South African Republic Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek
1856–1877 1881–1902 1914–1915
Flag Coat of arms of South African Republic Coat of arms
Anthem: Transvaalse Volkslied
Location of the South African Republic, circa 1890.
Capital	Pretoria 25°43′S 28°14′E / 25.717°S 28.233°E / -25.717; 28.233
Common languages	Dutch
Religion	Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk
Government	Republic
President
• 1857–1863	Marthinus Wessel Pretorius
• 1883–1902	Paul Kruger
• 1900–1902	Schalk Willem Burger (acting)
History
• Established	17 January 1852
• First Boer War	20 December 1881
• Independence	27 February 1884
• Second Boer War	11 October 1899
• Treaty of Vereeniging	31 May 1902
• Republic Declared (Maritz Rebellion)	7 October 1914.[1]
• Disestablished	4 February 1915
• Disestablished	4 February 1915
Area
1870[2]	191,789 km2 (74,050 sq mi)
Population
• 1870[2]	120,000
Currency	South African Republic pond
Preceded by Succeeded by Klein Vrystaat Nieuwe Republiek Transvaal Colony
Today part of	South Africa

The South African Republic , often referred to as the Dutch: Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, the ZAR, The Transvaal, and sometimes even the Republic of Transvaal was an independent and internationally recognised country in southern Africa from 1852 to 1902. The country defeated the British in what is often referred to as the First Boer War and remained independent until the end of the Second Boer War on 31 May 1902, when it was forced to surrender to the British. The territory of the ZAR became known after this war as the Transvaal Colony.

Name and etymology

Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR)

Constitutionally the name of the country was Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (South African Republic or ZAR). Many people also called the ZAR, Transvaal, in reference to the area over (or trans) the Vaal River^[3] including the British press and the press 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^[4] referred to the 'Transvaal Territory' and that the Transvaal and the South African Republic did not have the same boundaries.^[5] However, in the London Convention dated 1884-02-27,^{[4]: 469–474} a subsequent treaty between Britain and the ZAR, Britain acquiesced and reverted to the use of the true name, "The South African Republic".

Transvaal

The name of the South African Republic was of such importance that on 1 September 1900 the British declared by special proclamation that the name of the South African Republic be changed^[4]: 514 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 country of "The Transvaal" and the British Government which also converted the ZAR into the Transvaal Colony. The treaty established a Municipal Government, Witwatersrand District court and the High Court of Transvaal.^[4]: 515 On the 20th of May 1903 and Inter Colonial Council^[4]: 516 was established, to manage the colonies of the British Government. The name "Transvaal" was finally changed in 1994, when the ANC Government broke up the Transvaal area and renamed the core, to "Gauteng".

History

Early History

In paleolithic times, between 2.2 to 3.3 million years ago, hominds lived within the geographic area of the ZAR. The earliest hominid bones, between 2.2 to 3.3 million years old, was discovered at Sterkfontein in 1994. In 1938 Paranthropus robustus bones were found at Kromdraai, and during 1947 several more examples of Australipitecus africanus were uncovered in Sterkfontein. The pastoral San People lived on the lands of Southern Africa and they were later joined by Bantu people from North Africa and even later joined by the European people from Europe. Bantu peoples, who displaced the San people, were themselves decimated and scattered by the Mfecane which left most of the lands of the ZAR abandoned and vacant. The Boers constantly tried to expand their territories but found strong resistance from the Bantu peoples and specifically the Sotho people and the Zulu people.

Formation

The Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek came into existence on 17 January 1852 when the United Kingdom signed the Sand River Convention 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 Boer leader Andries Pretorius, who commanded the Boers to victory at the Battle of Blood River. Here also, is a List of Presidents of the South African Republic. The capital was established at Potchefstroom and later moved to Pretoria. The parliament as called the Volksraad and had 24 members.

Independence

The South African Republic became fully independent on the 27 February 1884 when the London Convention was signed. The country independently also entered into various agreements with other foreign countries after that date.

