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Home , 1883 in South Africa, Andries Pretorius, First Boer War, Johannes Brand, May 1902, Nieuwe Republiek

South African Republic 1

For other uses, see (disambiguation).

South African Republic Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek

← 1856–1902 → ←

Flag Coat of arms

Anthem Transvaalse Volkslied

Location of the South African Republic, circa 1890. [1] Capital 25°43′S 28°14′E

Languages Dutch

Religion Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk

Government Republic

President

- 1857–1863 Marthinus Wessel Pretorius

- 1883–1902

- 1900–1902 (acting)

History

- Established 27 June 1856

- British 1877–1881

- 11 October 1899 South African Republic 2

- Treaty of 31 1902

Area

- 1870 191,789 km² (74,050 sq mi)

Population

- 1870 est. 120,000

Density 0.6 /km² (1.6 /sq mi)

Currency South African Republic pond

Today part of South Africa

The South African Republic (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek or ZAR), was an independent and Internationally recognized country in Southern Africa during the second half of the and the early 20th century (Recognised by the USA, , Germany and others). The ZAR was established in 1852, and was independent from 1856 to 1902. The country was attacked by the United Kingdom in 1881, this is often referred to as the . The country defeated the British and remained an independent country until the end of the Second Boer War, on 31 when it was forced to surrender to the British. It occupied an area around the present South African province of .

Names of the country

Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) The burghers (citizens) called the Dutch Language country the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (South African Republic or the ZAR) and in all country documentation, the name of the country was either the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek or The South African Republic. The Cape Afrikaner, or Cape Dutch speaking inhabitants of the Cape , first started calling the country "". (In reference to the area over (or trans) the ) and so did the British and many in Europe. In fact the name "Transvaal" was later so often used that later the British objected to the use of the real name (The South African Republic). The British pointed out that the Convention of Pretoria of 1881-08-03 referred to the 'Transvaal Territory' and that the Transvaal and the South African Republic did not have the same boundaries.[2] However, in the Convention dated 1884-02-27, a subsequent treaty between Britain and the ZAR, Britain acquiesced and reverted to the use of the true name, in the Queens English as the: "The South African Republic". The South African Republic is also known by the abbreviation: ZAR. South African Republic 3

Transvaal

The name of the Dutch Language South African Republic was such an important agenda item to the British that on 1 the British declared by proclamation that the name of the South African Republic be changed from "South African Republic" to "The Transvaal" and that the entire territory shall henceforth and forever be known as "The Transvaal" This proclamation was issued during the second boer war and whilst the ZAR was still an independent country.

On the 31st of May 1902 The Vereeniging Peace Treaty was signed, with the non existent country of "The Transvaal" and the British . The treaty established a Municipal Government, District court and the High Court of Transvaal. On the 20th of and Inter Colonial Council was established, to manage the of the British Government. The name "Transvaal"

finally died in 1994, when the ANC Government broke up the area and Johnston, W. and A.K. - South African Republic. renamed the core, to "Gauteng". The Gauteng ANC Government , , Basuto Land, Etc. declared publicly on their website, in 2008, that Gauteng derives from Sotho and that "settlers from the took the land that Gauteng occupies today, from chief Mzilikazi and started "establishing villages" in the area". Factual evidence that a new re-write of Boere history had begun. In the 2008 Gauteng ANC Government "History of Gauteng" official publication, the country "South African Republic" as well as the British and Afrikaner territory of Transvaal, did not even exist and has never existed.

Early history The Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek came into existence on 17 January 1852 when the United Kingdom signed the treaty with about 40,000 boer people, recognising their independence in the region to the north of the Vaal River. The first president of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek was Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, elected in 1857, son of Voortrekker leader , who commanded the to victory at the Battle of . Here also, is a List of Presidents of the South African Republic. The capital was established at and later moved to Pretoria. The parliament as called the and had 24 members. South African Republic 4

Expansion

On the 23rd November 1859 the independent Republic of Lijdenburg merged with the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek. On 9 May 1887, burghers the territories of and Goosen (sometimes incorrectly referred to as Goshen) were granted rights to the ZAR franchise. On the 25th of July 1895 the burghers that took part in the war at , were granted citizenship of the ZAR.

