The South African War: 1899–1902 (Grade 10 NSC Matric History): Revision Notes

The South African War: 1899–1902

Britain's increasing interest in South Africa with the discovery of minerals

The discovery of gold and diamonds in South Africa dramatically changed Britain's relationship with the region. Britain became desperate to gain control over these valuable mineral resources for several important reasons.

Why Britain wanted control of the mines:

• Britain feared that other European countries, particularly Germany, would gain influence over the mineral wealth first
• Germany was known to be friendly with President Kruger of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR)
• Mine owners wanted to modernise the industry and create a Union of South Africa
• This union would give them control over all the land and workforce, including both African chiefs' territories and white-owned farms

The competition for mineral wealth set the stage for the conflict that would follow between British imperial interests and Boer independence.

Political and economic struggle for control of the goldfields

The tensions

The struggle for control involved key British figures who were determined to extend imperial influence over the mineral-rich territories.

Key British figures and their roles:

• Joseph Chamberlain - British Secretary of State for the Colonies and a strong imperialist
• Lord Milner - Governor of the Cape, chosen by Chamberlain for his imperialist views
• Cecil Rhodes - Prime Minister of the Cape who had conquered territory across the Limpopo River (called Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe)

Rhodes used his media influence to build support for war. He owned important newspapers including The Johannesburg Star and the Cape Times, which helped stir up British public opinion in favour of conflict with the ZAR.

Boer concerns about British influence: The religious and conservative Afrikaners (Boers) felt threatened by the uitlanders (foreigners) who were changing their traditional way of life. President Kruger tried to maintain independence by building his own railway line to Delagoa Bay, avoiding dependence on British railway lines from the Cape and Natal.

The grievances of the uitlanders

The uitlanders were foreign workers, mainly British, who had come to the ZAR to work in the gold mines. They became increasingly frustrated with President Kruger's government, called the Volksraad, which they believed was corrupt and inefficient.

What the uitlanders wanted:

• Modern infrastructure including better transport, water, and sewerage systems suitable for a capitalist economy
• An end to the Boers' monopoly over the supply of dynamite and other mining essentials
• Political representation - they resented paying heavy taxes while having no say in government
• The right to vote without waiting 14 years of residence in the Republic

These grievances created the perfect opportunity for Rhodes to plan his takeover of the ZAR.

The Jameson Raid, 1895-6

Rhodes planned to use the uitlanders' complaints as justification for British intervention in the ZAR. His strategy involved getting the uitlanders to call on Britain for help against their "terrible treatment."

Consequences of the failed raid:

• Rhodes was humiliated and resigned as Prime Minister of the Cape
• Britain's fears of a Boer-German alliance increased when the German Kaiser sent Kruger a congratulatory telegram
• Tensions escalated further when the ZAR bought large quantities of modern weapons from Germany

War breaks out

The final crisis began when Milner sent a telegram to Chamberlain claiming that British subjects were being treated like 'helots' (slaves). To prevent war, President Steyn of the Orange Free State organised a conference between Milner and Kruger at Bloemfontein.

The breakdown of negotiations:

• Milner demanded that uitlanders get the vote after five years of residence in the ZAR
• Kruger tried to compromise, offering voting rights after seven years
• Milner refused this offer
• Kruger said: "You just want my country"

In September 1899, British reinforcements sailed to South Africa and British troops were sent to the ZAR border. Kruger sent an ultimatum to Milner demanding that the troops be removed, but nothing happened. War was declared between the two Boer republics and Britain.

The two phases of the war

The first phase: October 1899 – September 1900

The war began with surprising Boer successes that shocked the British Empire and demonstrated the effectiveness of Boer military tactics.

Boer successes in the early phase: The Boers invaded Natal and the Cape, besieging the towns of Mafeking, Kimberley, and Ladysmith. This siege strategy meant that the Boers surrounded these towns, hoping that the British residents would eventually surrender due to starvation.

British counter-attack: In February 1900, reinforcements arrived under Lord Roberts. A counter-offensive relieved the besieged towns:

• Roberts beat the Boers and took Bloemfontein in February
• Johannesburg fell in May
• Pretoria was captured in June

By September 1900, the ZAR was annexed by the British Empire. Kruger went to Switzerland - some sources say he went to seek help, while others claim he went into exile. Roberts left for Britain, leaving Lord Kitchener in charge to complete the peace arrangements.

The second phase: guerrilla warfare

The Boer generals Botha, Steyn, De la Rey, De Wet, and Cronje refused to accept defeat and wanted to fight 'tot die bitter einde' (to the bitter end). They had a strong nationalistic spirit that kept them going.

Boer tactics:

• They formed themselves into commandos and raided the British using hit-and-run tactics
• These tactics caused significant damage to British forces
• For two years, fewer than 60,000 Boers fought a guerrilla war against 200,000 British soldiers

The Boer commandos survived by staying on farms where they were supplied with fresh horses and food from sympathetic farmers.

The scorched earth policy

To defeat the Boer guerrilla fighters, Lord Kitchener implemented a harsh strategy designed to cut off their supplies and support.

More than 30,000 farmhouses were systematically burned down using this strategy, which became known as the scorched earth policy, in order to defeat the Boers.

British concentration camps

The concentration camps became one of the most controversial aspects of the war, with devastating consequences for both Boer and black families.

Terrible conditions in the camps:

• Tents on bare land that were extremely hot in summer and freezing in winter
• Severe overcrowding
• Unhygienic conditions
• Lack of food, medicines, clean water, beds, and blankets
• Diseases like pneumonia, measles, enteric fever, dysentery, and malaria caused most deaths

Long-term consequences: The British actions during this war created a passionate Afrikaner nationalism that made them determined to protect their own people at all costs. The bitterness against the British was passed down from generation to generation, helping to influence the referendum vote in 1960 that saw South Africa become a republic, free from British rule, in May 1961.

The role of women and blacks in the war

The war involved not just soldiers but also civilians who played crucial roles in various capacities, often under dangerous conditions.

Women's contributions:

• Emily Hobhouse was a wealthy British lady who came to South Africa during the war
• She was horrified at the conditions in the concentration camps
• She campaigned tirelessly and raised funds for better rations, sanitation, and facilities in the camps
• Because of her efforts, the death rate in the camps decreased
• She is remembered as a heroine and honoured by being buried at the Women's Monument in Bloemfontein
• Nurses from all over the world came to South Africa to help nurse both sides
• Lady Sarah Wilson was the first woman to be appointed as a war correspondent

Black participation: About 100,000 blacks supported the British, thinking that if they joined the British side, they would get the vote when the British won. They were very useful to the British forces (though blacks who worked for the Boers performed similar roles):

• They knew the territory well
• They acted as spies and messengers
• They performed essential jobs such as cooking, looking after animals, and doing other camp chores
• Mahatma Gandhi organised 1,000 Indian stretcher-bearers for the British

The end of the war: peace negotiations

The Boers eventually surrendered because their commandos were worn down and their losses were enormous.

The Peace Treaty of Vereeniging was signed on 31 May 1902, establishing a negotiated settlement:

What the Boers gained:

• Promise of self-government in the future (but blacks had no political rights)
• Protection of the Dutch language
• Return of Boer prisoners who had been sent to St Helena, Bermuda, and Sri Lanka, with their guns returned
• British promise to help rebuild houses and re-establish farms

What the British gained:

• The Boers had to become British subjects under the Union Jack flag and the monarch
• The two Boer Republics became British colonies

This treaty set the foundation for the eventual formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, though it excluded black South Africans from political rights.