tions
that develop mines in a remorseless manner, working them out and moving
on. Towns that depend on such mines, growing up around them, die out as
quickly as they have grown. Without De Beers' careful management this
might easily have happened already to Kimberley.
In
a civic history report drawn up just before World War II, the fact was
pointed out somewhat ruefully: "The development of the City of
Kimberley has been influenced, perhaps more than other cities, by
external historical and economic factors, whose primary effect has been
elsewhere, but whose effect on the city itself has been considerable.
The transition from mining camp to city has never been entirely
effected, since until now, the city has been entirely dependent upon
the diamond industry, and has never succeeded in relating itself
closely to the surrounding region and its mineral and agricultural
potentialities."
Although
a ghost town is a sight to fill the observer with gloomy musings, most
mining towns don't represent big tragedies, even when they're dead.
For South Africa, however, Kimberley is a big city, and her
demise would be disastrous for a lot of people. Therefore, the
authorities feel, until her secondary interests have been built up to
an extent that will support the people, the mines must go on. They
aren't worked all together, and some outlying pipes have not yet been
developed at all. For example, for many years after it was closed
because of the great world depression, Jagersfontein, where the
prettiest diamonds are supposed to come from, remained inactive; only
lately has it started up again, whereas its neighbor Koffeyfon-tein is
still left undisturbed. Someday no doubt work will start at
Koffeyfontein again, but for the moment it is completely