Constitution and Laws

The constitution of the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek has been referred to as one of the leading and most interesting documents of its time.[3] It contained provisions for the division between the political leadership Statue of Marthinus Wessel and office bearers in Government administration. The legal system Pretorius, the first President of the ZAR in Pretoria. consisted of higher and lower courts and had adopted a jury system. The constitution provided only for the citizens of the country. All the citizens of the country were white skinned Dutch speaking people and all other people, including the British and neighbouring black skinned native tribes, were all excluded from the constitution. Slavery in the ZAR constitution was illegal.

Language and Culture Flag of the British Colony of Transvaal In 1886 there was pressure to adopt the language (Cape Dutch) in the ZARand the outcome of this request resulted in a new language law. On the 30 July 1888 the Dutch Language was declared as the only language to be used in the country. This usage was not only in Government but also in schools, trade and for general use. All other languages was declared as "foreign" (art 1017/1025 dd. 13 Juli 1888 en artt 1026/1027, dd. 14 Juli 1888 en art 1030, dd. 16 Juli 1888). These changes to the ZAR laws made the use of the Afrikaner language and all other foreign languages illegal in the ZAR. Use of any foreign language was subject to criminal penalty and fine of 20 ZAR Pond for each offense. The British similarly had declared English Coat of arms of the South African Republic to be the only language spoken in the Cape Colony some decades displayed on Kruger's wagon earlier and outlawed the Dutch Language. To follow the true history of events in Southern Africa one can look towards language and culture of communities. The ZAR was Dutch, The Cape Colony was English and Afrikaans (Cape Dutch). The discovery of gold in 1885 led to a major influx of . By 1896 the language of Government and citizens remained Dutch but in many market places and homes the was spoken. South African Republic 5

Boer Wars The Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek had many enemies. The most dangerous enemy was the Afrikaner, this is also the enemy that eventually led to the final demise of the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek. In 1883, near Smithfield, Free State, President , of the independent country, The Orange Free State publicly warned the citizens of both Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek and the Vrystaat, that the most dangerous threat to the two nations was the Afrikaner inkruiper. Other Enemies were the British, other African tribes, as well as other unaffiliated boer groups. With some of these groups there existed a love hate relationship.

First Boer War

On 12 April 1877, Britain issued a proclamation called: "ANNEXATION OF THE S.A. REPUBLIC TO THE " In the proclamation, the British claim that the country is unstable, ungovernable and facing civil war. The proclamation also, incorrectly, claimed that the country was bankrupt and then went on the refer to the country as the country of "Transvaal" clearly reflecting the influence of the Cape Afrikaner on the British Commissioner of the Cape Colony, Sir Sheptone. The Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek viewed this proclamation as an act of aggression, and resisted. Instead of declaring war, the country decided to send a delegation to United Kingdom and the USA, to protest. This did not have any effect and the First Boer War formally broke out on 20 December 1880. The First Boer War was the first conflict since the American Revolution in which the British had been decisively defeated and forced to sign a peace treaty under unfavourable terms. It would see the introduction of the khaki uniform, The President of the Boere, State President Paul marking the beginning of the end of the famous Redcoat. The Battle of Kruger of the country the South African Republic Laing's Nek would be the last occasion where a British regiment at his fourth inauguration, Pretoria, 1898. He was carried its official regimental colours into battle. The Pretoria a famous ZAR Boer. Convention of 1881 was signed on 3 August 1881 and ratified on 25 October 1881 by the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (where the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek is referred to by the name "Transvaal Territory"). The of 1881 was superseded in 1884 by the London Convention, and in which the British over the South African Republic, was relinquished. The British Government, in the London Convention, accepted the name of the country as The South African Republic. The convention was signed in duplicate, in London on 27 February 1884 by Hercules Robinson, S.JP. Kruger, S.J. Du Toit and N.J. Smit and later ratified by the South African Republic (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek) Volksraad.

In 1885 extremely rich Gold reefs were discovered in the ZAR. The South African Republic burghers were farmers and not miners and much of the mining fell to illegal immigrants. The illegal immigrants were also referred to as "outlanders" (uitlanders). South African Republic 6

