Patterson Kazambara

Johannesburg, South Africa on July 23, 1929

Interview by H.G. Falwasser

Subjects - Maphunziro:

Statement in South African National Archives, Pretoria GNLB 417 81/21 ‘Employment of Tropical Natives on Mines: Part II: Individual Applications’ (1926-1930).

Born in Chinteche, Patterson Kazambara first came to work on the Johannesburg mines in 1913. After Malawians were banned from the mines as “tropical workers”, Kazambara rapidly moved between employment as a domestic servant in Germiston; a labourer in Potgietersrus; and a mabhalane (clerk) on Zebediela Estate, the largest orange-growing plantation in the world, which employed innumerable Central Africans; a hospital attendant in Johannesburg; on a diamond mine in South West Africa; a coal mine in Witbank.

Page 1
Born in Chinteche, Patterson Kazambara first emigrated to work on the Johannesburg mines in 1913. After Malawians were banned from the mines, Kazambara rapidly moved between employment as a domestic servant in Germiston; a labourer in Potgietersrus; and a mabhalane (clerk) on Zebediela Estate, the largest orange-growing plantation in the world, which employed innumerable Central Africans; a hospital attendant in Johannesburg; on a diamond mine in South West Africa; a coal mine in Witbank.
IMAGE
Page 2
Born in Chinteche, Patterson Kazambara first emigrated to work on the Johannesburg mines in 1913. After Malawians were banned from the mines, Kazambara rapidly moved between employment as a domestic servant in Germiston; a labourer in Potgietersrus; and a mabhalane (clerk) on Zebediela Estate, the largest orange-growing plantation in the world, which employed innumerable Central Africans; a hospital attendant in Johannesburg; on a diamond mine in South West Africa; a coal mine in Witbank.
IMAGE

Patterson Kazambara (special permit) of Chief Mkumbira of Chintechi, B.N.P do hereby make statement and declare:

That I first came to the Union in 1913 and was employed at Langlaagte Block B Mine for one year, and from there I went to Germiston where I was employed as a kitchen boy. In 1915, I went to Potgietersrus where I worked, first, as an ordinary general labourer and afterwards as a mabhalane, at the Zebediela Estates. I returned to Johannesburg about the end of 1923.

In 1924, I was employed as Hospital attendant at the Johannesburg Municipal Native Hospital, Vredesdorp and was discharged in April 1925.

That I applied to the Director for permission for employment on the Mines for Hospital work in 1925. I worked on the Langlaagte Estate G.M. Co. (file 258038 M/J) for one year and thereafter I went to South West Africa where I worked on the Diamond Mine for two years.

That at the end of 1928, I returned to the Transvaal and worked on the Coal Mine at Witbank. On the 26th May 1929, I left Witbank and came to Johannesburg.

That I am now offered employment at Rose Deep as a Hospital attendant, and therefore do hereby pray for permission of the Director of Native Labour.

Patterson Kazambara

Witness: Wm Bell

[stamped 23 July 1929; application approved]