![]() The rumor that diamonds had been discovered in the soil of a grassy, tree-filled slope lured thousands of jobless South Africans to the site. If they are real diamonds, it means we are winning.” Molefe, 41, who conceded that he had no clue whether they were actually diamonds. Two days of strenuous digging had yielded four stones for Mr. No one who came seemed the least deterred by the widespread skepticism that the stones were really diamonds. The rumor that a herdsman had found clear stones resembling diamonds in the soil of a grassy, tree-filled slope last month lured thousands of South Africans to KwaHlathi, a sleepy village in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal where cattle roam freely.Ĭoming by taxi and by car, many from hours away, they dreamed of a turn of luck in a nation whose persistent struggles with joblessness have reached new heights amid the pandemic. He took a few more vigorous whacks into the edges of the shallow crater he had dug at the bottom of a hillside, before scooping up a handful of loose dirt and shaking it in search of the sparkle of a gem. KWAHLATHI, South Africa - Sbusiso Molefe stretched the pickax high above his head and hacked into the clumpy black dirt around his feet. Using picks and shovels to search for precious stones in KwaHlathi, South Africa. ![]() The government’s claim that the discovery was actually quartz was met with suspicion. When rumors of from diamond find hit social media, thousands of jobless South Africans rushed to a sleepy village. To quench your thirst a visit to the Occidental Bar is a must and for those wanting to stay overnight, there is a guest house as well as Hotels nearby.Diamond Rush in South Africa, Born of Desperation and Distrust ActivitiesĬome and relive the underground tour to experience the perilous 19th century mining conditions, explore the museum, do some shopping or try your hand at the Skittle Alley. In the Old Town you'll discover period buildings that have been preserved or restored to their original glory including a church built in Europe and shipped to Kimberley, Barney Barnato's Boxing Academy, the diggers' tavern, an authentic diggers' sleeping quarters and the De Beers railway coach, used by Cecil John Rhodes to commute between Cape Town and Kimberley. The Old Town brings the New Rush era to life, where the desperate, the hopeful and the determined flocked to the town of Kimberley to seek their fortunes. We take you through that story, a day in a miners life, we offer an unforgettable experience to illustrate the story of diamonds from past to present. Like an epic story, the history of diamonds in South Africa contains episodes of anguish and tragedy. Soon thousands of prospectors, armed with nothing more than picks, shovels and hope, descended on Kimberley and created the largest hand-dug excavation in the world. Then word spread that diamonds had been discovered. Step back in time and see where Kimberley’s diamond rush began.ġ50 years ago, the site of the Big Hole was a featureless, flat-topped hill.
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