Ruth Nhere
In South Africa
In South Africa, the discovery of diamonds and gold in the 1880s was to establish the region as a vital base of imperialist interests. “The transformation began in 1886 … By the end of the second gold boom of 1895 – 6, £57m had been invested in the Rand alone … South Africa for the first time became big business to the British and European merchant and investor …” – Robinson & Gallagher, Africa & the Victorians, 1978
British finance capital was thus confronted with a twofold task to secure imperialism’s treasure house in Africa. This meant putting an end to the heroic resistance of the African people as well as tackling the Boer Republics. The Act of the Union of 1910 signalled the completion of these objectives.
The wealth of the south was a spur to intensified inter-imperialist rivalry throughout the Continent. Aiming to consolidate their empires the ‘Great Powers’ indulged in the sending of expeditionary forces and involved themselves in all conceivable means of diplomatic warfare. At this stage their disputes took the form of wars of conquest against the independent African peoples.
The specific features of the socio-economic systems of the metropolitan powers gave different forms to their colonial administrations. Monopoly capitalism was to exert influence on African societies in far-reaching ways. The process, consolidated by the establishment of colonies, involved the subordination of entire economi
