Volksraad (South African Republic)

Volksraad van die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek
Coat of arms or logo
Coat of arms of the South African Republic
Type
Type
Unicameral 1840-1890
Bicameral 1890-1902
Houses1890-1902:
First Volksraad
Second Volksraad
History
Established1840
Disbanded31 May 1902
Seats48 (24 First, 24 Second)
Meeting place
Ou Raadsaal, Pretoria

The Volksraad of the South African Republic (English: "People's Council" of the South African Republic, Afrikaans: Volksraad van die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek) was the parliament of the former South African Republic (ZAR), it existed from 1840[1] to 1877,[2] and from 1881 to 1902[3] in part of what is now South Africa. The body ceased to exist after the British Empire's victory in the Second Anglo-Boer War. The Volksraad sat in session in Ou Raadsaal in Church Square, Pretoria.[4]

Unicameral body

In 1840, at the beginning of the Natalia Republic, an adjunct Volksraad was created in Potchefstroom for settlers west of the Drakensberg.[1] The Potchefstroom Volksraad continued despite the British annexation of the Natalia Republic in 1843.[5] It eventually passed the Thirty-three Articles, the precursor to the 1858 constitution (Grondwet), in 1849.[6] In 1858 the Grondwet permanently established the Volksraad as the supreme authority of the nation. [7]

Volksraad was initially a unicameral body. It consisted of three members for each of the districts of Potchefstroom, Lydenburg, Rustenburg, Zoutpansberg, Pretoria, Wakkerstroom, Utrecht, Middelburg, Heidelberg, Waterberg, Marico, and Bloemhof, and one member for each of the towns of Potchefstroom, Lydenburg, Rustenburg, and Pretoria. The members had to be of European origin, over thirty years old, possessed real estate, never convicted of crime, member of a Protestant church, and voters in the Republic of at least three years.[8]

Before 1873 the members were elected for two years, and half of the members retired every two years. The Volksraad met once a year in ordinary session.[8]

Bicameral body

The Volksraad receiving President Paul Kruger at the Ou Raadsaal, circa 1890

Initially a unicameral body, the Volksraad was divided into two chambers in 1890 in order to keep Boer control over state matters while still giving Uitlanders (foreigners) — many of whom were temporarily employed in the mining industry — a say in local affairs, in order to fend off British complaints.[9]

From 1890 the Volksraad consisted of two houses of 24 members each.[10] The "Second Volksraad" had suffrage for all white males above 16 years, and had limited legislative powers in the fields of mining, road construction, copyright and certain commercial affairs, all subject to ratification by the "First Volksraad".[11] This was the highest authority in charge of state policy, with preference being given to fully franchised burghers for appointment to government posts.[12]

The members of the First Volkraad were elected for four years.[13] First Volksraad members had to be born in the state.

The Second Volksraad, of the Uitlanders, was allegedly without power.[14]

Chairmen of the Volksraad 1844-1890

The chairmen of the unicameral Volksraad (Voorzitter van den Volksraad).

