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Post by chansomvia on May 3, 2015 19:41:45 GMT -5
We were born in Africa from parents who migrated to Africa, this link was sent to me by a Malaysian friend residing in Sydney just as we made contact with the grandson of a another Chinese who migrated into Africa through Beira. My parent moved on to East Africa in the 1930's from Haiyan, whilst my other friend's father moved to Zimbabwe from Beira, walking for weeks through Darkest Africa, he was also from Haiyan. My Zimbabwe friend Andy migrated to Christchurch where we met by accident, the recent contact Ken is now in Melbourne but mother still lives in Christchurch. There may be others from Africa and it would be interesting to get to know them. This is indeed an interesting Forum which allowed us to contact each others. Sadly most of the elderly have passed on and we can never know their full story, but with the aid of this wonderful forum we are able to trace our roots. Forwarded message: Subject: FW: Chinese South Africans --- 24 min Eye opener. ''Very interesting documentary. It would seem that wherever the Chinese choose to go on this planet, they never fail to inject vibrancy and life whilst still keeping a rich and traditional heritage, hardworking traits .... and a wide variety of Chinese gourmet.'' Thought you might be interested to watch this short documentary about the Chinese in South Africa. Who knows .....you may recognise a few people  Chinese South Africans Documentary docs.google.com/file/d/0B_lFC9OSgUJFTWVoQzhvQU1hSkE/edit |
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Post by helen on May 4, 2015 4:08:16 GMT -5
Thanks Joe - the documentary was really interesting. Hope you are well down South.
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Post by douglaslam on May 5, 2015 6:53:31 GMT -5
Very interesting video on Chinese in South Africa. Thanks Joe. There is so little information out there about the Chinese in Africa in general. Johannesburg Chinatown is not quite like Chinatown in San Francisco, New York, Vancouver or Sydney. It's good to know the Chinese will always make their presence known.
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Post by lachinatown on May 5, 2015 13:13:22 GMT -5
Very well done. Very educational. Thanks for the link.
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Post by helen on May 9, 2015 15:35:15 GMT -5
CHINESE ON THE RAND.ATTACKING HOMESTEADS. By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received February 17, 8.52 a.m.) CAPE TOWN, February 16. Chinese attacked five farmhouses in tho Transvaal on Thursday, the inmates repelling them. Thirteen Chinese were arrested. Star , Issue 8551, 17 February 1906, Page 4
SOUTH AFRICA.THE TRANSVAAL GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME. United Press Association By Electric Telegraph Copyright. PRETORIA, June 15. Mr Botha, speaking on. the reassembling of Parliament, announced the repatriation of 16,759 coolies in 1907. He remarked that the supply of native labour for some time past had markedly exceeded the demand. It was not intended to legislate this session for the temporary renewal of coolie contracts. The presence of the Chinese was in the highest degree inimical. The Government contemplated a Conciliation Bill to prevent strikes. The Government had given notice of withdrawal from the Customs Convention. Mr Botha added that the Government was not opposed to the principle of a Customs Union. Star , Issue 8957, 17 June 1907, Page 1
THE CHINESE EXODUS(Received July 5, 8.56 a.m.) DURBAN,. July 4. Time-expired Chinese to the number of 1918 left here aboard the steamer Heliopolis, homeward bound. Star , Issue 8973, 5 July 1907, Page 2
SOUTH AFRICA. THE CHINESE COOLIES. United Press Association By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright. PRETORIA, August 9. The completion of Chinese Coolie Contracts Bill passed the Assembly. Star , Issue 9004, 10 August 1907, Page 7
SOUTH AFRICA.THE RAND CHINESE. United Press Association- By Electrio Telegraph— Copyright. DURBAN, September 2. Two thousand three hundred repatriated Chinese have sailed from here for Hong Kong. Star , Issue 9025, 4 September 1907, Page 1
SOUTH AFRICA. REPATRIATION OF CHINESE. United Press Association— By Electrio Telegraph Copyright. DURBAN, November 4. The steamer Courtfield has sailed with 2000 Chinese who are being repatriated. Star , Issue 9077, 5 November 1907, Page 1
SOUTH AFRICA.CHINESE ON THE RAND. United Press Association By Electrio Telegraph— Copyright. CAPE TOWN, JanuarylO. There were 35,676 Chinese on the Rand at the end of December. Star , Issue 9131, 11 January 1908, Page 5
SOUTH AFRICA. CHINESE REPATRIATED STATUS.OF ASIAIIUS Press Association-By lelegiaph,-Copyright Received 10 pm August 13th. DURBAN, August 13 Two thousand one hundied and seventy repatriated Chinese have sailed from Durban. The Transvaal Government have agreed to legalise the status of Asiatics voluntarily registered before May 10th or obtained certificates, of registiation under the Asiatic Act of 1907 It is proposed, to restrict trading licences to Asiatics thus qualified Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13672, 14 August 1908, Page 5
CHINESE COOLIES GONE.
