Old Fort, Hospital Hill, Johannesburg

Following the invasion of the ZAR in January 1896 by a troop of cavalry led by Dr Leander Jameson, the Executive Committee of the Republic, resolved on 12 November 1896 to build a fort on Hospital Hill, overlooking the mining town of Johannesburg, on a site currently occupied by its small prison. The fort was designed by a special government building committee, chaired by Commandant General Piet Joubert, and included two bastions joined by earthworks up to a height of 7m, from which small arms fire could be maintained. Provision was made inside for the housing of about 100 men, together with stores, food and ammunition. Excavations on the foundations started on 9 November 1896 using convict labour, while all artisans connected with the work were required to take an oath of secrecy. Building was completed on 12 June 1899 at a relatively high cost of £30,177 with command being given to Adolf Schiel, chief of the Prison Services. When British forces captured Johannesburg in May 1900, the guns on the bastions of the Fort remained silent and it played no part in the conflict. After the war it was converted into a prison, and during the first quarter of the 20th century, the leaders of various revolts, strikes and uprisings were incarcerated here. This included the labour union leaders of the 1914 strike, before their illegal deportation to Britain, and the leaders of the armed rebellion against the Union Government in 1914-15, including Gen CR de Wet, who served out his sentence here. It was declared a National Monument under old NMC legislation on 27 November 1964.