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Rhodes Memorial

The Rhodes Memorial is a granite monument located on the northern slopes of Devil's Peak in Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, South Africa, erected to commemorate Cecil John Rhodes (1853–1902), the British-born mining magnate, politician, and imperialist who served as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896 and expanded British influence across southern Africa through ventures like De Beers and the British South Africa Company.^[1]^[2] Designed by British architect Sir Herbert Baker in a style evoking an ancient Greek temple, the memorial was constructed from locally quarried Cape granite between 1902 and 1912 on land from Rhodes's Groote Schuur estate, featuring 49 broad steps symbolizing the years of his life, flanked by eight bronze lions modeled on those atop Nelson's Column in London, Doric columns, and a central bronze bust of Rhodes sculpted by Marion Walgate.^[1]^[2]^[3] Unveiled in 1912 by the Duke of Connaught and declared a National Monument in 1938, it provides panoramic vistas of Cape Town, the Cape Flats, and distant mountain ranges, serving as a site for reflection amid indigenous gardens designed by James Kyle and accessible via hiking trails.^[2] The memorial has faced repeated vandalism amid post-apartheid debates over colonial legacies, including the severing of Rhodes's bust nose in 2015 and its decapitation in 2020, reflecting broader protests against symbols of imperialism though it remains intact as a historical landmark under South African National Parks management.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Historical Background

Cecil Rhodes' Contributions to Southern Africa

Cecil Rhodes consolidated the fragmented diamond mining operations in Kimberley, founding De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. in 1888, which established a near-monopoly on global diamond production and generated substantial revenues that financed infrastructure projects across the Cape Colony.^[6] This economic control stabilized the volatile diamond market, enabling investments in railways that connected remote mining areas to ports, thereby boosting trade and urban expansion in regions like Kimberley and Johannesburg. Rhodes also invested in Transvaal gold fields discovered in 1886, forming companies that extracted resources on an industrial scale, with output rising from negligible amounts to millions of ounces annually by the 1890s, providing capital for broader Southern African development.^[7] In 1889, Rhodes obtained a royal charter for the British South Africa Company (BSAC), which administered vast territories north of the Limpopo River through treaties such as the 1888 Rudd Concession with Lobengula, king of the Ndebele, granting mineral rights and paving the way for pioneer columns to occupy Mashonaland in 1890.^[8] The BSAC's operations led to the establishment of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1890 and Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) by 1900, integrating these areas into British economic networks via telegraph lines and roads that supported mining and agriculture. Rhodes envisioned the Cape to Cairo railway as a unifying infrastructure spine, with segments constructed under BSAC auspices reaching Bulawayo by 1897 and Victoria Falls by 1904, facilitating resource export and settler migration that spurred economic growth despite conflicts like the 1893 Matabele War.^[9]^[10] As Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896, Rhodes pursued policies aimed at economic unification, including railway extensions northward and customs unions that linked the Cape's ports to inland markets, increasing trade volumes by over 50% during his tenure.^[11] The Glen Grey Act of 1894 designated reserves for African labor recruitment while imposing hut taxes to incentivize wage work in mines and farms, channeling human capital into extractive industries that drove GDP growth in the colony.^[12] Following his death in 1902, Rhodes' will endowed the Rhodes Scholarships, funding postgraduate education at Oxford University for select students from British colonies and the United States, with the program commencing awards in 1903 to foster leadership ties across Anglophone spheres.^[13] These initiatives, rooted in resource-driven wealth, laid foundational infrastructure and administrative frameworks that enabled Southern Africa's transition from subsistence economies to industrialized export hubs.

Planning and Construction (1902-1912)

Following Cecil Rhodes's death on 26 March 1902, his trustees, including Lord Grey (former Administrator of Rhodesia) and Rudyard Kipling (a close friend), were tasked with overseeing the creation of a memorial in Cape Town.^[3] The selected site on the eastern slopes of Devil's Peak was chosen for its panoramic views northward and eastward, which Rhodes had particularly favored during his time residing at the nearby Groote Schuur estate—a property he had acquired and developed as his primary residence in the Cape.^[3] This location aligned with Rhodes's expressed appreciation for the area's natural beauty and strategic vista, though his will did not explicitly mandate the memorial there; instead, public admiration for his contributions prompted the initiative shortly after his passing.^[14] ^[15] Sir Herbert Baker, Rhodes's favored architect who had earlier remodeled Groote Schuur starting in 1893, was commissioned in 1906 to design the monument in the style of an ancient Greek temple.^[16] ^[3] Construction commenced that year, employing local Cape granite quarried directly from Table Mountain to form the structure's Doric columns and robust masonry elements, emphasizing durability and regional materials.^[3] The bronze bust of Rhodes was modeled by sculptor Ivan Mitford-Barberton, capturing a contemplative likeness intended to evoke Rhodes's forward-gazing imperial vision.^[17] The project reached completion in 1912 after approximately six years of work, with financing derived from voluntary public subscriptions by Cape Town residents in recognition of Rhodes's role in regional development.^[3] ^[18] Dedication ceremonies occurred that year, presided over by Earl Grey, who traveled from Britain specifically for the event as a trustee and to honor Rhodes's legacy.^[18] This self-sustaining funding model, independent of direct government allocation, underscored the memorial's origins in grassroots civic support rather than obligatory estate disbursements, though Rhodes's broader bequests had preserved the surrounding public lands.^[3]

Dedication and Early Reception

The Rhodes Memorial was formally dedicated on 5 July 1912, in a ceremony attended by dignitaries including local officials and invited guests such as Stephen Cavanagh, with Lord Albert Grey—former administrator of Rhodesia and then Governor-General of Canada—presiding after a special journey to South Africa for the event.^[19]^[20] Contemporary press coverage in the Cape Times highlighted the occasion as a tribute to Cecil Rhodes' legacy, emphasizing the monument's embodiment of imperial ambition, unity among British settler communities, and harmony with the surrounding landscape's natural grandeur.^[21] The event underscored Rhodes' self-professed vision of extending British influence northward, as inscribed in the memorial's elements, without recorded disruptions or public dissent in immediate accounts.^[18] In the ensuing years, the memorial gained traction as a promoted tourist attraction, featured in early 20th-century guides for its elevated vantage point overlooking Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula, drawing visitors seeking inspiration from Rhodes' contemplative habits at the site.^[22] Archival records from the period portray it as a symbol fostering British-South African cohesion following the Second Boer War's conclusion in 1902, aligning with efforts to integrate former adversaries into a shared imperial framework under Union of South Africa governance established in 1910.^[23] Positive depictions in local publications reinforced its role in evoking Rhodes' entrepreneurial and expansionist ethos, with no substantial contemporary critiques noted in surviving newspapers, reflecting broad elite acceptance amid postwar stabilization.^[21] This early embrace contrasted with negligible evidence of organized resistance, as period sources document invitations extended even to select African attendees in line with Rhodes' prior Matopos gatherings, though participation remained limited to symbolic gestures rather than egalitarian inclusion.^[23] The absence of reported controversies in 1912 press aligns with the memorial's inception during a phase of imperial consolidation, where Rhodes' contributions to mining, infrastructure, and territorial acquisition—despite their exploitative underpinnings—were valorized by prevailing authorities and media.^[20]