Expansion

On the 23rd November 1859^{[4]: 420–422} the independent Republic of Lijdenburg merged with the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek. On 9 May 1887, burghers the territories of Stellaland and Goosen^[4]: 479 (sometimes 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 Zoutpansberg,^[4]: 505 were granted citizenship of the ZAR.

Constitution and laws

The constitution of the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek has been referred to as legally interesting for its time.^[6] It contained provisions for the division between the political leadership and office bearers in government administration. The legal system consisted of higher and lower courts and had adopted a jury system. The laws were enforced by the South African Republic Police (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek Politie or ZARP) which were divided into Mounted Police (Rijdende Politie) and Foot Police.

Racism

The constitution promoted racialism as it treated European (white) people differently from Native (black) people. Although slavery was illegal in the constitution and foreigners (white and black) were discriminated against, black foreigners had fewer rights than their white counterparts. At this time in history, this was very similar to many other European countries as well as in the new world. Discrimination on the basis of race was prevalent in the ZAR and even coloured British subjects were forced to reside in ghettos outside cities with Asian and black races, whilst white races were free to live anywhere. One of the Racist excuses often used by the ZAR Government was "sanitation and regard to public health necessitated that measure of segregation"^[7]

Language and culture

Language

On the 30 July 1888 the high Dutch language was declared as the only language^{[4]: 481–482} 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 were declared as "foreign".^[8] These changes to the ZAR laws made the use of all other foreign languages illegal in the ZAR. Use of any foreign language was subject to criminal penalty^[4]: 483 and fine of 20 ZAR Pond for each offense. The British similarly had declared English to be the only language spoken in the Cape Colony some decades earlier to outlaw^[9] the Dutch Language. The discovery of gold in 1885 led to a major influx of uitlanders. By 1896 the language of government and citizens remained Dutch but in many market places, shops and homes the English language was spoken.^[10]

Boer Wars

Civil War 1861-1864

Secucuni War 1876

First Boer War

On 12 April 1877, Britain issued a proclamation called: "ANNEXATION OF THE S.A. REPUBLIC TO THE BRITISH EMPIRE"^{[4]: 448–449} In the proclamation, the British claim that the country is unstable, ungovernable, bankrupt and facing civil war.

The Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek viewed this proclamation as an act of aggression,^{[4]: 454–455} 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, marking the beginning of the end of the famous Redcoat. The Battle of Laing's Nek would be the last occasion where a British regiment carried its official regimental colours into battle. The Pretoria 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 Pretoria Convention of 1881^{[4]: 456–457} was superseded in 1884 by the London Convention,^{[4]: 469–470} and in which the British suzerainty 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 immigrants. The immigrants were also referred to as "outlanders" (uitlanders). By 1897 the immigrants had invested over 300 000 000 British Pounds in the ZAR goldfields.

Mapoch War 1883

Western frontier war 1885

Second Boer War

Britain first attacked the independent country of South Africa in December 1895, the Jameson Raid. 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 at that time South African citizens. Kruger rejected the British demand and called for the withdrawal of British troops from the ZAR's borders. When the British refused, Kruger declared war against Britain. Britain was joined in the war by forces and armies from other countries and even independent countries, Australia, Canada and New Zealand as well as forces and citizens of colonies like the Colony of Natal and the Cape Colony. This war was also the first war in the history of the independent country of Australia fought in.

The Second Boer War was a watershed for the British Army 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.^[11] The abhorrent conditions in these camps caused the death of 4 177 women, 22 074 children under sixteen. The camps were unmitigated humanitarian disasters and death rates varied between 344 and 700 per 1000.^[12] There is Media related to Second Boer War concentration camps at Wikimedia Commons

Maritz Rebellion

Four years after the Union, the Republic appeared again as an abortive state that existed only for about a year.^[1]

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:^[10]

Flag

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 flag of South Africa (from 1927 to 1994) had, as part of a feature contained within its central white bar, a horizontal flag of the Transvaal Republic (ZAR).

See also

• Orange Free State

References

External links

• American Library of Congress
• Documents Illustrating South African History 1795-1910