Why would grandfather leave Belfast for Durban in 1901

[Spud Cham]

Can anyone shed any light on why my grandfather, a 'clerk', would have left Belfast with a new wife in April 1901 - before the Boer War ended in 1902?
Many thanks in advance
Steve

[conahy calling]

http://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Finding_an_Irish_Ancestor_Using_South_African_Records

Does not answer your specific question but this link states that between 1902 and 1905 there were 5000 Irish emigrants to South Africa.

[pampoen]

What were their names?

[Rena]

I've found that people will follow relatives and former friends who've already migrated and who send back news of opportunities in their new homeland.

I believe at that time that Belfast, like so many other towns, was so overcrowded that it wasn't a pleasant or healthy place to live.  Articles in the 1901 Belfast Press show that ships were still sailing to Africa and advertising for passengers whether there was a war on or not.   In the "Wanted" column of most large newspapers there was usually a few Agencies who advertised for workers to migrate - maybe your ancestor saw a job opportunity and decided to apply.

[Spud Cham]

Thank you all for your replies and assistance. Their names were Robert Cunningham and his wife Margaret Thompson - arrived Durban may 1901.
Cheers
Steve

[pampoen]

Found this estate notice for him, appears he died in 1931 in Johannesburg and his wife died before him. Not sure if the second name is correct?
DEPOT     TAB                                                                   
SOURCE    MHG                                                                   
TYPE      LEER                                                                 
VOLUME_NO 0                                                                     
SYSTEM    01                                                                   
REFERENCE 75251                                                                 
PART      1                                                                     
DESCRIPTION          CUNNINGHAM, ROBERT HENRY.                                             
STARTING  19310000                                                             
ENDING    19310000                                                             
REMARKS   PREDECEASED SPOUSE MARGARET CUNNINGHAM.   

I found a grave for a Andrew Robert Cunninham buried 1931 in Richmond Natal which is about 100 kilometres from Durban at this link http://www.eggsa.org/library/main.php?g2_itemId=2354319

Regards Derek
                         

[iluleah]

http://oldbelfastdistricts.rushlightmagazine.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/topics/belfast_golden_age_shipbuilding
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/exhibition/belfast/social_conditions.html
 
Of course the uncertain future with the The Home Rule Bill, as far back as 1886 sectarian riots in Belfast raged for several months after a Catholic docker allegedly told a Protestant worker that "none of ‘his sort’ would find employment under Home Rule" and that year was the first attempt to legislate Home Rule, then  another bill was introduced in 1893 and of course continued to rumble on until 1912, so any opportunity to leave and go to a new life, with a job where every corner of where you lived was insecure, unsafe and uncertain would have and was taken by many

Also found this
Robert Henry (or Hagan) Cunningham married Margaret Jane Thompson in Belfast 22 March 1901

[Spud Cham]

Many thanks to all for your help!
Cheers
Steve