Location and Accessibility

Geographical Setting on Devil's Peak

The Rhodes Memorial is situated on the lower slopes of Devil's Peak, part of the Table Mountain chain in Cape Town, South Africa, at approximately 33°57′09″S 18°27′33″E and an elevation of 165 meters above sea level.^[24]^[25] This location on the eastern flank offers expansive vistas across the city of Cape Town, Table Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean, capitalizing on the elevated terrain for unobstructed sightlines.^[3] The site lies within Table Mountain National Park, managed by South African National Parks (SANParks), encompassing diverse ecosystems including the Cape Fynbos biome, a Mediterranean-climate shrubland dominated by proteas, ericas, and restios adapted to periodic fires.^[26] Geologically, the area features quartzitic sandstone of the Table Mountain Group, formed during the Ordovician period, which forms the rugged slopes and contributes to the park's distinctive topography and drainage patterns.^[26] Cecil Rhodes selected this spot on his Groote Schuur estate for the memorial due to its personal significance as his preferred outlook, providing strategic proximity to his residence and enhancing the site's symbolic oversight of the surrounding landscape.^[3] The elevation and exposure to southeasterly winds prevalent in the region influence local microclimates, while the fynbos vegetation heightens fire risk, as evidenced by historical blazes affecting the park.

Access Routes and Visitor Information

The primary vehicular access to Rhodes Memorial is via Rhodes Drive, originating from Rondebosch near the University of Cape Town, leading directly to parking areas at the site, including an upper lot adjacent to the memorial and a lower lot for additional capacity.^[27] Alternative road approaches connect from Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, though these often transition into pedestrian or hiking routes. Parking is free but limited during peak periods, with no dedicated shuttle services operating to the site.^[27] Pedestrian entry is facilitated by trails within Table Mountain National Park, notably the Pipe Track—a historic contour path starting from Kloof Nek—and the Contour Path linking to Kloof Corner, both offering moderate hikes with gradual ascents suitable for most fitness levels.^[28] These routes provide scenic approaches but require sturdy footwear due to uneven terrain and potential exposure to wind. The memorial adheres to Table Mountain National Park's daylight access policy, remaining open from dawn to dusk year-round, with closures enforced after sunset for safety.^[29] No dedicated entry fee applies to the memorial itself, though South African National Parks conservation charges—such as R42 per adult for nearby gates like Newlands or Oudekraal—may be required depending on the access point used, with discounted local rates available upon proof of residence.^[30] ^[28] Visitation is highest during the Southern Hemisphere summer (November to February), drawn by clear weather and enhanced panoramic views over Cape Town. Access can be weather-dependent, with strong winds or rain rendering trails slippery and hazardous; visitors are advised to check forecasts and avoid solitary hikes amid reports of muggings and vehicle hijackings in the area, favoring groups of four or more.^[27]

Architecture and Design

Overall Structure and Greek Temple Influence

The Rhodes Memorial features a temple-like edifice constructed primarily from local Cape granite, adopting the stylistic elements of ancient Greek architecture to convey enduring strength and classical proportion. Architect Sir Herbert Baker designed the structure, drawing inspiration from Doric temples such as that at Segesta in Sicily, which emphasizes unadorned solidity through its columnar facade and entablature. This choice aligns with Cecil Rhodes's documented appreciation for classical forms, selected to project permanence in the exposed mountain setting.^[31]^[3] The overall form comprises a raised loggia supported by robust granite Doric columns, forming an open portico that integrates the monument with its dramatic topography. Arches within the design, partially modeled after those at London's Hyde Park Corner, enhance the vista toward Table Mountain, prioritizing aesthetic harmony with the natural environment over enclosed functionality. Baker's rationale focused on harmonic scale and visual impact, ensuring the structure's silhouette dominates the hillside while resisting weathering from the region's strong winds and variable precipitation.^[32]^[19] Engineering considerations emphasized material resilience, with granite quarried from nearby Table Mountain to minimize transport stresses and maximize longevity against elemental exposure. The base and columnar supports provide stability on the steep incline, incorporating subtle gradations to channel runoff and prevent erosion, as outlined in Baker's construction plans adapted to the site's microclimate. This approach underscores a pragmatic adaptation of classical motifs to local geophysical demands, favoring simplicity and mass over ornate detailing for sustained structural integrity.^[1]

Materials, Sculptures, and Key Features

The Rhodes Memorial is constructed predominantly from Cape granite quarried on Table Mountain, specifically from the Bellevue Quarry, selected for its hardness and resistance to erosion in the region's variable weather conditions.^[3]^[18] This local stone forms the 49 broad steps, the supporting Doric columns, and the walls of the exedra, with the granite's coarse grain providing structural integrity and aesthetic uniformity.^[3] At the base, a semi-circular terrace incorporates embedded sandstone cobbles for foundational stability.^[18] Sculptures integrate bronze elements cast in England to complement the granite framework. The central bronze bust of Cecil Rhodes, depicting him in contemplative pose, was sculpted by John Macallan Swan and placed within the exedra architrave.^[18] Flanking the steps are eight bronze lions, also by Swan, positioned four per side to denote guardianship and strength through their recumbent yet alert forms.^[18] At the foot of the monument stands the "Physical Energy" bronze equestrian figure by George Frederic Watts, cast as a dynamic rider symbolizing vigor, which anchors the approach.^[3] Key features emphasize practical craftsmanship, such as the stepped granite layout that facilitates drainage and prevents soil slippage on the slope, achieved through precise on-site dressing of quarried blocks.^[3] The combination of abundant local granite with specialized imported bronzes optimized durability while incorporating high-fidelity artistry, reflecting efficient resource allocation in the 1906-1912 build phase.^[18]

