Notable events in the history of electricity in South Africa
The important historical South African events are listed in Table 2 below.
Table 2 The history of electricity in South Africa Year
1809 1860
1881 1882 1882
1882 1889
1891 1892
1909 Historical event
It is recorded in the Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa that an elec- tric device was first used in South Africa just over 200 years ago.
The first electric telegraph system that operated between Cape Town and Simon’s Town was introduced. An electric arc light was demonstrated the same year on African soil.
The railway station in Cape Town was lit by electric lights. The first telephone exchange was opened in Port Elizabeth.
Cape Town’s Table Bay docks were first lit by electric arc lamps in April, followed by the Cape Colonial Parliament in May.
Kimberley became the first city in Africa to have electric street lights.
With the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886, Johannes- burg installed its first electric plant that generated power with gas engines.
The first electric power station was established.
Hydro-electric power was first generated in South Africa and this was then followed by the installation and commissioning of an over- head trolley-wire electric tram.
Most mines used on-site electrical generators until the Victoria Falls Power Company was established.
Figure 1 Kimberley was the first city in Africa to have electric street lights.
Unit 3 History of electricity and careers in electricity 127
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