Kruger in Crisis

KRUGER IN CRISIS: AN ANALYSIS OF THE TELEGRAMS OF 1900 by CHARLOTTE ERASMUS A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MAGISTER HEREDITATIS CULTURAEQUE SCIENTIAE (HISTORY) In the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies at the FACULTY OF HUMANITIES UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA SUPERVISOR: Prof. K. L. Harris November 2016 © University of Pretoria Abstract S.J.P. Kruger, four times president of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR), played a th th central role in the Afrikaners’ struggle for independence both in the 19 and 20 centuries. His significance as a leader also becomes apparent when considering the plethora of literature written on him both during his lifetime and after. Not only is his own life story intertwined with the history and development of the ZAR and rise of Afrikanerdom, but as a leading figure he was also subject to much criticism. This was particularly evident in the years leading up to and during the South African War (1899-1902) when the ZAR forces clashed with Britain. Against this dualistic background a stereotypical and binary portrayal of Kruger emerged. Some of these have been perpetuated into the literature of the 21st century. However, despite the array of works published on Kruger, it remains remarkable why his involvement in the South African War has not received extensive scrutiny, principally his “behind-the-scenes” contribution. It is to this prominent event in the life of Kruger that this study turns with particular reference to the year 1900 which has been identified as a so-called “crisis period”. Using the War telegrams dispatched by Kruger during the said period, this study endeavours to not only investigate Kruger’s War-time contribution and motives, but also to reassess his character in the context hereof. Although much of the evidence suggests that the Kruger persona is somewhat entrenched, the War telegrams however point to additional representations of Kruger and call thus for further reappraisal. Keywords: S.J.P. Kruger / Paul Kruger; South African War/Anglo-Boer War; Telegrams/telegraph; South African History; South African Republic/Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek; Leyds Archive/Leyds Archief; 1900. ii © University of Pretoria CONTENT PAGE Acknowledgements v Abbreviations vi Glossary vii Chapter One: 1.1 Introduction: “A to-be-toppled” Kruger 1 1.2 Kruger and literature 4 1.2.1 Biographical literature 6 1.2.2 ZAR literature 18 1.2.3 Generalisations 27 Chapter Two: Biographical background up to 1895 30 2.1 From Bulhoek to Waterval 30 2.2 From Commandant to President 39 2.3 In sum 48 Chapter Three: The South African War and Kruger’s crisis 50 3.1 December 1895 to October 1899 51 3.2 October 1899 to May 1900 60 3.3 May 1900 to September 1900 64 Chapter Four: Kruger’s telegrams 71 4.1 The Telegraph and War 71 4.2 Kruger’s War telegrams 75 4.2.1 Kruger the commander 80 4.2.2 Kruger the strategist 90 4.2.3 Kruger the logistician 93 iii © University of Pretoria Chapter Five: A gentler Kruger? 106 5.1 Kruger: religion and empathy 106 5.2 Kruger: peace and/or war 128 5.3 Kruger: prisoners of war and Boer civilians 133 Chapter Six: Conclusion 139 6.1 The Kruger persona 139 6.2 Reflection 145 Bibliography 146 iv © University of Pretoria ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Firstly I would like to thank the University of Pretoria (UP) for the financial support given to me to complete this Masters’ study. Secondly I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor Prof. Karen L. Harris of the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies at the University of Pretoria, for her continual support and her ever encouraging spirit, extraordinary knowledge and supervision. Without her passion and mentorship both History and President Paul Kruger would be much less exciting! In the same vein, I would also like to thank Prof. J. S. Bergh of the University of Pretoria for sparking my initial interest in President Kruger and all his assistance given in so many ways over the past three years. I must also express profound gratitude to my parents and my spouse for their unfailing support, encouragement and sacrifices made to assist me in finalising this study. Finally, I can only express: “To God comes all glory!”