Shades

Capitalism means the exploitation of people for the sake of wealth. The gold mines in Johannesburg were typically capitalistic ventures.

The mines were owned by a few wealthy people who forced labourers to work under harsh conditions, live in dreadful circumstances, and be paid pathetically small wages in order to mine the minerals and so make the capitalists wealthier.

Although Shades does not deal with the mainstream capitalists like Cecil John Rhodes, it does nevertheless involve the lesser capitalists like Victor Drake, Charlie Fraser, Sonny Hoek and Harold Stanbridge.

These were the people who saw the opportunity to enrich themselves by exploiting an unsuspecting labouring group that had been devastated by the rinderpest epidemic.

The recruitment of black labour for the gold mines was a typically capitalistic venture. People like Charlie, Harold and Victor saw in the rinderpest devastation the ideal opportunity to become wealthy.

The amaXhosa had had their herds decimated. They were therefore approached by shrewd recruiters like Victor to sign up their sons under contract to work on the mines in return for a few healthy cattle.

Cattle were regarded by the amaXhosa as a source of wealth but they did not cost much for the capitalists who could buy them cheaply and could therefore afford to give them away as gifts.

It was a form of modern slavery. Vague promises were given of good pay and ideal working conditions. By the time the lie was spotted, it was too late. The labourers could not escape.

There was no chance of rescue. Many labourers died on the mines while the recruiters ignored their desperate circumstances.