SA’s first computers

[Kevin Lancaster]

South Africa’s first computers

South Africa received its first computing device in 1921, with the country’s first real computer delivered to a brokerage firm in 1959. Here is a look at the country’s early computing history.

 

[CuppaJoe]

While these systems look archaic compared to today's standards, can you just imagine what computing power will be available in 50 years to the next generation?

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

These innocent looking computers formed the basis for apartheid's systems for recording and controlling millions of people under the pass laws, influx control etc, and equipping the SADF and police to enforce apartheid and quench resistance.

Quick overview (although there's a lot more detail to be found): http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.comp.html

 

[bekdik]

UCT Applied Maths dept also had an ICT 1301, as did a few Cape Town companies. SAR&H had a bunch ot ICT 1500's (RCA 301's), as did ICT Computer Bureau and many independent computer bureau's had Burroughs B200-B500 machines.

 

[biometrics]

Was hoping to see a Sperry Univac which I used as early as 1982.

 

[bekdik]

Was hoping to see a Sperry Univac which I used as early as 1982.

Was that at UCT? They had an 1100 around that time

 

[biometrics]

Was that at UCT? They had an 1100 around that time

I only used it once in 1982 at Stellenbosch University with punch cards. I also used the terminals at school 1983-1984, connecting to it at Tygerberg Hospital.

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

Was hoping to see a Sperry Univac which I used as early as 1982.

I remember that beast and many hours on the punch cards.

I think it was a 'Univac' in 1980 and then Sperry bought the company, and eventually it was just a 'Sperry'

 

[whatnot]

These innocent looking computers formed the basis for apartheid's systems

Oh my goodness, it was the computers !

Who built the "inncent looking" computers for the nazi's and Stalin ?

 

[Necropolis]

These innocent looking computers formed the basis for apartheid's systems for recording and controlling millions of people under the pass laws, influx control etc, and equipping the SADF and police to enforce apartheid and quench resistance.

Quick overview (although there's a lot more detail to be found): http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.comp.html

Your point being?

Clown.

 

[Skerminkel]

Your point being?

Clown.

No need to be rude! It is an interesting story. Like all resources, computers can be applied to positive or negative goals.

 

[BigAl-sa]

The article is a biased towards IBM. I posted this link on disqus, but mybb rejected it.

http://www.insidesanlam.co.za/content/download/15342/146634/version/1/file/Sanlam.pdf

 

[MickZA]

The article is a biased towards IBM. I posted this link on disqus, but mybb rejected it.

http://www.insidesanlam.co.za/content/download/15342/146634/version/1/file/Sanlam.pdf

Interesting, I never knew Sanlam had a Burroughs connection; where was the data centre located?

 

[BigAl-sa]

Interesting, I never knew Sanlam had a Burroughs connection; where was the data centre located?

Interesting thought, their head office was in WP, so one would assume there. But then why did Burroughs set up their headoffice in Jhb/Pta? Support would have been a nightmare in those days!

 

[MickZA]

Interesting thought, their head office was in WP, so one would assume there. But then why did Burroughs set up their headoffice in Jhb/Pta? Support would have been a nightmare in those days!

I remember George (surname forgotten) from the training school regaling us with stories of shoe allowances and using the train for outlying areas

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Article is definitely biased towards Big Blue...

...but those hard drives... massive bigjobs! Compare them to today's microSD storage cards....

 

[sajunky]

These innocent looking computers formed the basis for apartheid's systems for recording and controlling millions of people under the pass laws, influx control etc, and equipping the SADF and police to enforce apartheid and quench resistance.

Is the same reason for shutdown of Central Data Systems during the process of dismantling apartheid system? .LOL.

 

[Splinter]

Aaai. An interesting look at history of "computers" in SA being turned into another racial debate. Sigh.

 

[SA-UK]

Takes me back ..

Mid 80's punchcard system ,doing my CS 1a at UCT..
Was absent from exams as I honestly couldn't be arsed walking up half the campus to load a heavy box full of them and get a printout on a tiny monitor that said

HELLO WORLD


Strangely, my first job ever (and last truly decent organisation I worked for ) was at ISM, Marshall Street,JHB , which started in March 1990. IBM had just pulled out of S.A and the Elephant ad was all over the TV.
I lasted 3 years.

 

[SA-UK]

Aaai. An interesting look at history of "computers" in SA being turned into another racial debate. Sigh.

yip, i had hoped we might have moved on a little in the 15 years I've been out of the country...