In 1954, mine workers at De Beers diamond mines in Kimberley, South Africa, were subjected to x-ray scans by radiologists at the end of each shift. This intrusive measure was implemented to prevent even the smallest of diamonds from being smuggled out of the mine via the stomach.
The practice of x-raying mine workers was a stark reminder of the harsh and exploitative conditions under which they labored. Black migrant workers, who made up the majority of the workforce, were subjected to a system of racial segregation and discrimination. They were paid low wages and forced to live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.
The x-ray scans were just one of the many ways in which De Beers sought to control its workers. The company also employed a vast network of spies and informers to monitor worker activity. Any worker suspected of theft or other wrongdoing was subject to severe punishment, including beatings and imprisonment.
The history of diamond mining in South Africa is a story of wealth and greed, but it is also a story of suffering and exploitation. The x-ray scans endured by mine workers in Kimberley are a chilling reminder of the human cost of the diamond industry.