  • J. D. Van Coller, 1844[15]
  • Casper Jan Hendrik Kruger, 1 Aug 1845 - 8 Oct 1845[16]
  • Johannes Gerhardus Stephanus Bronkhorst, 11 Dec 1845 - 11 Dec 1845[16]
  • Johannes Hermanus Grobler, 20 Jan 1846 - 22 Jan 1846[16]
  • Andries Hendrik Potgieter, 27 Jan 1846 - 27 Jan 1846[16]
  • Johannes Gerhardus Stephanus Bronkhorst, 28 Feb 1846 - 28 Feb 1846[16]
  • Johannes Hermanus Grobler, 17 Mar 1846 - 19 Mar 1846[16]
  • Andries Hendrik Potgieter, 13 Apr 1846 - 16 May 1846[16]
  • Johannes Gerhardus Stephanus Bronkhorst, 8 Jun 1846 - 8 Jun 1846[16]
  • Johannes Hermanus Grobler, 1 Sep 1846 - 1 Sep 1846[16]
  • Joachim Prinsloo, 5 Nov 1846 - 5 Nov 1846[16]
  • Johannes Christiaan Klopper, 10 Dec 1846 - 10 Feb 1847[16]
  • Johannes Hermanus Grobler, 12 Mar 1847 - 12 Mar 1847[16]
  • Johannes Christiaan Klopper, 16 Mar 1847 - 16 Mar 1847[16]
  • Jan Frans Schutte, 29 Apr 1847 - 29 Apr 1847[16]
  • Johannes Christiaan Klopper, 5 May 1847 - 5 May 1847[16]
  • Joachim Prinsloo, 14 May 1847 - 14 May 1847[16]
  • Johannes Hermanus Grobler, 17 Jun 1847 - 17 Jun 1847[16]
  • Johannes van Renseburg, 21 Jun 1847 - 21 Jun 1847[16]
  • Louw Erasmus, 3 Nov 1847 - 4 Nov 1847[16]
  • Jan Frans Schutte, 15 Dec 1847 - 16 Dec 1847[16]
  • Johannes Hermanus Grobler, 4 Apr 1848 - 21 Apr 1848[16]
  • Jacob de Clercq, 7 Mar 1849 - 8 Mar 1849[16]
  • Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius, 23 May 1849 - 25 May 1849[17]
  • Jacob de Clercq, 19 Sep 1849 - 19 Sep 1849[17]
  • Piet Ernst Kruger, 6 Dec 1849 - 12 Dec 1849[17]
  • WC Swart, 22 Jan 1850 - 30 Jan 1850[17]
  • Willem Hendrik Jacobsz, 26 May 1850 - 24 Aug 1850[17]
  • Cornelis Potgieter, 10 Sep 1850 - 16 Oct 1850[17]
  • Petrus Frans Jacobus Pretorius, 10 Dec 1850 - 10 Dec 1850[17]
  • Cornelis Potgieter, 15 Jan 1851 - 15 Feb 1851[17]
  • Willem Hendrik Jacobsz, 5 May 1851 - 9 May 1851[17]
  • JNH Grobler, 11 Jun 1851 - 11 Jun 1851[17]
  • Johannes Christoffel Steyn, 5 Jul 1851 - 5 Jul 1851[17]
  • Cornelis Potgieter, 1 Sep 1851 - 3 Sep 1851[17]
  • Willem Hendrik Jacobsz, 27 Nov 1851 - 29 Nov 1851[17]
  • Joachim Prinsloo, 12 Feb 1852 - 12 Feb 1852[17]
  • Pieter Ernst Kruger, 14 Feb 1852 - 14 Feb 1852[17]
  • Cornelis Potgieter, 17 Mar 1852 - 20 Mar 1852[17]
  • Cornelis Potgieter, 5 May 1852 - 6 May 1852[17]
  • Andreas Theodorus Spies, 6 May 1852 - 6 May 1852[17]
  • C Viljoen, 7 May 1852 - 7 May 1852[17]
  • Cornelis Potgieter, 15 Jun 1852 - 12 Jul 1852[17]
  • Joachim Prinsloo, 4 Oct 1852 - 4 Oct 1852[17]
  • Cornelis Potgieter, 15 Nov 1852 - 15 Nov 1852[17]
  • Joachim Prinsloo, 20 Nov 1852 - 20 Nov 1852[17]
  • Cornelis Potgieter, 14 Mar 1853 - 22 Jun 1853[17]
  • Henricus Albertus Pretorius, 9 Aug 1853 - 13 Aug 1853[17]
  • Cornelis Potgieter, 19 Sep 1853 - 10 Apr 1854[17]
  • Johannes Hermanus Grobler, 7 Jun 1854 - 15 Jun 1854[17]
  • Cornelis Potgieter, 16 Oct 1854 - 5 Jul 1855[17]
  • Henricus Albertus Pretorius, 10 Sep 1855 - 18 Sep 1855[17]
  • Johannes Hermanus Grobler, 5 Nov 1855 - 20 Nov 1855[17]
  • Cornelis Potgieter, 27 Nov 1855 - 27 Nov 1855[17]
  • Johannes Hermanus Grobler, 4 Mar 1856 - 11 Mar 1856[17]
  • Hendrik Teodor Bührmann, 11 Mar 1856 - 11 Mar 1856[17]
  • Johannes Hermanus Grobler, 27 May 1856 - 30 May 1856[17]
  • JP Furstenberg, 5 Jan 1857 - 6 Jan 1857[17]
  • Johannes Hermanus Grobler, 1857-?[18]
  • William Robinson (politician) [nl], ?-1858-?[19]
  • Maurits de Vries, 1867[20]
  • Maurits de Vries, 1872-1873[21]
  • Petrus Jacobus Joubert, 1873-1875
  • Cornelis Johannes Bodenstein, 1875-1877[22]
  • British annexation as Transvaal Colony 1877-1880
  • Cornelis Johannes Bodenstein, 1880-1884[22]
  • R. J. Smit, ?-1885-?[23]
  • J. J. Hoffman, ?-1886-?[24]
  • B. A. Kloppers, ?-1887-?[25]
  • W. J. Jacobs, ?-1890-?

Chairmen of the First Volksraad 1890-1902

The chairmen of the First Volksraad (Voorzitter van den Eersten Volksraad).

  • Frederik Gerhardus Hendrik Wolmarans, 1890-1891[26][27]
  • P. A. Klopper, ?-1891-?[28]
  • Jacobus Marthinus Malan, ?-1894-?
  • Schalk Willem Burger, 1895-1896[29]
  • T. N. de Villiers, ?-1897-?[30]
  • Frederik Gerhardus Hendrik Wolmarans, 1898-1899[31]
  • Lucas Johannes Meyer, 1899[32]-1900-?[33]

Chairmen of the Second Volksraad 1890-1902

The chairmen of the Second Volksraad (Voorzitter van den Tweede Volksraad).