Symbolism and Inscriptions

The 49 Steps and Lion Guardians

The granite staircase leading to the Rhodes Memorial comprises 49 steps, each representing one year of Cecil Rhodes's life from his birth in 1853 to his death in 1902.^[33] Constructed from Cape granite quarried on nearby Table Mountain, the steps form a terraced ascent designed by architect Sir Herbert Baker to evoke a sense of deliberate progression toward the monument's upper platform.^[33] ^[34] Flanking the staircase on both sides are eight bronze lion statues, four per side, sculpted by John Macallan Swan as guardians symbolizing strength and vigilance.^[31] These lions, positioned in pairs across wide terraces, align with the vista toward Table Bay and are integrated into the pathway to frame the approach visually.^[35] The sculptures draw from classical motifs, with the lions depicted in a poised, watchful stance to emphasize imperial resolve rather than ferocity.^[36] The staircase's gradient supports a ceremonial ascent, reflecting Baker's intent for visitors to experience a measured climb mirroring Rhodes's purported tenacity, as outlined in the memorial's 1912 construction documentation.^[3] Weathering from exposure to coastal winds and rain has necessitated periodic maintenance of the granite surfaces and bronze elements to preserve their structural integrity and patina.^[18]

Bust of Rhodes and Commemorative Plaques

The bronze bust of Cecil Rhodes, sculpted by British artist John Macallan Swan, serves as the focal point within the memorial's arched recess.^[37] Modeled posthumously from photographs, as Swan never met Rhodes, it depicts him in a contemplative pose emphasizing reflection on his life's endeavors.^[18] Cast in bronze for durability against the elements, the bust was installed as part of the memorial's completion in 1912, reflecting the era's emphasis on enduring materials to commemorate imperial figures.^[3] Commemorative plaques adjacent to the bust engrave tributes to Rhodes' legacy, including the primary inscription: "To the spirit and life work of Cecil John Rhodes who loved and served South Africa 1853-1902."^[3] Additional engravings draw from his 1902 will, underscoring directives to preserve South Africa's natural beauty, such as provisions ensuring landscapes remain unspoiled for public benefit.^[14] These inscriptions highlight verified achievements like the endowment for educational institutions through the Rhodes Trust, which facilitated establishments including Rhodes University in 1904, though specific plaques prioritize his vision for territorial and environmental stewardship over exhaustive listings.^[3] In its original 1912 configuration, the bust and plaques formed a unified dedicatory element, with textual content preserved as the core historical record despite subsequent physical alterations to the sculpture.^[38]

Associated Facilities

Restaurant and Tea Garden Development

The Rhodes Memorial Restaurant and Tea Garden originated from a cottage constructed by architect Herbert Baker between 1910 and 1912, initially serving as a modest venue that evolved into a popular spot for refreshments amid the memorial's scenic setting.^[39] It offered traditional offerings such as breakfast, lunch, tea, scones, and local cuisine, drawing families and tourists for its outdoor seating and views of Cape Town, distinct from the area's hiking infrastructure.^[40] The facility operated under private management for much of its history before falling under the oversight of South African National Parks (SANParks) as part of Table Mountain National Park, contributing to tourism revenue through visitor spending on meals and amenities.^[41]^[42] On April 18, 2021, a wildfire that scorched over 600 hectares gutted the historic building, leaving it in ruins and halting operations.^[43]^[44] Restoration efforts faced delays due to tender processes and planning, with SANParks finalizing contracts for rebuilding and bulk infrastructure upgrades by late 2023.^[45]^[46] An architecture firm was appointed to oversee the project, aiming to restore the site while incorporating public-private partnerships to enhance economic viability and visitor access.^[47] These developments underscore the tea garden's role in integrating cultural heritage with park sustainability, with planned fortifications to bolster resilience against environmental threats.^[48]

Walking Paths and Integration with Trails

The walking paths directly associated with the Rhodes Memorial consist of pedestrian routes originating at the site and linking to the broader contour trail network on the eastern flanks of Table Mountain. These include the initial segment ascending towards King's Blockhouse, a historic military outpost, before merging into the undulating contour path that extends northwest towards Tafelberg Road and the vicinity of the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway's upper station.^[28]^[49] This integration allows visitors to combine a memorial visit with moderate hikes featuring fynbos vegetation and panoramic views, typically spanning 5-10 kilometers round-trip depending on the chosen extension.^[50] Path design prioritizes minimal ecological disruption, utilizing natural dirt surfacing reinforced with local rock where necessary to mitigate erosion on slopes prone to runoff, in line with national park standards for trail sustainability within the Cape floral kingdom.^[51] Accessibility is enhanced near the memorial itself via gentler, maintained approach paths from the parking area, though steeper trail sections require moderate fitness.^[52] South African National Parks (SANParks) oversees maintenance, conducting periodic clearing of invasive vegetation, path repairs, and installation of directional signage to denote heritage elements and route connections, as evidenced by recent upgrades around Constantia Nek and the Blockhouse link.^[53]^[54] These efforts ensure the paths remain integral to the park's recreational framework while preserving the area's historical context tied to the memorial.^[55]

Surrounding Area

Relation to Table Mountain National Park

The Rhodes Memorial occupies a site on the eastern slopes of Devil's Peak within Table Mountain National Park, proclaimed on May 29, 1998, and encompassing approximately 221 km² of diverse terrain including mountains, coastal zones, and lowland areas.^[56]^[57] This positioning integrates the memorial into the park's protected framework, where it functions as a preserved cultural landmark amid natural ecosystems dominated by the fynbos biome—a fire-adapted shrubland supporting over 1,400 endemic plant species in the broader Cape Floral Region.^[58] The surrounding base of the memorial features Peninsula Granite Fynbos vegetation, contributing to the park's connectivity as a biodiversity corridor that links fragmented habitats across the Cape Peninsula and facilitates species migration and genetic diversity.^[59] Post-construction alien vegetation, including invasive trees like pines and acacias introduced historically, has been targeted through systematic removal programs to mitigate threats to native flora and reduce fire fuel loads, aligning with the park's ecological restoration priorities.^[60]^[61]^[62] South African National Parks (SANParks) assumed management authority over the area upon the park's creation in 1998, overseeing the memorial's preservation alongside habitat rehabilitation while ensuring regulated public access to balance heritage conservation with environmental protection.^[55]^[63] This dual mandate addresses challenges like invasive species proliferation, which previously intensified wildfire risks, as evidenced by the 2021 blaze linked to unmanaged exotic debris buildup.^[64]

Outdoor Activities and Recreational Use

The area surrounding Rhodes Memorial serves as a starting point for hikes to Devil's Peak, part of Table Mountain National Park, with popular routes including the Mowbray Ridge and Knife's Edge paths.^[65]^[66] These trails, typically 6 to 7.7 kilometers in length, are rated moderate to challenging and take approximately 4 hours round trip for fit hikers, attracting runners, walkers, and photographers seeking panoramic views of Cape Town and the peninsula.^[67]^[27]^[68] Picnicking occurs in designated open spaces nearby, where visitors utilize the natural contours for informal gatherings, often combining meals with trail breaks or photography of the fynbos-covered slopes and distant ocean vistas.^[69] Guided tours, including seasonal hikes focused on the area's biodiversity and history, are offered by operators, enhancing recreational use during peak visitor months from September to April.^[70] Safety protocols emphasize hiking in groups, carrying communication devices, and adhering to ranger advisories from SANParks, amid logged incidents of muggings and assaults on trails near Rhodes Memorial, such as a 2025 knife attack on a mountain biker and reports of armed robberies.^[71]^[72] Community monitoring by groups like Take Back Our Mountains highlights persistent risks, recommending avoidance of solitary outings, especially after dusk.^[73]

