| Country: | South African Republic |
| Type: | presidential |
| Previous Election: | 1893 Transvaal presidential election |
| Previous Year: | 1893 |
| Election Date: | 3 January–4 February 1898 |
| Image1: | Kruger c 1880.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Paul Kruger |
| Popular Vote1: | 12,858 |
| Percentage1: | 69.08% |
| Nominee2: | Schalk Willem Burger |
| Popular Vote2: | 3,753 |
| Percentage2: | 20.16% |
| Image3: | Pjjoubert.jpg |
| Nominee3: | Piet Joubert |
| Popular Vote3: | 2,001 |
| Percentage3: | 10.75% |
| President | |
| Before Election: | Paul Kruger |
| After Election: | Paul Kruger |
Presidential elections were held in the South African Republic between 3 January and 4 February 1898. The result was a victory for incumbent Paul Kruger.[1] [2]
The incumbent president Paul Kruger was involved in a constitutional battle with Chief Justice John Gilbert Kotzé. After trying to unsuccessfully remove Kotzé though legislation, he waited until after the election to dismiss him.
Kruger ran for re-election alongside two challengers.
A distinguished member of the Volksraad and commandant of the Lydenburg Commando, Schalk Willem Burger was popular with the British and the capitalists of Johannesburg.[3] This was due to the South African Industrial Report of 1897, produced by a committee under his leadership, which called for the lowering of tariffs, among other suggestions.[4] Despite the conclusions of the report, Burger was an ardent patriot; however, the conclusions of the report and support from anti-ZAR newspapers led some voters to distrust him.[3]
Vice-President and Commandant-General Piet Joubert had previously run against Kruger three times without success.[5] [1] He had narrowly lost against him in 1893, losing by around 900 votes, with allegations of electoral manipulation in favour of Kruger and reports of voter turnout being greater than 100%.[6]
Claims were made that former Cape Colony Prime Minister Cecil Rhodes colluded against Kruger during the election campaign.[7]
After his re-election Kruger removed Kotzé from office.[8]