Cape Town — South Africans are determined to get the United Kingdom to return the world’s largest diamond, known as the Star of Africa, which is set in the royal sceptre that King Charles III will hold at his coronation on Saturday.
The diamond is worth $2 billion.
Over 8 000 people have signed an online petition created by Ndumiso to the British High Commissioner to South Africa, HE Antony Phillipson, saying “We would like our diamonds returned and displayed in a South African museum”.
According to Ngwenya, the Cullinan Diamond, weighing 3,106.75 carats (621.35 grams) (21.9 ounces), (1.37 pounds) and worth $2 nillion, was discovered at the Premier No.2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa on 26 January 1905.
The mine was named after its owner, Thomas Cullinan. April 1905, the diamond was brought to London where it was mounted on the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross.
Some South Africans are calling for Britain to return the world’s largest diamond, known as the Star of Africa, which is set in the royal scepter that King Charles III will hold at his coronation on Saturday.
The diamond, which weighs 530 carats, was discovered in South Africa… pic.twitter.com/esZisxW2BP
— Biafra First Son (@Biafra_FirstSon) May 4, 2023
“The diamond needs to come to South Africa. It needs to be a sign of our pride, our heritage and our culture,” Al Jazeera quoted lawyer and activist in Johannesburg Mothusi Kamanga as saying.
“I think generally the African people are starting to realise that to decolonise is not just to let people have certain freedoms, but it’s also to take back what has been expropriated from us.”
SA politician Carl Niehaus expressed his desire for the return of the diamond in a tweet after Queen Elizabeth’s death in September.
“We want #StarOfAfrica…together with ALL the rest of the diamonds, gold & other minerals, that the #BritishEmpire stole from SA back, WITHOUT COMPENSATION,” he wrote.
“One does not pay for stolen goods!”
We want #StarOfAfrica, the largest diamond cut from the original #CullinanDiamond, together with ALL the rest of the diamonds, gold & other minerals, that the #BritishEmpire stole from SA back, WITHOUT COMPENSATION. One does not pay for stolen goods! https://t.co/uTzRNhkoHR pic.twitter.com/4NATvKB4IP
— Carl Niehaus (@niehaus_carl) September 18, 2022
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