. v © University of Pretoria ABBREVIATIONS: EFF - Economic Freedom Fighters OFS - Orange Free State TAD - Transvaal Archive Depot (Transvaalse Argiefbewaarplek) ZAR - Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (South African Republic) ZASM / NZASM - Nederlandsche-Zuid-Afrikaansche-Spoorwegmaatschappij vi © University of Pretoria GLOSSARY: Afrikaner Afrikaner in this context mainly refers to the Dutch, and later Afrikaans-speaking white populations of Southern Africa, who were descendents of the original German, Dutch and French Huguenot settlers at the Cape. In a broader sense the name Afrikaner was also given to Dutch-speaking farmers and citizens who were also called 1 Boers. Burgher/Boer A citizen of a Boer Republic and can also in time of war refer to a Boer ‘soldier’ on commando.2 Landdrost Dutch word for a Magistrate. In the South African historical context a “landdrost” refers to the “chief administrator of a district or a magistrate”. A magistrate in this regard is a “civil officer or lay judge 3 who administers the law”. South African War The Anglo Boer War (1899-1902), Second War of Independence or Anglo-Boer War or Boer War has recently been referred to as the South African War. The reason for the name change can be ascribed to the issue of representation. The previous names given to the War mainly emphasised Boer and British participation and as a result, excluded other racial and ethnic groups who also partook in the War. Consequently, it was argued that a more inclusive name had to be generated for the War, hence it being referred to as the “South African War” at present. Some authors do however argue that the name “South African War” brings about other interpretative issues as well. In the remainder of this thesis the name South African War will be used.4 1 See F. Pretorius, Historical Dictionary of the Anglo-Boer War, Scarecrow Press, Lanham, 2009, p. 2 and B.J. Barker, A Concise Dictionary of the Boer War, Francolin Publishers, Cape Town, 1999, pp. 27-28, 36. 2 B.J. Barker, A Concise Dictionary of the Boer War, p. 40. 3 See for example, South African Concise Oxford Dictionary, edited by the Dictionary Unit for South African English, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002, pp. 650, 698. 4 See F. Pretorius, Kommandolewe tydens die Anglo-Boereoorlog 1899-1902, p. 15; B.J. Barker, A Concise Dictionary of the Boer War, pp. 8-9 and C.P. Jooste, Machadodorp tot en met dorpstigting in 1904, MA-verhandeling, University of Pretoria, 2008, p. ii, footnote 4. vii © University of Pretoria Transvaal The name Transvaal refers to a geographical location given to the area between the Vaal River and the Limpopo River in Southern Africa from the turn of the previous century.5 Uitlander In Dutch the word Uitlander means ‘foreigner’ and refers to the foreigners and fortune seekers who came to the ZAR, from other parts of Southern Africa and further abroad, after the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886.6 Volksraad The Volksraad or “council of the people” refers to the body that essentially governed the ZAR and functioned as the state’s parliament.7 Volk A Dutch word which refers to “a people”.8 5 See N. Worden, A Concise Dictionary of South African History, Francolin Publishers, Cape Town, p. 152. 6 See N. Worden, A Concise Dictionary of South African History, p. 156 and F. Pretorius, Historical Dictionary of the Anglo-Boer War, p. 463. 7 See F. Pretorius, Historical Dictionary of the Anglo-Boer War, p. 480 and B.J. Barker, A Concise Dictionary of the Boer War, p. 121. 8 See for example, South African Concise Oxford Dictionary, edited by the Dictionary Unit for South African English, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002, p. 1316. viii © University of Pretoria CHAPTER 1 1.1 Introduction: “A to-be-toppled” Kruger On Monday the 6th of April 2015 Naledi Shange from News24 reported that “The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)9 …claimed responsibility for the defacing of Paul Kruger’s statue in Pretoria”.10 Kruger now blotched with lime green paint and awaiting his “to-be-toppled” trial resembles much of what happened over a century ago as the Kruger regime faced the possibility of being “ousted” by Britain on the brink of the South African War (1899 to 1902). At the time, however, Kruger was draped in his green presidential sash and stood as an epitome of Republican leadership. A section of his people clung to this particular concept of Kruger as a Vader des Volks (Father of the nation) while other factions from both within and outside of the country would today side with the EFF’s “topple-mentality”. The action of defacing Kruger in the 21st century ironically points to his lasting legacy and historical impact, thereby emphasising that Kruger still remains relevant, albeit contentiously so. As was evident in the Paul Kruger statue debacle,11 perceptions and representations of Paul Kruger have varied considerably over the span of the last century and a quarter. A large percentage of these opposing opinions have also, arguably, found their origins in the clash between Boer and Brit12 towards the end of the 19th century. Consequently the majority of these early perceptions take on a particularly binary character consisting primarily of pro-Brit or pro-Boer views. Such biased portrayals were in addition also inflamed by War-time propaganda and found a foothold in the perceptions and recollections of the general public for generations.

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