Establishment of the Boer Republic of Transvaal (the South African Republic)

Establishment of the Boer Republic of Transvaal (the South African Republic)

Louis Trigardt established the Republic of Transvaal. His group was the first of the Boer trekkers. They moved following the Caledon River and eventually crossed the Vaal River.

However, in 1836 after their movement, the British administration at the Cape passed the Punishment Act, which was to punish all those who moved in the great trek. Through this Act, the Boers were still under the control of the British as long as they were within Latitude 25°.

Conflicts continued between the British and the Boers with the formation of this Republic. The Boers faced lack of manpower to maintain law and order. They also lacked funds and faced African hostilities.

In 1844, the Boers from Natal led by Pretorius arrived which increased conflict of leadership between the Boers- Potgieter and Pretorius.

In 1852 the Boers signed the Sand River Convention by which they were granted self-governance status and a free hand in dealing with the Bantu, north of the Vaal River.

Therefore Transvaal became a Republic in 1852. The Boers in Transvaal established towns such as Lydenburg, Zoutpansburg, Potchefstrooom and Utrecht.

The state of Transvaal was established after the defeat of the Ndebele at the battle of Vegkop in 1836. The British continued to oppress the Boers even in this Republic till April 1877. The Republic was restored in 1881 up to 1900 when the British annexed it again.

Establishment of the Boer Republic of the Orange River Sovereignty (the Orange Free State)

Hendrick Potgieter and Maritz Gerrit established it.

These were the leaders of the second group of the Boer trekkers to leave the Cape Colony.

The Republic was centered at Winsburg and came to be called the Orange River colony Sovereignty and later Orange Free State.

The Boer settlements in this state were founded after the Boers clashed Chief Mzilikazi of the Ndebele after the battle of Vegkop. The Ndebele were forced to move northwards.

In 1854 after the Bloemfontein Convention, full independence was granted to the Orange Free State and Marthinus Wessels Pretorius, the son of Andries Pretorius became the first President in 1858.

With the establishment of this Republic, the Boers had a problem of the Basuto people.

In 1856 - 1858, the Boers urged the Basuto to extend their Republic. The Boers also adopted a new constitution, which made them gain more land. They developed economically, politically and became very important.

Why the British annexed the Orange Free State in 1871

This took place in 1871. It was after the Kaete Award.

The British succeeded through this using the Utilanders/ Uitlanders.

Many Boers who had settled in the area between the Orange and Vaal rivers had regarded themselves as British subjects and demanded for outright protection against African hostility.

The Griqua people under Adam Kok wanted protection from the British against the Boers and Bantu speakers. Theyregarded themselves as British subjects.

Continuous conflicts between the Boers who left Natal after 1843 and the Africans mad annexation of the Orange River sovereignty or the OFS possible.

The British wanted a stable government on the northern frontier of the Cape colony. This could be achieved by annexation, which was the best way.

The British wanted a white led government in the area to be orderly with variable socio-economic and political developments. If continuous instability existed, this could affect peace and security of the region.

The role of Governor Sir Harry Smith. As Governor of and High Commissioner of the Cape, he wanted to settle affairs of the neighboring territories (Grigua and Sotho) amicably.

Note that in 1854, the British handed over the OFS to the Boer administrators; this was due to strategy, the Bloemfontein convention and the high costs of administration. The need to put the Boer trekkers under British control.

Results of the annexation of the Orange Free State

It created conflicts between the Africans and the Beers over land.

It led to the acquisition of the Diamond Fields in the area.

The Boers were defeated after war and the Boer President W.M Pretorius fled to Transvaal.

The British Cape government after annexation grabbed Basutoland, which provoked war with the Basuto between 1850-1852.

The British fought with the Basuto who defeated British Cape Colony forces with the help of the Brolong and the Tlokwa.

The British demanded Moshoeshoe finally negotiated for peace with the British.

In 1854, the Bloemfontein Convention was signed which recognized the freedom and political independence of the Boers in the OFS.

The Orange River Sovereignty most of the land that belonged to the Griqua people was given to the Orange Free State, but Griqualand East was founded in the north East Cape as the Griqua refugee home under Adam Kok.

In 1858, the Boers attacked Moshoeshoe’s strong holds of Thaba Bosia and Butha Buthe.

In the second war with the Boers 1865-68, the Basuto were defeated. But Moshoeshoe declared and gave his state as a British Protectorate in 1868.

All these events led to the preservation of independence of the Basuto nation (Lesotho).