Abstract

HIGGS, Anneke. The historical development of diamond mining legislation in Griqualand West during the period 1871 to 1880. Fundamina (Pretoria) [online]. 2018, vol.24, n.1, pp.18-56. ISSN 2411-7870.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2411-7870/2018/v24n1a2.

In 1871 the diamond fields where the first known diamonds in South Africa were discovered were proclaimed as a British territory named Griqualand West. In 1880 Griqualand West was annexed as part of the Cape Colony. During the period 1871 to 1880, Griqualand West was under the control of three different administrations, each of which enacted different diamond mining legislation. This article provides a historical overview of the diamond mining legislation that was enacted in Griqualand West from 1871 to 1880 in order to determine the factors which influenced the development of diamond mining legislation in Griqualand West.

Keywords : Diamond mining legislation; Griqualand West; mining; prospecting; diamonds; land tenure.

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