1886 - Gold Discovered

War Breaks Out
Written By Susie Campbell
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The discovery of the Witwatersrand goldfields in 1886 was a turning point in South Africa’s history. Following the diamond discovery in Kimberly, gold was discovered and triggered a gold rush, causing more tension and fighting over the land. The demand for franchise rights for English-speaking immigrants working on the new goldfields was the pretext Britain used to go to war with the Transvaal and Orange Free State in 1899.

Susie Campbell
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1880 - The First Boer War
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1899 - The Second Boer War