Preservation and Challenges

Maintenance History and Restoration Efforts

The Rhodes Memorial is designated as a public monument under Section 37 of South Africa's National Heritage Resources Act (No. 25 of 1999), which classifies it as part of the national estate and requires that any alterations, maintenance, or restoration involve consultation with heritage authorities such as Heritage Western Cape and adherence to expert-approved methodologies to preserve its cultural significance. This legal framework ensures interventions prioritize structural integrity and historical authenticity, with SANParks, as manager of the Table Mountain National Park, responsible for routine upkeep including vegetation management and site stabilization.^[51] In September 2020, the bronze bust of Cecil Rhodes underwent restoration following damage, with the detached head reattached, the structure fortified for enhanced durability, and a replica produced to safeguard against future risks; this work was executed by the Friends of Rhodes Memorial group in coordination with heritage guidelines.^[74] Restoration efforts for the adjacent tea room and restaurant have involved multiple tender processes managed by SANParks, including a second tender finalized in 2023 and an ongoing bid advertised in January 2025 for rebuilding and infrastructure upgrades, reflecting procedural delays in contractor selection and compliance with heritage and procurement regulations.^[45]^[48] These initiatives underscore SANParks' commitment to operational continuity, though timelines have extended due to regulatory scrutiny and bidding complexities.^[63]

Vandalism Incidents (2015-2020)

On September 18, 2015, vandals used a power tool to sever the nose from the bronze bust of Cecil Rhodes at the Rhodes Memorial, and added graffiti to the structure.^[75]^[76] In response, Table Mountain National Park authorities increased patrols and security measures in the area to prevent further incidents.^[77]^[78] The bust faced additional defacement on the night of July 12-13, 2020, when its head was removed using an angle grinder.^[79]^[4] South African National Parks confirmed the vandalism but reported no arrests.^[79] Sources indicated the site had experienced prior minor vandalisms, though details on those earlier events remain undocumented.^[4] Following the 2020 incident, the memorial area saw temporary restrictions on access while investigations proceeded, but no successful campaigns emerged to remove the bust itself, distinguishing it from the contemporaneous removal of Rhodes' statue at the University of Cape Town.^[79]

Impact of the 2021 Fire

A wildfire ignited on April 18, 2021, swept through the Table Mountain area, including Rhodes Memorial, destroying the site's restaurant and tea garden while scorching surrounding vegetation.^[80]^[81] The blaze, driven by strong winds and dry conditions, was later determined to be caused by arson, with investigations confirming deliberate ignition near the memorial.^[82] The stone structure of the memorial itself sustained no significant damage due to its fire-resistant granite construction, but the fire gutted the adjacent heritage-listed restaurant building and affected over 650 hectares of land in the vicinity.^[51] The destruction halted visitor amenities at the site, leading to a prolonged closure of the Rhodes Memorial estate for safety and rehabilitation purposes.^[44] Post-fire efforts included felling over 900 invasive trees to reduce future fuel loads, with operations commencing in August 2021 and completing by late that year despite weather delays.^[83] Restoration of the restaurant was approved in November 2023, more than two years after the event, aiming to revive the facility while adhering to heritage standards.^[44] The fire highlighted vulnerabilities in fire management, as existing firebreaks proved ineffective against the rapid spread fueled by invasive exotic plants and wind, prompting calls for enhanced invasive species removal and improved fuel reduction strategies to build climate resilience.^[64] Ecologically, the fire impacted the fynbos-dominated landscape around the memorial, but this vegetation type is adapted to periodic burns, enabling natural regeneration through seed banks and resprouting.^[84] By 2023, signs of fynbos recovery were evident in the area, underscoring the role of fire in ecosystem renewal despite short-term losses to biodiversity hotspots.^[85] These events reinforced the need for proactive measures like targeted clearing of fire-prone invasives to mitigate risks in urban-adjacent wildland interfaces.^[86]

Controversies and Public Debate

Historical Justifications for the Memorial

The Rhodes Memorial was erected between 1906 and 1912 to honor Cecil Rhodes' instrumental role in advancing Southern Africa's economic infrastructure, particularly through mining consolidation and transport networks that spurred regional prosperity.^[87] As Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896, Rhodes prioritized railway expansion to connect mineral-rich interiors to ports, enabling efficient export of diamonds and gold that formed the backbone of colonial GDP growth.^[88] By 1900, this effort had resulted in a network exceeding 3,200 kilometers of track across the Cape and into Bechuanaland, directly facilitating the transport of heavy mining equipment and ore, which catalyzed industrial-scale extraction and trade revenues.^[89] ^[90] Contemporary justifications from the memorial's construction era framed it as a tribute to Rhodes' vision of imperial progress, drawing on classical architectural motifs to symbolize enduring civilizational advancement under British stewardship.^[1] Archival records and dedications around 1912 emphasized Rhodes' contributions to governance and education as mechanisms for societal elevation, aligning with his stated imperial ethos of extending British influence for mutual benefit.^[91] This perspective underscored causal links between his policies and tangible developments, such as the unification of diamond mines under De Beers, which stabilized supply chains and generated sustained wealth.^[92] Rhodes' will further institutionalized these ideals via the Rhodes Scholarships, established in 1902 to select promising leaders for study at Oxford University, promoting qualities like vigor and public service.^[93] By the 2020s, the program had supported over 8,000 recipients globally, yielding alumni in influential positions that proponents attribute to Rhodes' foundational emphasis on elite education as a driver of long-term societal advancement.^[94] Empirical arguments for retention highlight the memorial's role in heritage tourism, drawing visitors whose expenditures bolster Cape Town's economy; pre-2021 fire estimates placed annual contributions from such sites in the tens of millions of rands, underscoring ongoing economic causality tied to Rhodes' legacy.

