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

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

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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.

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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
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2.4 Migrant workers
2.3 Randlords and the Chamber of
Mines 2.3.1 Randlords 2.3.2 Chamber of Mines
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.

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2.4 Migrant workers (continues)

• 3 Maatreëls is ingestel om swart trekarbeid by
  die myne verder te beheer
• Passe is uitgereik. Dié het hulle gekeer om hul
  kontrakte vroeg te eindig OF om van een myn na n
  ander oor te gaan.
• Swart vakbonde was verbode.
• n Dopstelsel is begin Deel van hul salaris is
  met alkohol betaal. Dit het gelei dat hul later
  afhanklik van alkohol word.

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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)
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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.

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

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Homework Act 6 p. 123-124
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Interactive video on p.125 in e-book
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3. The Mineral Revolutiona 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.

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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.

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3.1.1 Defeat of the Boer Republics in 1902
(continues)

• Textbook page 126

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3.1.5 Formation of the Union of S.A.
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 !

• 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.

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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!
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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.

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3.2 Map of Southern Africa 1860 and 1913

• Interactive map on p. 129 in e-book!

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Unit 2Deep-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_at_hsmontana.co.za
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