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HSY2603 ExamBiancha Van Wyk
Student number: 61841625
28 November 2020
5. What are the main reasons why Cecil Rhodes is regarded as
having been a controversial politician in southern Africa in
the late 19th century?
Cecil Rhodes played a powerful part in the Southern Africa in
the late 19th century, on the contrary many reasons exist why
he was regarded as a controversial politician of which will be
discussed in this essay. Although he was a British
businessman, member of the parliament in the cape colony,
prime minister of the cape colony, an imperialist who formed
the British south African company (BSAC) that colonised
Zimbabwe. His legacy is still being challenged today.
Moreover, his own legacy can be divided into three sectors,
namely economic, political, and educational.
In brief Cecil John Rhodes came to southern Africa after
struggling with health issues, significantly his father believed
that Southern Africa had better business opportunities then
England. Rhodes was only 17 when he landed in Southern
Africa and worked on the cotton farm with his brother. Soon
after his brother left for Kimberley, Rhodes followed, and this
was when he discovered how valuable diamonds is.
Meanwhile Rhodes had no possessions of his own, only the
loan that his aunt gave him which he used to invest in
diamond diggings in Kimberley. Not only did he supervise
his brothers claim in Kimberley, but he also associated with
Rudd concession who later became is partner is the De
Beers Mining company.1
Firstly, Rhodes became rich very quickly, since economically
he invested heavily into mining machinery which led to the
existence of the two major companies. The Gold field of
South Africa in 1887 and the De Beers Consolidated Mines
Limited that was formed in 1888.2 Even though Rhodes
became extremely wealthy, he was not after wealth but more
after “” power”. The De Beers mines faced no competition at
the time and was the sole seller of diamond production.
Today De Beers is still a leading player in terms of world
diamond production 1885. Why is Rhodes seen as
controversial when he boosted South Africa economically?
Rhodes was behind the cheap migrant labour that led to the
implementation of the closed compounds, where mostly
black African married men lived and worked.3 Moreover, four
to six men would stay in a very small room with no proper
ventilation or privacy. Men slept on cement beds and many
of these men died because of the outbreak of diseases.
1
“Cecil John Rhodes” Available at https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/cecil-john-rhodes
(accessed on 28 November 2020).
2
Study Guide for HSY2603 p 262.
3
Study Guide for HSY2603 P 260.
1
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