Criticisms of Rhodes' Legacy and Imperialism

Critics contend that the Rudd Concession, signed on October 30, 1888, by Matabele King Lobengula with agents representing Cecil Rhodes, constituted an unequal treaty that misrepresented the scope of mining rights as limited to individual prospectors while enabling broader territorial claims and colonization by the British South Africa Company.^[95]^[96] The agreement granted exclusive mineral exploitation in Matabeleland and adjoining territories, but Lobengula later repudiated it in correspondence to Queen Victoria, alleging deception amid fears of Boer encroachment.^[97] Rhodes' administration through the British South Africa Company precipitated the First Matabele War of 1893-1894 against the Ndebele kingdom, employing Maxim guns and Martini-Henry rifles to secure victories that dispersed Ndebele impis and led to King Lobengula's flight and death.^[98] Estimates place Ndebele casualties at 4,000-5,000 from direct combat, subsequent famine, and disease in the affected regions.^[99] Detractors highlight the asymmetry of firepower and Rhodes' strategic role in authorizing the campaign to consolidate control over Mashonaland and Matabeleland.^[100] Labor policies under Rhodes' influence, including hut taxes imposed in the 1890s across Southern Rhodesia, are accused of coercing African populations into low-wage mine work by taxing traditional homesteads, rendering self-sufficiency untenable without cash income.^[101] These taxes, levied at rates up to 10 shillings per hut, funneled labor to diamond and gold operations under De Beers and the British South Africa Company, where conditions involved long shifts, poor housing, and disease risks, prioritizing extraction over worker welfare.^[102] Rhodes' tenure as Cape Colony Prime Minister from 1890 to 1895 advanced segregationist measures, notably the Glen Grey Act of 1894, which restricted African land tenure to communal areas, imposed labor taxes, and curtailed voting qualifications based on property—policies later cited as precursors to apartheid's territorial divisions despite Rhodes' era preceding the 1948 National Party regime by over half a century.^[99]^[103] Empirical records indicate widespread native displacement for settler farms and mining concessions, with thousands of acres alienated under company administration, though this occurred alongside introductions of rail infrastructure and mechanized agriculture that boosted output in affected zones.^[104] While post-colonial leaders like Robert Mugabe critiqued Rhodes' imperialism, pre-2000 governance in Zimbabwe retained Rhodes-era symbols and infrastructure without immediate removal, reflecting pragmatic acknowledgment of foundational economic systems amid critiques of exploitative origins.^[105]

Modern Protests, Defenses, and Calls for Retention

Following the removal of the Cecil Rhodes statue from the University of Cape Town on April 9, 2015, amid the Rhodes Must Fall protests, activists extended demands for decolonization to other commemorative sites linked to Rhodes, including the memorial on Table Mountain.^[106] These calls faced resistance due to the site's provincial heritage designation, which imposes strict legal protections under South Africa's National Heritage Resources Act of 1999, requiring consultation with heritage authorities for alterations. Retention was further bolstered by counterarguments emphasizing the value of preserving physical reminders of history to enable ongoing debate, rather than symbolic destruction that risks sanitizing complex pasts. Historians defending retention highlight Rhodes' role in fostering infrastructure and economic foundations during British imperialism, such as expanding Cape Colony railways that facilitated trade and settlement, and establishing administrative frameworks in Rhodesia that supported industrial growth despite post-1965 sanctions.^[107] They argue that critiques portraying Rhodes solely as a racist exploiter overlook causal contributions to viable state-building—evident in Rhodesia's manufacturing sector expansion under colonial policies—and warn that monument removal equates to ahistorical revisionism driven by anachronistic ethics, often amplified by institutionally biased academic narratives favoring decolonization over balanced empiricism.^[108]^[109] Public sentiment, as gauged in contemporaneous polls on analogous Rhodes statues (e.g., at Oxford), showed majority opposition to removal, with 59% favoring retention in a 2016 survey, prioritizing historical context and free inquiry over erasure.^[110] Proponents of keeping the memorial cite petitions and intellectual defenses framing it as essential for teaching imperialism's multifaceted outcomes, including scholarships that have educated global leaders and infrastructure legacies enduring post-independence. By 2025, marking a decade since the UCT statue's fall, reflections on Rhodes Must Fall have pivoted toward curricular reforms and contextualization, with no renewed organized pushes for the memorial's removal; institutions like Oxford's Oriel College have instead commissioned interpretive art to address legacies without demolition.^[111]^[112] This evolution underscores retention arguments rooted in evidentiary history and pluralism, countering protest-driven iconoclasm with commitments to factual reckoning over selective obliteration.