LAST BATCH LEAVES SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE EAST.
The last batch of Chinese labourers left Johannesburg for their native land on February 31, the repatriation having taken four years to complete, in order that the goldmining industry should not be dislocated by any sudden removal of labour.
The Anglo-Chinese Labour Convention was signed on May 13, 1004, by Lord Lansdowne and the Chinese Minister in London, aud the first batch-of Chinamen sailed from Hongkong for Durban by the steamer Tweeddaie twelve days later, arriving at Johannesburg on June 22. By the end of 1904 there were 47,000 Chinese working in the Rand mines.
The largest number of Chinese in thh Transvaal at any one time was 53,530, and there were over 50,000 in the Transvaal when Mr Balfour went out of office at the end of IDO3. Licenses had, however, been granted for the entry of 10,000 more, and 13,000 of these actually entered the colony.
The new Government at once stopped the issue of more licenses, and as the three year contracts expired the men were sent back to China, their places being taken chiefly by natives. The number of natives employed in the gold mines in the Witwnteisrnnd in May, 1004, was 70.605; In January. 1907, it was 04.221; and in September, I9OO, it was 156,065.
It waa feared that the repatriation of the Chinese would be followed by a marked decrease in the profits; but this fear has not been realised. Working costs have dropped, to 17/1 per ton, or lid per ton less than ln ISOS. The output of gold has increased. Last year the Transvaal Mines turned out £30,923,000 worth of gold, or 34 per cent of the world's output of gold.
Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 90, 16 April 1910, Page 15
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Post by helen on May 9, 2015 16:04:00 GMT -5
Chinese labour was expected to confer a great boon upon South Africa and to increase the demand for white labour. But that supposed result has had no realisation, and instead the policy of cheapness before everything has made South Africa the reverse of desirable* or possible as a place of residence for white labourers. One effect of this has been an unique experiment in the State's paternal functions on the part of the Commonwealth, the' Government of which has set aside a sum of money to repatriate those Australians of good character who desire to return, to Australia from South Africa. The way has no doubt been paved for such an action by the need for population in these colonies and their efforts to attract immigrants from other countries. The Australians stranded in South Africa are in many cases of the best type —the men who are always in the van of pioneering work of any kind, and who are accustomed to the conditions and life in the Commonwealth. They are mostly of the artisan and labouring classes. A number of them, who had sufficient money to pay their own passages, arrived in Melbourne a few weeks ago. According to accounts furnished by them, there are hundreds of other Australians still stranded in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg, who have not the wherewithal to bring them back to the Commonwealth. They say it is quite a usual thing to see 1500 unemployed men standing in the vicinity of the post office at Johannesburg looking for work, whilst an almost similar state of affairs prevails at Durban. The week before they left five hundred Indian coolies arrived in Durban, and an equal number of whites were glad to leave South Africa. At Johannesburg there are between 60,000 and 70,000 Chinese coolies working in the mines, and the country presents no inducement to white men to stay. The Commonwealth Government may be congratulated on the wisdom which has prompted it to take the initiative in giving these exiled Australians the opportunity to return to their, native land. Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8248, 3 April 1907, Page 4
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Post by chansomvia on May 9, 2015 23:48:13 GMT -5
Thanks Helen for the fantastic research into Chinese in Africa, when you compare these Chinese coolies (labourers) who worked in the mines in South Afica to the Chinese miners in Otago there is little in common except perhaps the slave like conditions they worked in. And that they were mainly Siyip.
I hope to meet Ken at the end of this year and we can then digress on what happened to the Beira Chinese.
Any write-up on the trip to pay respects to sunken ship off the coast of New Zealand? I am in touch with Ann Chin and there is a lot of common interest, following her blog and am her facebook friend. Any plans to visit China this year?
Joe
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Post by helen on May 10, 2015 0:40:57 GMT -5
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Post by helen on May 10, 2015 1:02:45 GMT -5
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Post by helen on May 10, 2015 1:05:03 GMT -5
I hope you get to catch up with your friend soon
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Post by helen on Aug 7, 2015 16:13:32 GMT -5
Hi Joe
Spring is on its way - hope you and your family are well.
Any updates on your friends and your memories of Africa? Will be good to hear more.
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Post by chansomvia on Aug 25, 2015 5:23:22 GMT -5
Hi Helen
Things are moving faster than I wanted as need to consult Ken Li before we meet his mother in Christchurch as he has asked that we go with the mother's friend and introduce ourselves. I am hesitant as Ken says his mother has dementia and is hard of hearing, however her friends say that she is alright. I will take it slowly.
The Zimbabwe lady in Auckland Adelina is related to my friend and they will catch up in December in Auckland. It is a long story.
Joe
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