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Unit 2: Deep-level gold mining on the Witwatersrand 1886 onwards Powerpoint presentation created by: Mr L Taute ltaute@hsmontana.co.za Textbook page 112 - 129 1 Slide 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. 2 Slide 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. 3 Slide 4 2.1How gold is mined Open-pit mining vs Underground gold mines 4 Self-study p.113 2.2 What are the conditions underground? Self-study p.114 Slide 5 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. 5 2.3Randlords and the Chamber of Mines 2.3.1Randlords 2.3.2Chamber of Mines p.115 LEAVE out! 2.4Migrant workers Slide 6 2.4 Migrant workers (continues) 3 Maatrels is ingestel om swart trekarbeid by die myne verder te beheer: 1.Passe is uitgereik. Di het hulle gekeer om hul kontrakte vroeg te eindig OF om van een myn na n ander oor te gaan. 2.Swart vakbonde was verbode. 3.n Dopstelsel is begin: Deel van hul salaris is met alkohol betaal. Dit het gelei dat hul later afhanklik van alkohol word. 6 Slide 7 2.5Burden 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. 7 Self-study p.118 (Read through) Slide 8 2.6Skilled 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. 8 Slide 9 Self-study 9 p.120 -122 (Read through) 2.6.1The role of unions 2.6.2Job reservation 2.7Anti-Indian legislation 2.8Forms of labour resistance 2.8.1The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union Slide 10 2.9The 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. 10 Slide 11 Homework:Act 6 p. 123-124 11 Slide 12 Interactive video on p.125 in e-book 12 Slide 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. 13 3.1The 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. Slide 14 3.1.1Defeat 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. 14 Slide 15 Textbook page 126 15 3.1.1 Defeat of the Boer Republics in 1902 (continues) Slide 16 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. 16 3.1.2African Political Organisation: 1902 3.1.3Transvaal Indian Congress: 1903 3.1.4Bambatha Rebellion: 1906 p.126 until p. 127 LEAVE out ! 3.1.5Formation of the Union of S.A. Slide 17 3.1.6Formation 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. 17 3.1.7The Satyagraha-Campaign p127 LEAVE out! Slide 18 3.1.8The 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. 18 Slide 19 3.2Map of Southern Africa: 1860 and 1913 Interactive map on p. 129 in e-book! 19 Slide 20 Powerpoint presentation created by: Mr L Taute ltaute@hsmontana.co.za Handboek bladsy 44 - 59 20 Unit 2: Deep-level gold mining on the Witwatersrand 1886 onwards Textbook page 112 - 129 20