Answer:
Trade routes, and mines.
Step-by-step explanation:
The British claimed that they owned South Africa. Initially, the British empire only wanted this particular region because they wanted to establish a direct trade routes to India.
But in mid 1800s, they found an even bigger reasons to claim this territory.
They managed to found a massive reserve of gold and diamonds in South Africa. Controlling this region contributed to their massive increase in wealth during the industrial revolution.