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DC9/NAMM/0048 - SAHRIS
Mar 8, 2021 · Ivan Mitford-Barberton. Construction Materials. Wood, metal. Pedestal ... C J Rhodes member 1881- 1902 Bust Modelled by Mitford Barberton.
[18]
[PDF] Rhodes Memorial PDF - GateWay Guides
Two of Rhodes' closest friends oversaw the building and design of this monument: Herbert Baker, who was Rhodes' personal architect, and Rudyard Kipling, who ...
[19]
Rhodes Memorial details - Artefacts
Invitation to Mr Stephen Cavanagh Esq to attend the dedication ceremony of the Rhodes Memorial at Groote Schuur on 5 July 1912. A separate invitation was ...
[20]
RHODES MEMORIAL: ON SPACE, IDEOLOGY and IMPERIALISM
On 5 July 1912, ten years after Rhodes's death, Rhodes Memorial was formally opened by Lord Albert Grey, then Governor-General of Canada, and as former ...
[21]
Premier and Rhodes Memorial 28 August 1912 - AtoM@UCT
... Rhodes Statue' · [File] D1.10 - Cape Times 06 July 1912 `The dedication ceremony' (2 copies) · [File] D1.11 - Cape Times 06 July 1912 `The dedication' · [File] ...
[22]
Visit Rhodes Memorial in Rondebosch, Cape Town - SA-Venues.com
This monument was built in 1912 on the very place where Cecil John Rhodes used to ride to on horseback to sit and contemplate his future.Need To Know · In The Vicinity · Hotels & Other Accommodation...Missing: 20th | Show results with:20th
[23]
[PDF] the historical productions of cecil john rhodes in 20 - CORE
Africans were invited to the funeral in the Matopos and to the opening ceremony of. Rhodes Memorial on Devils Peak. ... Rhodes Memorial was opened on 5 July 1912 ...
[24]
Rhodes Memorial - City of Cape Town - Mapcarta
Location: City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, Southern Africa, Africa · View on OpenStreetMap. Latitude. -33.95235° or 33° 57′ 9″ south. Longitude.
[25]
Elevation of Rhodes Memorial, Rhodes Ave, Devil's Peak, Cape ...
Elevation of Rhodes Memorial, Rhodes Ave, Devil's Peak, Cape Town, South Africa ; -33.9523603 · 18.4590813 · 165 meters / 541 feet · 994KPa ...
[26]
Table Mountain National Park Western Cape, South Africa
Fynbos (fine bush) is an ancient and fire dependent vegetation which needs to burn every 15 years to stimulate growth and remain healthy. Proteas can be seen ...
[27]
Rhodes Memorial: A Scenic Gem in Cape Town
Feb 10, 2025 · Nestled on Rhodes Avenue, Devil's Peak, this historical site offers visitors an opportunity to delve into South Africa's past while enjoying the natural beauty.
[28]
Rhodes Memorial to Kloof Corner - Western Cape - AllTrails
Rating 4.5 (42) Fee information: Table Mountain National Park charges a fee to enter. A local rate is available to residents with proof of identification/residence.Missing: fynbos | Show results with:fynbos
[29]
Rhodes Memorial Facts for Kids
Oct 17, 2025 · The Rhodes Memorial is a special monument found on Devil's Peak in Cape Town, South Africa. It was built to remember Cecil John Rhodes, ...
[30]
Rates & Entry Fees – Table Mountain National Park - SANParks
Cape Point and Boulders Gates are a cash-free environment and we only accept payments via debit and credit cards. One payment per vehicle when entering at Cape ...Missing: Rhodes Memorial
[31]
The Rhodes Memorial | andrewcusack.com
Aug 12, 2009 · After his death, Rhodes lay in state first at Groote Schuur, the magnificent Cape Dutch house he had built to Sir Herbert Baker's designs, and ...<|separator|>
[32]
Rhodes Memorial | Cape Town, South Africa | Attractions
Used as a prison from the early days of the VOC (Dutch East India Company) right up until 1996, this Unesco World Heritage site is preserved as a memorial…Missing: promotion | Show results with:promotion
[33]
Rhodes Memorial in Rosebank, Cape Town - SA-Venues.com
The memorial today is a popular venue for tea or lunch at the restaurant, which now occupies the original cottage built by Herbert Baker between 1910 and 1912.<|separator|>
[34]
Rhodes Memorial, Cape Town - GPSmyCity
Designed by architect Herbert Baker ... staircase of 49 steps representing Rhodes's years. Made from Cape granite, the memorial symbolizes Rhodes's legacy and the ...Missing: construction | Show results with:construction
[35]
49 Steps and 8 lions - Cape Town - VoiceMap
As you ascend the 49 steps leading to the top of the structure – one for each year that Rhodes was alive - say hello to the eight bronze lions that guard the ...Missing: Mitford- Barberton urns balustrades
[36]
Ferocious – or friendly – lions are guarding the Rhodes Memorial
Feb 22, 2013 · “The memorial was designed by architects Sir Herbert Baker and Sir Francis Macey, and completed in 1912. The Cape granite used in the ...
[37]
[PDF] The Shadow of Cecil Rhodes at the University of Cape Town - Pure
Instead it got the Rhodes. Memorial designed by the imperial architect, Herbert Baker, formally opened in 1912” (2002: 144). (FIGURE 7). Rhodes Memorial is ...
[38]
To Spite His Face, by Hedley Twidle - Harper's Magazine
The nose disappeared from Cecil Rhodes's face in September 2015. It was sliced off the bronze bust in the Rhodes Memorial on the slopes of Table Mountain.
[39]
What has been done to restore the Rhodes Mem Tea Room in Cape ...
Jun 10, 2025 · #abandonedplaces Rhodes Memorial Tea Garden The original cottage was built by Herbert Baker between 1910 and 1912. It sadly burnt down in 2021, ...Good news about Rhodes Memorial Tea Room building - FacebookRhodes Memorial Restaurant and Tea Garden Refurbishment in ...More results from www.facebook.com
[40]
Rhodes Memorial | Cape Town Attraction - St James Guesthouses
The family-friendly Rhodes Memorial Restaurant and Tea Garden is very popular for breakfast, lunch or tea and scones, and offers kids plenty of entertainment ...
[41]
Table Mountain National Park will commence with the restoration of ...
Nov 9, 2023 · Table Mountain National Park will commence with the restoration of the Rhodes Memorial Tea Room. This is according to the Table Mountain ...Missing: restaurant | Show results with:restaurant
[42]
SANParks announces R700-million upgrades over next three years ...
Rhodes Memorial bulk services and roads in Table Mountain National Park to unlock the restaurant Public Private Partnership (PPP).. Tar road maintenance at ...<|separator|>
[43]
Rhodes Memorial restaurant still a ruin - Southern Suburbs Tatler
Aug 18, 2022 · The restaurant was gutted in a fire on Sunday April 18, 2021, that burnt 600 hectares of Table Mountain National Park, from Rhodes Memorial all the way to ...
[44]
Restoration of Rhodes Memorial Tea Room to go ahead more than ...
Nov 9, 2023 · The historic restaurant situated at Rhodes Memorial on the slopes of Cape Town's Devil's Peak will be refurbished two and a half years after a runaway wildfire ...
[45]
EXCLUSIVE | Delay in restoration of burnt-down Rhodes Memorial ...
Apr 18, 2023 · South African National Parks (SANParks) is finalising a second tender for the rebuilding and operating of the Rhodes Memorial Restaurant and ...Missing: refurbishment | Show results with:refurbishment
[46]
Restoration of Rhodes Memorial Tea Room to begin, announces ...
Nov 9, 2023 · The restoration of the Rhodes Memorial Estate, which was gutted by fire in April 2021, will now finally get under way, South African National Parks (SANParks) ...Missing: refurbishment | Show results with:refurbishment
[47]
Architecture firm chosen for the restoration of Rhodes Memorial Tea ...
Nov 9, 2023 · The Rhodes Memorial Tea Room, located at the foot of Devil's Peak, is finally set for a major refurbishment. This comes more than two years after a devastating ...
