During the latter part of the 19th century, growing dissatisfaction with the British government at the time sparked a migration, known as the Great Trek, from the Cape Colony to the interior of South Africa. Many families settled permanently along the banks of the Orange River and established their own farming communities. One such community was Hopetown, where Daniel Jacobs, a possible descendent of a trekker, lived with his family. His children had been playing on the banks of the river, when they came across a particular stone that caught their interest. Taking the stone home, their mother remarked on its unsual quality to a neighbour, Schalk van Niekerk, who thought it significant enough to give to a passing tradesman.

The stone was eventually brought to the attention of the acting Civil Commissioner at Colesberg, Lorenzo Boyes, and it was found to be a diamond, weighing twenty-one carats and amounting to the value of five hundred pounds. Thus, on 13 October 1867, diamonds were discovered in South Africa, with the very first becoming known as the Eureka diamond.  By 1871, more diamonds were found in the vicinity of the present-day Kimberley, leading to the establishment of De Beers Consolidated Mines under the leadership of Cecil John Rhodes. This was soon followed by the discovery of gold, which changed South Africa's agrarian economy to an industrialized one. South Africa is to date, one of the substantial providers of minerals world-wide.

Related:

1. All that Glitters - The Discovery of Diamonds in South Africa
2. Gold and Workers - The Mining Industry in South Africa

References:

1. Discovery of Diamonds in Africa [online] Available at: history-world.org [Accessed 6 October 2009]
2. Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: Feite en Fratse oor 1000 jaar. Kaapstad: Human &Rousseau.