it would be short lived. Between 1890 and 1913 it would
come to an abrupt end and go into reverse. During this
period two forces worked to destroy the rural prosperity
and dynamism that Africans had created in the previous
fifty years. The first was antagonism by European farmers
who were competing with Africans. Successful African
farmers drove down the price of crops that Europeans also
produced. The response of Europeans was to drive the
Africans out of business. The second force was even more
sinister. The Europeans wanted a cheap labor force to
employ in the burgeoning mining economy, and they could
ensure this cheap supply only by impoverishing the
Africans. This they went about methodically over the next
several decades.
The 1897 testimony of George Albu, the chairman of the
Association of Mines, given to a Commission of Inquiry
pithily describes the logic of impoverishing Africans so as
to obtain cheap labor. He explained how he proposed to
cheapen labor by “simply telling the boys that their wages
are reduced.” His testimony goes as follows:
Commission: Suppose the kaffirs [black
Africans] retire back to their kraal [cattle
pen]? Would you be in favor of asking the
Government to enforce labour?
Albu: Certainly … I would make it
compulsory … Why should a nigger be
allowed to do nothing? I think a kaffir should
be compelled to work in order to earn his
living.
Commission: If a man can live without work,
how can you force him to work?
Albu: Tax him, then …
Commission: Then you would not allow the
kaffir to hold land in the country, but he must
work for the white man to enrich him?
Albu: He must do his part of the work of
helping his neighbours.
Both of the goals of removing competition with white
farmers and developing a large low-wage labor force were
simultaneously accomplished by the Natives Land Act of