Second Boer War

Britain first attacked the independent country of South Africa in December 1895, the . The British started building up massive amounts of troops and resources at the borders of the ZAR. Then they demanded voting rights for the 50,000 British nationals and the 10, 000 other nationals in South Africa, even though none of these nationals were South African citizens. Kruger rejected the British demand and called for the withdrawal of British Emily Hobhouse tells the story of the young Lizzie van Zyl who died in the troops from the ZAR's borders. When concentration camp: She was a frail, weak little child in desperate need of the British refused, Kruger declared war good care. Yet, because her mother was one of the "undesirables" due to the fact that her against Britain. father neither surrendered nor betrayed his people... The Second Boer War was a watershed for the in particular and for the British Empire as a whole. It was here that the British used concentration camps where small babies, young children and women were held in camps without adequate food or medical care. The abhorrent conditions in these camps caused the death of 4 177 women, 22 074 children under sixteen. The vast number of deaths, when compared with the total amount of boers, amounted to tribal genocide of this Dutch Language African tribe. Great Britain has never apologized. The Afrikaner claimed the history of the Boer people, as their own and proclaimed one single ethnic Afrikaner grouping. They then also absorbed the events of both Boer Wars and concentration camps as part their own history. The modern day Afrikaner is not even aware that the Dutch Language speaking Boer nation and the Afrikaans speaking Afrikaner nation were two separate people with different ideals or that an independent non Afrikaans and anti-afrikaner country, the ZAR, even existed. Before, during and after the Anglo Boer War, all three of the versions of the (a secret society) worked with Great Britain to play a major role in the complete destruction of the Dutch Language speaking South African Republic and absorbing the legacy of its Dutch boers.The Afrikaner even took the name of the boer country and later called their country The "Republic of South Africa", further adding to the confusion and obstufication of history. The once secret Afrikaner Broederbond declared itself after Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa only revealing its early 20th century version. In this version the Afrikaner Broederbond added to the decimation of the Dutch Language speaking ZAR nation by changing history The ZAR is falsely reflected as an Afrikaner state, President Kruger and many others are named as historical Afrikaners and emotive events like the Boer Wars, British concentration camps and others were used to grow the ideals of . Dutch Language Boers remaining in Southern Africa where absorbed into that new to be Afrikaner and Afrikaans nation. Descendants of citizens of the ZAR and are now citizens of the new South Africa, where ironically, the ANC set them free and enabled them to start to correct their own history and the history of their country and people. There are many people and organisations that claim to speak on behalf of one or more of the extinct boer nations but non of these organisations have any legitimate or legal standing. There is Media related to Second Boer War concentration camps at Wikimedia Commons South African Republic 7

Political Structure of the ZAR

Officials • President of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek • State Secretary of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek • State Attorney of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek

Divisions The country was divided into 17 districts: 1. Pretoria district: Pretoria 2. Potchefstroom district: Potchefstroom, Ventersdorp, , Venterskroon, Wolmaranstad 3. district: Rustenburg 4. Waterberg district: Nylstroom, Hartingsburg 5. Zoutpansberg district: Pietersburg, Haenertsburg, Woodbush, Eersteling, Marabastad, Smitsdorp 6. district: Lydenburg, Pilgrim's Rest, Barberton, Eureka City, FairView, Moodies, Jamestown 7. Middelburg district: Middelburg, Roossenekal 8. Heidelberg district: Heidelberg, , Elsburg, Boksburg, 9. district: Wakkerstroom, Amersfoort 10. district: Piet Retief 11. Utrecht district: Utrecht, Luneburg 12. Bloemhof district: Christiania, Bloemhof, Schweizer-Reneke 13. Marico district: Zeerust, Jacobsdal, Ottoshoop 14. Lichtenburg district: Lichtenburg 15. district: Standerton, Bethal 16. Ermelo district: Ermelo, Amsterdam, Carolina 17. district: Vryheid

Flag Main article: Flag of Transvaal The national flag of the ZAR featured three horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue (mirroring the Dutch national flag), with a vertical green stripe at the hoist, and was known as the Vierkleur (lit. four colours). The former national (from 1927 to 1994) had, as part of a feature contained within its central white bar, a horizontal flag of the Transvaal Republic (ZAR). South African Republic 8

References

[1] http:/ / tools. wmflabs. org/ geohack/ geohack. php?pagename=South_African_Republic& params=25_43_S_28_14_E_ [2] Irish University Press Series: British Parliamentary Papers Colonies Africa, (BPPCA Transvaal Vol 37 (1971) No 41 at 267) [3] Entry: South African Law Review1954. Butterworth's South African Law Review, 1954

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South African Republic.

Wikisource has original text related to this article: 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Transvaal

• American Library of Congress (http:/ / www. loc. gov/ search/ ?q=boer+ war)

• Documents Illustrating South African History 1795-1910 (https:/ / openlibrary. org/ books/ OL24129017M/ Select_constitutional_documents_illustrating_South_African_history_1795-1910) Article Sources and Contributors 9 Article Sources and Contributors

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