The Anglo-Boer War Centenary Commemorations Committee in Johannesburg is placing blue and white plaques to mark historical sites connected with important events of the period
Enoch Sontonga Avenue, Braamfontein.
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THE EPIC MARCH OF ZULU WORKERS -
Walking away from war On 6 October 1899, 7000 Zulu workers, mainly men, left this site (the Showgrounds) where they had gathered the night before to walk to their homes in Zululand and Natal. |
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EXPLOSION AT BEGBIE'S FOUNDRY -
12 October 1899 the Boers commandeered Begbie's Foundry for armaments production. On 24 April 1900 a massive explosion in the munitions store destroyed part of the foundry and houses nearby. Sabotage was suspected, but never proved. Full production was resumed before the British occupation five weeks later. On 6 October 1899, 7000 Zulu workers, mainly men, left this site (the Showgrounds) where they had gathered the night before to walk to their homes in Zululand and Natal. |
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BRITISH OCCUPATION OF JOHANNESBURG -
Near this point on Government Square in front of the Court House on 31 May 1900 Field Marshall Roberts rode into Johannesburg and accepted the surrender of Johannesburg from the Z.A.R. Commandant, Dr. F.E.T.Krause. The Boers had been allowed 24 hours to evacuate the town provided they left the mines intact. |
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THE PASS OFFICE
2 June 1900
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Two days after taking over Johannesburg the British, who had been welcomed by local African people as liberators, re-imposed the Pass laws of the Z.A.R. effectively outlawing any unemployed or self-employed Black man. This racist legislation secured the workforce needed by the army and the mines. |
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SKIRMISH AT BRAAMFONTEIN STATION
25 January 1900
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On January 1900 an estimated 400 Black miners who had walked from Kimberley to Klerksdorp arrived here by train seeking work. They were told by the ZAR Police to drop their kieries. When they refused the ZARPs opened fire, killing three. The others then attempted to leave, but were forced at gunpoint to work on the mines. |
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THE FORT:
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On 31 May 1900 the South Australian Mounted Rifles took the surrender of The Fort. Sergeant Major JR Read together with Corporal Henry Harboard "Breaker" Morant was the first to enter. Thereafter it was garrisoned by the Cheshire Regiment, which retained the captured ZAR flag, the Vierkleur, amongst its trophies. |
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THE FORT
Commissioned November 1896
The Jameson Raid led the ZAR Executive to instruct Cmdt. Schiel to construct a fort around part of the existing gaol. Designed to control the town, its railways and mines there were two bastions for long-range guns linked by earth ramparts. Convict labour excavated and loaded rock and soil from the northern slopes. |