Die Maleierkamp van Kimberley 1882 - 1957

English: Shortly after the discovery of the dry diggings, the London and South African Exploration Company was registered in order to acquire lands in South Africa for mining and exploring In March 1871, the London and South African Exploration Company and the Hopetown Diamond Company merged into a limited liability company under the former title. Their head office was in London, with a local office in, Kimberley. J.B. Currey, the local manager, was responsible for reporting to the London Board of Directors, which formulated the company's policy. The property comprised the farms Bultfentel n, Dorstfontein and Alexanderfontei n. The townships of Beaconsfield and Newton formed part of the estate. By the issue of proclamation no. 71 of 1871, portions of the farms Vooruitzight, Bultfontein and Dorstfontein were declared public diggings in October 1871. The influx of fortune-seekers and unskilled Iabourers resulted in a large cosmopolitan population arising on the diggings. The huge demand for labour, and the comparatively high wages attracted thousands of migrant Natives. The accumulation of a large heterogeneous population led to the emergence of a permanent proletariat. There was a marked increase in crime, and the maintenance of law and order placed high demands on the limited police force. A band of exceptionally dedicated clergymen from various denominations grasped the opportunity to spread the Gospel amongst the diversified population. Since the inception of the diamond fields, the inhabitants occupied stands, erven and holdings at Bultfontein, Dorstfontein and Newton under leasehold, tenure or licences. Under this form of licence, the tenant had no proprietary right. The Malay Camp was entirely leasehold property. It was situated in the Newton township in the middle of the estate. The camp was started by Malay transport drivers who flocked to the diggings in search of work or in the hope of wealth. Originally the Malay Camp was more or less an exclusive Muslim residential area. This was the best residential portion of Kimberley. Gradually Newton became occupied principally by coloured people and Mohammedans, both of Indian and Cape extraction. After 1880 the Malay Camp developed into a densely populated racially mixed residential area. Even in the best of times, the Malay Camp was justly considered one of the worst slums in South Africa. The unfortunate poverty-stricken inhabitants were forced to live in run-down hovels unfit for human habitation. The overcrowded, squalid neighbourhood was the most vulnerable in times of epidemics. Gradually a growing consensus took root among whites regarding the removal of non-whites from the Malay Camp to municipal native locations and segregated residential areas on the outskirts of Kimberley. The petitioners lodged complaints with the authorities about the lack of sanitary facilities, the appalling housing conditions and the fear for the outbreak and spreading of infectious diseases. Councillors and health officers were resolute as to the removal and demolition of the dilapidated Malay Camp. On 22 September 1899, the De Beers Consolidated Mines, Ltd. purchased the properties of their former landlords, the London and South African Exploration Company. By virtue of the Deed of Donation, the City council became the rightful owner of the De Beers Estate. In terms of clauses 10 and 11 of the Deed of Donation the municipality undertook - and bound itself - to terminate and cancel all stand licences held by non-Europeans by 31 December 1953, without prior consultation or negotiations with the Malay Camp residents, and to demolish the area not later than 31 December 1959. The official notice to quit was strongly condemned by the standholders. The said racial discriminatory clauses of the agreement were criticized by the perturbed community. The implementation of the Slum Act and the Group Areas Act precipitated the clearance and demolition of the Malay Camp. The slum clearance which was started in the 1940's, made way for the development of the new Cïvic Centre. The centre was to provide a complex for Kimberley's social, cultural and administrative activities. It arose from the rubble where some five hundred decaying houses were occupied by the poorer non-European groups for some eighty years, prior to the forced removal and disintegration of a cosmopolitan society and the establishment of a municipal administrative conglomerate.