James Sivewright

[2] The Cape had recently wrested a degree of independence from Britain under the "Responsible Government" system, and its first Prime Minister John Molteno was embarking on a massive expansion in the country's infrastructure.

Sivewright's business links gained increasing criticism from opposition politicians who accused him of massive corruption.

In 1892, he secured a government contract for his friend and associate James Logan which involved a 15-year monopoly on the catering for the nation's Government-run Railway system.

The move paid off when Rhodesian Prime Minister Gordon Sprigg gained power, and Sivewright was awarded the Commission of Crown Lands and Public Works.

Sivewright then traveled back to Britain but nonetheless kept strong political and business links with South Africa.

His reputation for massive corruption never quite faded, and liberal activist Olive Schreiner recounts that: "when both he (Rhodes) and Sivewright came forward to shake hands, I turned on my heel and went to my house."