Eersteling - bakermat van die Suid-Afrikaanse goudmynbedryf

Abstract

The Eersteling gold-fields in the Northern Transvaal are very important in the history of the South African gold-mining industry. There, for the first time, gold was mined on a large scale in South Africa following its discovery in 1871 by the prospector Edward Button. In 1872 Button went to Great Britain where he formed the Transvaal Gold Mining Co. Ltd. From sale of stocks he obtained the capital required to buy the modern equipment necessary for large scale gold-mining at Eersteling. His activities were interrupted by the outbreak of the first Anglo-Boer War in 1880, and were recommenced only when other gold-fields were being developed in the Soutpansberg district. When gold was discovered on the Witwatersrand in 1886 most of the diggers flocked there, leaving Eersteling almost to itself. Although Eersteling never experienced a boom again, mining activities were continued and have lasted into the present time. The present high gold price has resulted in a renewed interest in the Eersteling gold-fields, where modern equipment is used to exploit the riches of this area.