The Vitlanders and their relations with the Boers / UITLANDER- BOER- BRITISH RELATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

 

The Vitlanders and their relations with the Boers / UITLANDER- BOER- BRITISH RELATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Uitlanders were the non-Boers who came to work in the Diamond, Gold and other minerals in 1870's and 1880's. They were mainly British nationalists in the mines. To the Boers, the Uitlanders meant outsiders or foreigners.

Many of them had come from Europe mainly Britain., America and British colonies in South Africa.

They had no political and civil rights despite their wealth. The Boers despised, them, denied them human rights especially in the Judiciary, the right to vote for the members of Parliament, were over taxed

By 1880's, they had increased tremendously in Transvaal and few other Boers states but were over taxed and denied citizenship in Transvaal.

They were also denied their chance of using English as their language hence conflicts.

The Pretoria Convention of 1881, which ended the First Anglo- Boer war 1880-81, had out rightly eliminated the British, which could affect the Uitlanders.

As noted the Uitlanders had outnumbered the local population, which among others caused conflicts between them and the Boers. Paul Kruger, the Transvaal President wanted them to use Afrikaner language-Afrikaans and not English.

The aftermath of the 1895 Jameson's Raid and the second Anglo-Boer war 1899-1902 increased hostilities and tension between the Boers and the Uitlanders.

What then led to confdits between the Utilanders and Boers in Transvaal?

The long standing enemity between the two.

The Utilanders rejected heavy taxes on their profits and machinery

The Transvaal Boers saw the Utilanders (Uitilanders) as agents of the British Federation Scheme. The Boers did not trust the Utilanders as honest and transparent lot.

The increasing number of the Utilanders population in Transvaal worried the Boers of a possible calculated deception.

The Utilanders were denied some fundamental civil and political rights.

·         Could not use English but Afrikaan.

·         The Boers controlled Education for the children

·         The Utilanders were denied franchise (rights to vote)

·         The Utilanders could not sign financial contracts in Transvaal.

·         ) The voting period was to be extended with unconvcing ground. First 2 years,later 5 years, and later 7 years.

The conflicts were caused by Cecil Rhodes and his agents (Dr. L.S Jameson, Col. Frank Rhodes) of the BSACO.

The role and contribution of the strong and courageous Paul Kruger and Joubert. Boers were to promote racial purity in the Republic of Transvaal and others. Colonial imperial rivalry under the infe1unce of Britian.

Utilander leaders had refused to cooperate with the Boers on the question of tariffs, customs and railways. Boers greed and thirst over the Gold mines on the Rand (1885).

Paul Kruger's adrnisnitration of Transvaal was seen by the Utilanders as inefficient, ineffective and corrupt.