of South Africa.12 Graaff answered diplomatically, but the emperor was less diplomatic, according to reports. One report said:
“Then the Kaiser, with characteristic bluntness, said that although he had never spoken to Lord Randolph he had once seen him from a distance. What he had been able to learn of the noble lord had not given him an exalted idea of his lordship as a public man. He had perused some of the letters which Lord Randolph had written from the Cape, but had not been able to make much out of them. He preferred, indeed, the description of South Africa which can be found in some of Mr. Rider Haggard’s novels. And the Mayor smiled.”
The emperor surprised Graaff with his knowledge of Africa and his interest in the continent. He quizzed the South African: “What kind of citizens are the Germans of the Cape Colony?”
“The very best we could wish for, Sire,” replied Graaff, upon which the emperor remarked, “That comes from the military training they receive in their homeland.” His parting words were, “Do not forget to give my greetings to the Germans in Cape Town, and tell them I am glad to hear of their loyalty and prosperity.”13
In Germany Graaff persuaded the company Siemens & Halske to send an electrical engineer to Cape Town at their own expense to present a plan for electric lights to the city council. He did likewise in London with Crompton & Co. Ltd.14 Thus Graaff saved the council a significant amount on expert advice.
Graaff returned to England, where he was entertained by various dignitaries once again, before leaving for the Riviera for a holiday. Afterwards he visited the Netherlands. The Queen Regent, Emma, widow of King Willem III, who acted as ruler until her 12-year-old daughter, Queen Wilhelmina, could accede to the Dutch throne, granted him an audience. She displayed great interest in South Africa. There always had to be sympathetic ties between the people of the Netherlands and the colonists of Dutch origin at the Cape, she told Graaff, who had brought along a copy of a painting of Jan van Riebeeck on display in the city hall in Cape Town. He wanted to know if it was a true image.15
In the Netherlands Graaff also paid a visit to Friesland, where he bought Friesian stud cows, which were transported to his farm, De Grendel, by sea. The stud bull named Pieter that he acquired from S.J. van der Werff of Leeuwarden was regarded an exceptional specimen: “It was admitted on every hand there was not his compeer in the whole of Friesland, and the Frieslanders say nothing finer was ever exported…”16
Graaff returned to England before leaving for America. In some publications it was mentioned that he had been introduced to Queen Victoria.17 That is not quite correct: he was, indeed, introduced at a levee at the Court of St James’s on 12 May 1892, but it was conducted on the queen’s behalf by the Duke of Connaught and Strathearne.18
During his five-week visit to the United States the 32-year-old Graaff made a strong impression on the Washington Post in the capital, which wrote in a report about his visit:
“He is a man of commanding appearance and elegant address. His face is covered by a full brown beard, long military moustache, high and intellectual forehead, and penetrating eyes. Mr. Graaff is the youngest councillor who has yet filled the Mayoral chair of Cape Town… He is young, rich, handsome, and popular.”19
In May 1892 Graaff returned to Cape Town. His friend D.C. de Waal joined him and Hannie on the return voyage aboard the Tartar. Half a dozen councillors awaited the Tartar when Graaff and his group stepped ashore in Table Bay harbour on 2 June.20 He was just in time for the opening of Parliament the next day by the governor-general, Sir Henry Loch, where he was sworn in as member of the Legislative Council.
In addition to his municipal responsibilities, parliamentary duties now rested on Graaff’s shoulders in the second year of his mayoral term, which above all became a financial success. The finance committee reported that favourable opportunities had developed for the re-issuing of the municipal loan in order to get a drainage system up and running. Simultaneously, lower interest rates than the existing 5 per cent were able to be negotiated for the municipal debt. Graaff was enthusiastic about this:
“… the works could be done without increasing the present rate of taxation, while the sinking fund would eliminate the whole indebtedness of the city, including the present debts and costs of all new works in 57 years.”21
During the course of the year he lobbied for other sources of water provision than the Molteno Reservoir. He also proposed that the tender of the German company Siemens & Halske be approved for a power plant driven by water power. It was also decided that sufficient steam traction should be provided to supply power continuously in case of temporary interruptions of the water source.22
On 4 August 1892 Graaff delivered his second and final mayor’s minute. He expressed his satisfaction that his first “cornerstone” – an excellent drainage system – was being implemented. The council had approved the plan of the engineer Clement Dunscombe and the work would start shortly. Sewage would in future be pumped from the mouth of the Salt River to a pumping station near the Sout River station and from there to Outspan Farm next to the road to Malmesbury.
Graaff reported that it had been decided to start with a completely new roads programme, “because the present method is an absolute failure”. The main roads looked like dirty chess sets. According to a memorandum of the city engineer added to the mayor’s minute, this chaotic state of affairs would come to an end. Technical reports showed that the layout and surfaces of the major throughways and secondary streets would be improved.
Furthermore, Graaff expressed his satisfaction about the transfer of one of the city’s oldest and top attractions, the Company Gardens, from the colonial authority to the city council on 1 January 1892.
He lauded the city’s police force, about which the police chief, McLeod B. Robinson, had made a report to the city council for the first time.23 With a mere 85 constables, the police force had to be regarded as insufficient, bearing in mind that by that time Cape Town’s population exceeded 50 000. With more than 30 brothels, the city experienced the plague of all harbour cities, and it was calculated that there were two prostitutes to every constable.24
Water supply had been improved, and that was a precondition for the electrification of street lights. Although expenditure of £20 000 would have caused a stir a few years before, an amount of £225 000 was now budgeted for public works: electric lighting, £60 000; water works, £50 000; city council and offices, £50 000; and street paving, £20 000. Graaff estimated the total expenditure at £450 000, an amount made possible due to the passing of the Crown Property Rating Bill after its introduction into the Cape Parliament by Cecil John Rhodes.25
After the mayor’s minute the city council unanimously and with acclamation adopted a motion putting on record its high appreciation for the services rendered by Graaff “… in securing the augmentation of the City Revenue, inaugurating a comprehensive and able scheme of public works, thus laying the foundation of increased comfort to the Citizens; and of the energy and impartiality with which he has discharged the duties of his high office”. A framed tribute was handed to him at a council meeting the following year.26
The Cape Argus also had flattering comments for Graaff’s time in office, which the paper referred to as “a brilliant mayoralty”. “In more than one respect we have entered upon new methods of conducting municipal business. It was an excellent thing for the town that the Mayor should travel, at his own costs and charges, and utilise his journey as he did for the inspection of what is being done in other cities.”27
Graaff’s mayoral term had been the most progressive and innovative in the history of the city until then. Civic pride and the desire to develop the city into a prestigious beacon at the southern tip of Africa to the advantage of its inhabitants – surely this was his major motivation, rather than petty self-interest. This is
