow the
societies of south Africa benefited from them
since they able to move from their home to the mines to seek for temporary
work in order to get wages to their lives. Davenport et al. (2000).
Formation
of mining companies, the white men established the
different companies in south Africa in order to consolidate and take control
over all mines belonged to blacks as well as control trade involved mineral
products. This situation limited the right of black people in South Africa to
own mines and to engage in trade that involved the selling and buying minerals
which caused them to live hard life. For example De Beers gained control most
of the diamond mines and engaged a total control of diamond trade in the world.
Heavy
capital was invested in South Africa. The whitemen in South
Africa was invested mach there capital in mining sectors. In South Africa
colonialist was invested capital in big than other country in Africa because South
Africa was used as the core part of their economy that based in
industrialization. Davenport et al. (2000).
Land confiscation especially land with mines,
At the first, both whites and blacks in south Africa worked independent claims
or mines in four areas surrounding Kimberly , but when mines worked by black went deeper, they
become more difficult to work and caused a number of businessmen to consolidate
all small mines that were belonged to blacks into larger mines.Forexample Cecil
Rhodes who arrived in south Africa at age of 16 years gained control over most
of diamond mines through his De Beers consolidated company and Alfred Beit the son of a Hamburgy
merchant arrived in 1875 and organized
the consolidation of small mines so that they could be exploited with heavy
mining equipment. Also the whitemen annexed the mines that were belonged to the
blacks and put them under their control, for example in 1870’s British annexed
west griqualand site of Kimberly diamond mines Davenport et al. (2000).
It
led to the beginning of white occupation in South Africa,
after discovery of minerals in South Africa, the whitemen introduced direct
occupation in South Africa in order to make an effective control and intensive
of exploitation of minerals.Forexample Dutch settler established effective
occupation at the cape colony during 17th century. So this situation
led the societies of South Africa to be under the control of white men, (Wilson
1971).
Introduction
of slavery in South Africa, The mining enterprises
facilitated the introduction of slavery in South Africa since the owners of
mines wanted to obtain labor who could perform different manual tasks in mine
areas The Europeans started to use the landless south Africans people as a source of supplying labor power in their
mines for example people were taken from different parts of south Africa to
provide their labor power atf low wages in different mines established and
controlled by white men .The low wages paid to the south Africans people in order to meet the needs of whites. Also in term of natural
resources, the minerals for example diamond and gold that were mined by blacks
in South Africa were exported to European countries very cheaply and they
brought manufactured goods resulted from minerals to the South Africans at high
price, (Nasson, 1999).
Emergency
of South African war (1899-1902), while the government
of Lord Saliburgy in Britain went to war to secure its hegemony in southern
Africa, the Boer republics did so to preserve their independence. The expensive
and brutal colonial war lasted two and a half years and pitted almost 500,000
imperial troops against 87,000 republican burghers, Cape ‘’rebels’’ and foreign
volunteers. The numerical weakness of the Boers was offset by the familiarity
with the terrain, support from the Afrikaner populace and the poor leadership
and dated tactics of the British command. Although often styled a white man’s
war both sides used blacks extensively as labour and at least 10,000 blacks
fought for the British, (Nasson, 1999). `
Introduction
of commercial agriculture, this was introduced purposively
to produce food to be sold to the companies and European merchants. they
introduced wheat and animal keeping to get meat and milk for example in 1657
some of the European employees were terminated and make as independent open
farmers since the demand was high compared to the supply capacity, Davenport
and Saunder( 2000).
Integration
of south Africa’s societies into international economy,
the south Africa’s societies were integrated into international economy through
the exportation of minerals such as
diamond and gold to European countries and through their own increasing demand
for variety of agriculture imports. This made south Africans to be known
globally for their economy of mining industry. Davenport et al. (2000).
Conclution
Generally mining
enterprisers in South Africa facilitated the influx of more white settlers who
later caused the delay of societies to get independence. Hence situation
angered the indigenous of South Africa and then they applied armed struggle so
as to gain control from white settlers.
References
Nasson, B.(1999). The South African war 1899 -1902.
London Arnold and New York: Oxford University press
Davenport et al
Saunders, C. (2000).South Africa: A
modern history: Basing stoke; MacMillan, and Neywork: St Martin’s press
Wilson, M and Thompson,
L. (1971). the Oxford History of South
Africa II: South Africa 1870-1966. Oxford: University press.
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