Building Infrastructure: Cape Colony Aqueduct

This picture illustrates the technological and engineering skills that the Europeans brought with them when they wished to build up the infrastructure of the new colonies. This particular picture shows an aqueduct being built in the Cape Colony. Most infrastructure (but not all) was built to support the European populations or business opportunities. It is also worth pointing out in this picture that in addition to Africans being present, there are also a number of people from the Indian sub-continent. British engineers tended to trust Indians with more skilled work than the native African population as they had had longer dealing with the Indians who they believed were more likely to understand the engineering and work requirements expected.