[48]
[PDF] SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARKS
Jan 2, 2025 · The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the Rebuild of Rhodes Memorial and upgrade of associated bulk infrastructure in Table Mountain ...Missing: refurbishment | Show results with:refurbishment
[49]
The ultimate guide to hiking Table Mountain: 20 trails
Jan 2, 2025 · From Rhodes Memorial, follow the path to the blockhouse. From there, follow the path around the mountain in the direction of Cape Town. 13 ...The Ultimate Guide To Hiking... · 2. Indian Venster · 16. Woody Ravine
[50]
https://www.firstascent.co.za/table-mountain-three-peaks-day-hike-20-04-2020-hktrail
[51]
Media Release: Update on the Rhodes Memorial Section of the ...
Oct 4, 2021 · Following the closure of the Rhodes Memorial Estate in April due to the devastating fire that destroyed more than 650 hectares of land, rehabilitation work is ...
[52]
Hike on Table Mountain from Rhodes Memorial to Woodstock cave
Nov 26, 2010 · The hike starts at Rhodes Memorial, passes Kings Blockhouse, then to Woodstock Cave, and is the least shaded section. A detour to the cave is ...
[53]
SANParks - Table Mountain National Park - Facebook
Sep 18, 2025 · ... trails around Constantia Nek and Rhodes Memorial! They've been doing some serious TLC on the paths to ensure you have smooth, safe trails to ...
[54]
We love Table Mountain and we love making it better A successful ...
Many thanks to our good friends at the German and UK consulates for sponsoring these signs between Rhodes Memorial and the Blockhouse #notlost ... trail ...
[55]
Rhodes Memorial Rehabilitation Update of the Table Mountain ...
Dec 7, 2021 · The appointed contractor has felled 230 trees inside the bid and 598 trees outside the bid totalling to 828 trees felled within the area.Missing: paths signage
[56]
The recent fire history of the Table Mountain National Park and ...
The park was proclaimed in 1998, prior to which it was managed by 14 separate public bodies; as a result, the earlier conservation management of the area was ...<|separator|>
[57]
Table Mountain National Park (Official GANP Park Page)
The park covers an area of 85 square miles (221 sq km). The national park is part of the larger UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Cape Floral Region ...Missing: proclamation date size
[58]
Rhodes Must Burn: The irony in Rhodes falling by fire through the ...
Apr 23, 2021 · Fynbos is of a fire-adapted biology; smoke, fire and ash are crucial for the ongoing maintenance of many of the plants within the biome. It is ...
[59]
Peninsula Granite Fynbos – A Restoration Story II
Peninsula Granite Fynbos is wholly confined to the City of Cape Town and found only on the lower, more fertile slopes of Table Mountain on the Cape Peninsula.<|separator|>
[60]
Table Mountain National Park Scores High On Management – News
Jul 15, 2025 · An independent assessment on the implementation of Table Mountain National Park's management plan scored the entity an overall high of 75%.
[61]
Cape Town residents 'hack' alien invasives so future generations ...
Sep 25, 2023 · Cape Town residents remove alien invasive plants from Table Mountain and other parts of Cape Town to help conserve the Cape Floral Kingdom.
[62]
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thefriendsoftablemountain/posts/1833744584691001/
[63]
Rebuild of Rhodes Memorial Tea Room and upgrade of associated ...
Jan 27, 2025 · Rebuild of Rhodes Memorial Tea Room and upgrade of associated bulk infrastructure in Table Mountain National Park, must be deposited ONLY in the tender box.Missing: refurbishment | Show results with:refurbishment
[64]
Time to extinguish the exotic flame: Lessons from the 2021 Cape ...
In April 2021 a wildfire started on the slopes of Table Mountain National Park, South Africa (Davids, 2021) and due to the build-up of debris from exotic trees ...
[65]
Devils Peak via Knife's Edge - Western Cape - AllTrails
Rating 4.5 (74) Free style hike from Rhodes Memorial, via Blockhouse to Knife's Edge and all the way to Devil's Peak and getting lost along the way. Down via Newlands Ravine ...
[66]
Devil's Peak: Mowbray Ridge & Direct Route - Cape Town Scrambling
Nov 19, 2017 · Park at Rhodes Memorial and make your way to the top of the parking lot from where two trails ascend the slope. Choose the left path and follow ...Highlights · Photos
[67]
Devil's Peak and Knife's Edge - Western Cape - AllTrails
Rating 4.4 (52) Enjoy this 6.0-mile out-and-back trail near Cape Town, Western Cape. Generally considered a challenging route. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can ...
[68]
Devil's Peak Hike in Newlands, Cape Town
About Devil's Peak Hike. Start: there are three routes to the top. Duration: rougly 4 hours, give or take an hour. Fitness: moderate to super fit
[69]
Devil's Peak Table Mountain Hike - Secret Cape Town
The Mowbray Ridge route which starts at Rhodes Memorial: This route is considered a more challenging ascent to its counterparts. Newlands Ravine from Newlands ...
[70]
Rhodes Memorial, Cape Town | Book Now Tickets & Tours Online
Seasonal & Special Occasions · Holidays · New Years · Spring Break · Valentine's ... Self-guided Tours · Sidecar Tours · Speed Boat Rentals · Trikke Tours.
[71]
Warning: Mountain Biker Attacked near Rhodes Memorial - Facebook
Mar 11, 2025 · TBOM Alert ⚠️ On Sunday, March 9th, a female mountain biker was attacked by a male assailant armed with a large knife while riding between ...Table Mountain Trail Awareness and Information Walk with Law ...Information regarding Rhodes Memorial area rehabilitation https ...More results from www.facebook.com
[72]
Safety concerns rise as armed robberies on Table Mountain ...
Mar 28, 2025 · Safety on Table Mountain is in the spotlight yet again after a spate of armed robbery incidents that have been reported over the past few weeks.
[73]
TBOM Alert ⚠️ Please be advised: A mugging incident occurred ...
Apr 10, 2025 · A mugging incident occurred yesterday between Rhodes Memorial and the Shooting Range. We're also receiving additional reports of criminal activity near Signal ...
[74]
Rhodes Memorial statue's head reattached, fortified and replica ...
Sep 29, 2020 · Cape Town – The beheaded statue of Cecil John Rhodes at Rhodes Memorial has been repaired and fortified after it was vandalised in July.Missing: steel | Show results with:steel
[75]
Vandals cut off nose on bronze bust of British imperialist Cecil ...
Sep 21, 2015 · The bronze bust of British colonialist Cecil Rhodes lost its nose to vandals on Friday Sept. 18, 2015, who severed it with a power tool at a South African ...
[76]
Rhodes Memorial statue defaced, spraypainted - IOL
Sep 21, 2015 · The Rhodes Memorial statue was vandalised over the weekend. The most damage being done to the nose, which was removed.
[77]
Increased security at Rhodes Statue after Cecil's nose is cut off, area ...
Sep 21, 2015 · Table Mountain National Park has increased area patrols after the nose of the statue at the Rhodes Memorial was chipped by vandals.Missing: 2015-2020 | Show results with:2015-2020
[78]
South African bust of Cecil Rhodes loses nose to vandals
Sep 21, 2015 · A bronze bust of British colonialist Cecil John Rhodes has lost its nose to vandals who severed it with a power tool at a South African mountain slope ...<|separator|>
[79]
Cecil Rhodes statue in Cape Town has head removed - BBC
Jul 15, 2020 · The bronze bust in a city park had its head removed with an angle grinder on Sunday night or Monday morning, South African National Parks ...
