South African Diamond Trade Enforcement and...

South African Diamond Trade: Enforcement and Perpetuation of Apartheid, Past and Present I. Introduction South Africa was a rich country with a beautiful landscape and a rich culture. There were tremendous natural resources in South Africa and spectacular beauty. South African society was fluid and accepting, allowing people to move from one tribe to the next, without discrimination. This accepting and truly benevolent moral system, perhaps turned out to be a fatal flaw, manipulated and abused by European colonists who arrived in 1652 and have left an indelible legacy on the nation of South Africa (Thompson, 33). Upon their arrival, the Dutch and then the English systematically exploited black South Africans, taking advantage†¦show more content†¦However what is often overlooked is the fact that these corporations played a central role in the perpetuation of lingering economic aspects of apartheid and the AIDS epidemic that plagues South Africa today. The view from the outside, the information published by De Beers, differs dramatically with the reality and all that goes into that finished diamond. II. A Brief History Diamonds have become the ultimate symbol of luxury and money and are highly valued throughout the world today. However, in the spectrum of time diamonds have served a variety of other purposes. Diamonds were formed 3.3 billion years ago by extreme heat and pressure within the earth and are formed entirely out of carbon, making it the hardest natural surface known to man (debeers.com). Archaeologists believe that early humans actually used diamonds as spear heads and other tools. However, over time diamonds have become a luxury good, connected with much prestige. The high status of diamonds helped create the diamond rush that would forever alter the fate of South Africa. The discovery of the Eureka diamond in 1866 began the steady trickle of Europeans searching for wealth, but the Star of Africa, a massive diamond of 83.5 carats, opened the flood gates. The diamond was found by an African Shepard on the Orange River. The invaluable stone was bought from the Shepard by Schalk van Niekerk for 500 sheep, ten head of cattle, and one horse (debeers.com). This