  • Hendrik Vermaas, 1891-?
  • Jacobus Johannes Burger, ?-1892-1894-?[34][35]
  • Nicolaas Samuel Malherbe, ?-1894-1898-?[36]

References

  1. ^ a b Pratt, Edwin (1900). Leading points in South African history 1486 to March 30, 1900 arranged chronologically, with date index. John Murray, Albemarle Street, London. p. 31. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  2. ^ Eybers, G. W. (1918). Select constitutional documents illustrating South African history, 1795-1910. George Routledge & Sons, Limited New York; E. P. Button & Co. p. 448-454. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  3. ^ Eybers 1917, p. 456, 345.
  4. ^ Transvaal: The Golden Province, C. van Rensburg Publications, 1992, page 34
  5. ^ Eybers 1917, p. 349.
  6. ^ Pratt 1910, p. 44.
  7. ^ Papengus, F. H. (1889). The constitution ("grondwet") of the South African Republic. London, H. MacLeay. pp. 7–12. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  8. ^ a b McCall Theal, George (1908). History of South Africa since September 1795 (PDF). SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ The Afrikaners: Biography of a People, Hermann Giliomee, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2003, page 238
  10. ^ Eybers 1917, p. 490.
  11. ^ The Anglo-Boer War: a Chronology, Pieter Gerhardus Cloete, J.P. van der Walt, 2000, page 13
  12. ^ Judge and be Judged, Adrienne E. Van Blerk, Juta & Company, 1988, page 113
  13. ^ Martin, Frederick; Keltie, Sir John Scott; Renwick, Isaac Parker Anderson; Epstein, Mortimer; Steinberg, Sigfrid Henry (1894). "The Statesman's Year-book". Palgrave.
  14. ^ "An Almanack for the Year of Our Lord 1897". Joseph Whitaker. 1848.
  15. ^ "South African Republic: Chairman of the Volksraad: 1844 - Archontology.org". www.archontology.org.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "South African Republic: Chairmen of the Volksraad: 1845-1849 - Archontology.org". www.archontology.org.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai "South African Republic: Chairmen of the Volksraad: 1849-1857 - Archontology.org". www.archontology.org.
  18. ^ Muller, Hendrik Pieter Nicolaas (1907). "Oude tijden in den Oranje-Vrijstaat" (in Dutch). Brill Archive.
  19. ^ Republic, South African; Jorissen, Eduard Johan Pieter (1894). "Codex van de locale wetten der Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek" (in Dutch). Van Der Kamp.
  20. ^ Andrews, Thomas Edmund; Ploeger, Jan (1989). "Straat- en Plekname Van Ou-Pretoria" (in Afrikaans). J.L. van Schaik.
  21. ^ "Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa". NASOU. 1970.
  22. ^ a b "Dictionary of South African biography". [Pretoria] : Nasional Boekhandel Bpk. for National Council for Social Research, Dept. of Higher Education. 1968.
  23. ^ "Gothaischer Hof Kalender zum Nutzen und Vergnügen" (in German). J. Perthes.
  24. ^ Whitaker, Joseph. "An Almanack for the Year of Our Lord ..." J. Whitaker.
  25. ^ "Almanach de Gotha: annuaire généalogique, diplomatique et statistique" (in French). J. Perthes.
  26. ^ "Almanach de Gotha: annuaire généalogique, diplomatique et statistique" (in French). J. Perthes.
  27. ^ "The Argus Annual and South African Directory". Argus Print. and Publishing Company. 1896.
  28. ^ Whitaker, Joseph (1891). "An Almanack...: By Joseph Whitaker, F.S.A., Containing an Account of the Astronomical and Other Phenomena ...information Respecting the Government, Finances, Population, Commerce, and General Statistics of the Various Nations of the World, with Special Reference to the British Empire and the United States". Whitaker's Almanack.
  29. ^ Prins, Antony Winkler (1906). "Winkler Prins' Geïllustreerde encyclopaedie" (in Dutch). Uitgevers-maatschappy "Elsevier".
  30. ^ Transvaal (South Africa) (1897). "Locale wetten der Z.A. Republiek" (in Dutch).
  31. ^ Phillips, Lionel; Fraser, Maryna; Jeeves, Alan (1977). "All that Glittered: Selected Correspondence of Lionel Phillips, 1890-1924". Oxford University Press.
  32. ^ "THE TRANSVAAL". Brisbane Courier. 4 October 1899.
  33. ^ "De Volksraadszitting in Pretoria. (7 Mei 1900.), De oorlog in Zuid-Afrika. De strijd tusschen Engeland en de verbonden Boeren-republieken Transvaal en Oranje-Vrijstaat in zijn verloop geschetst. Deel 2, Louwrens Penning". DBNL (in Dutch).
  34. ^ "Gothaischer Hof Kalender zum Nutzen und Vergnügen" (in German). J. Perthes. 1892.
  35. ^ "The Argus Annual and South African Directory". Argus Print. and Publishing Company. 1894.
  36. ^ Whitaker, Joseph (1898). "An Almanack for the Year of Our Lord ..." J. Whitaker.
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