[80]
Runaway fire engulfs Rhodes Memorial restaurant and UCT library
Apr 18, 2021 · Firefighters battled a runaway fire on Sunday that engulfed the Rhodes Memorial restaurant and parts of the University of Cape Town (UCT), ...
[81]
Apocalyptic fire reaps day of unforgiving destruction in Mother City
Apr 19, 2021 · Damage along the Rhodes Memorial road, as captured by ... The historic Mostert's Mill was destroyed by fire on 18 April 2021 in Cape Town.
[82]
Arson caused Table Mountain inferno - report
Jul 1, 2021 · An act of arson caused the Table Mountain inferno that swept from Rhodes Memorial to Devil's Peak over three days in April, destroying homes ...
[83]
Weather delays Rhodes Memorial rehabilitation efforts after huge ...
Dec 8, 2021 · The area was damaged during a wildfire earlier this year. The felling of more than 900 trees is expected to be completed next week. Weather ...
[84]
The Table Mountain fire: what we can learn from the main drivers of ...
Apr 22, 2021 · The fynbos vegetation that historically clothed the slopes of Table Mountain is highly inflammable. This has been worsened by the spread of ...Missing: regrowth | Show results with:regrowth<|separator|>
[85]
Table Mountain Fires: How Blazes Reignite Life
Feb 26, 2025 · Finally, in 2021, a wildfire destroyed the famous Rhodes Memorial restaurant and the Mostert's Mill windmill, along with sections of the ...
[86]
Time to extinguish the exotic flame: Lessons from the 2021 Cape ...
Jul 23, 2025 · The findings emphasize the critical role of some exotic ornamental plants in increasing fire risk in urban areas. These results advocate for ...
[87]
Rhodes Memorial - Cape Town Mapping Project
The Rhodes Memorial was designed by British Architect Sir Herbert Baker and Sir Francis Macey to commemorate the contributions of Cecil John Rhodes.
[88]
Early Development of the Cape System - To The Victoria Falls
Rhodes knew that further development of the mines would require heavy industrial equipment, and that a railway transport link was the key to success, not just ...<|separator|>
[89]
Railroads of Central and Southern Africa - UtahRails.net
Cecil Rhodes was the chairman and connecting link between both the British South Africa Company and the Bechuanaland Railway. Work was begun immediately upon ...Missing: infrastructure contributions
[90]
[PDF] The 'Minerals-Railway Complex' and its effects on colonial public ...
Cecil John. Rhodes took over the premiership of the BBV in 1890 and effectively bought many BBV members offering them £1 British South African Company shares ...
[91]
Cecil John Rhodes, the Classics and Imperialism (Chapter 3)
This chapter argues that Rhodes' Classical education and his continuing interest in Ancient History did play a significant part in shaping his imperialist ...
[92]
[PDF] Cecil Rhodes - Internet Archive
Jun 22, 2025 · This book, first planned in 19 14, was interrupted by the war. The delay has enabled me to see many papers previously inaccessible.
[93]
America's 2020 Rhodes Scholars: First Generation Americans Lead ...
Nov 24, 2019 · Including this year's recipients, 3,516 Americans have been awarded Rhodes Scholarships, representing 324 different colleges and universities.
[94]
Rhodes Scholars by College - Ivy Coach
Rounding out the list of schools with 20 or more Rhodes Scholars between 1904 – 2020 after Harvard, Yale, and Princeton are: Stanford University (102), U.S. ...<|separator|>
[95]
Were Lobengula and the amaNdebele tricked by the Rudd ...
Rudd, Shippard and Moffat emphasised the Boer threat; the amaNdebele understood the Boers wanted land; Rudd claimed to be only interested in mining and trading ...Missing: criticisms | Show results with:criticisms
[96]
The Rudd Concession (ca. 1888) - PAMUSOROI!
The Rudd Concession for exclusive mining rights in Matabeleland, Mashonaland and other adjoining territories was granted by King Lobengula to Cecil Rhodes.Missing: details criticisms
[97]
Repercussions of the Rudd concession - 1870 to 1918
Aug 21, 2014 · In April 1889, Lobengula at last dictated a letter to the Queen, saying that he repudiated the Rudd concession. It would not reach London for ...Missing: criticisms | Show results with:criticisms
[98]
First Matabele War | South African History Online
Mar 21, 2011 · Hundreds of Ndebele died under the flaming muzzles of Martini-Henry rifles and Maxim machine guns and the Ndebele were forced to retreat. Fewer ...
[99]
Cecil Rhodes: Racial Segregation in the Cape Colony and Violence ...
May 9, 2022 · proved essential precursors to apartheid'.Footnote Rhodes contributed to restricting the vote for black people in the Cape Colony: this has been ...
[100]
THE FIRST MATABELE WAR 1893 - 1894 (Vc) - Timewise Traveller
It is estimated that some 1,500 natives were killed for the loss of four dead and six wounded. Then the following day a further victory was secured at the ...
[101]
Reconstructing and Interpreting Industrial Heritage in South Africa
Sep 6, 2018 · Artificially high “hut taxes” and other forms of exploitation made village living so difficult that many men had no choice but to try their ...
[102]
Accounting as a dehumanizing force in colonial rhetoric: Quantifying ...
For example, a substantial monetary hut tax collected from the native population could be interpreted as exploitation or alternatively as a “symbol of ...
[103]
https://britishempire.me.uk/legacyofrhodes.html
[104]
UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN KENYA AND SOUTHERN RHODESIA ...
In these two British colonies, land', labour and taxes came to be used as the major instruments of exploitation as was the case elsewhere in colonial Africa ...
[105]
Even Robert Mugabe left Cecil Rhodes alone - The Telegraph
Dec 22, 2015 · Even Robert Mugabe left Cecil Rhodes alone · Even in death, Cecil Rhodes was determined never to be outdone. · “Here Lie the Remains of Cecil John ...
[106]
Rhodes statue removed in Cape Town as crowd celebrates - BBC
Apr 9, 2015 · The "Rhodes Must Fall" campaign began in March after activist Chumani Maxwele smeared excrement on the statue as a protest against Rhodes' ...
[107]
Growing Pains | The Colonialist: The Vision of Cecil Rhodes
Apr 17, 2025 · The Cape Government Railways became one of the most significant achievements of responsible government, as well as one of its greatest expenses.
[108]
The Manufacturing Industry in Colonial Zimbabwe, 1890-1979
Jul 31, 2024 · Shifts in policy, especially during Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) and subsequent sanctions, spurred domestic industrial expansion ...
[109]
Cecil Rhodes and the abuse of History
Aug 12, 2021 · In other words, he supported a policy of separate development—or, to sharpen the point, segregation or apartheid. Further still, if Rhodes is to ...
[110]
Rhodes must not fall | YouGov
Jan 18, 2016 · 59% say a statue of colonialist Cecil Rhodes at Oxford University should not be taken down – 44% say we should be proud of British ...Missing: Memorial South
[111]
Reflecting on #RhodesMustFall: Ten years on | UCT News
Apr 16, 2025 · On 9 April 2025, the University of Cape Town marked the 10th anniversary of the Rhodes Must Fall (RMF) student movement with a commemorative ...Missing: Memorial retention
[112]
Cecil Rhodes won't fall — instead Oxford commissions 'healing' art
Feb 5, 2025 · Oriel College is seeking to “contextualise” the legacy of the imperialist Cecil Rhodes in a new exhibition at Oxford University following years of protests ...Missing: Memorial retention