Johannesburg: 'City of Gold' (1953)

James A. FitzPatrick: Self - Narrator

Quotes 

• Self - Narrator : The period of service to which they are contracted usually lasts from six months to two years. And during that time they live in native compounds within the mine areas where the utmost care is provided for their health and general well being.

• Self - Narrator : Although many of the detribalized natives still live in poor districts, there are also a great number that have established themselves in clean and modern homes, as illustrated here. According to plans now in effect by the authorities in charge of improved housing conditions for the natives, the poorer living quarters around the mines are destined to be completely abolished.

• Self - Narrator : Music, in any form, plays an important part in native life, and it is not unusual for a solitary native to walk for miles along a country road, casually strumming a guitar or tugging at a concertina.

• Self - Narrator : It is not unusual for men who are recruited from native territories to serve their contracts with the mines and then seek employment in the cities as detribalized natives.

• Self - Narrator : Most of the physical labor for the mines is recruited from native territories throughout South Africa. And here we see a number of natives who have qualified for mine work jubilantly leaving their crawls enroute to the mines where they hope to earn enough money to return to their native haunts and live like gentlemen of leisure.

• Self - Narrator : This is Sunday and it is our privilege to see the tribal dances that are staged by the natives of the mine's compounds for the entertainment of visitors as well as for their own amusement.

• Self - Narrator : Aside from dancing, these fine specimens of physical manhood are a good illustration of how the natives are fed and cared for during their period of mine service. But, unfortunately, after leaving the mines and becoming detribalized, many of them lose their pep and appear to be more contented with easy going, sedentary life.