Volksraad (South African Republic) Explained

Volksraad van die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek
Coa Pic:Coat of arms of the South African Republic.svg
Coa Res:150px
Coa Caption:Coat of arms of the South African Republic
House Type:Unicameral 1840–1890
Bicameral 1890–1902
Houses:1890–1902:

First Volksraad

Second Volksraad

Established:1840
Disbanded:31 May 1902
Members:48 (24 First, 24 Second)
Session Room:Ou Raadsaal Plenarsaal.jpg
Session Res:220px
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 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.[3]

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. It eventually passed the Thirty-three Articles, the precursor to the 1858 constitution (Grondwet), in 1849. In 1858 the Grondwet permanently established the Volksraad as the supreme authority of the nation. [4]

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.[5]

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.

Bicameral body

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.[6]

From 1890 the Volksraad consisted of two houses of 24 members each. 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".[7] This was the highest authority in charge of state policy, with preference being given to fully franchised burghers for appointment to government posts.[8]

The members of the First Volkraad were elected for four years.[9] First Volksraad members had to be born in the state.

The Second Volksraad, of the Uitlanders, was allegedly without power.[10]

Chairmen of the Volksraad 1844–1890

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

Chairmen of the First Volksraad 1890–1902

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

Chairmen of the Second Volksraad 1890–1902

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

Notes and References

  1. Book: Pratt . Edwin . Leading points in South African history 1486 to March 30, 1900 arranged chronologically, with date index . 1900 . John Murray, Albemarle Street, London . 31 . 19 February 2021.
  2. Book: Eybers . G. W. . Select constitutional documents illustrating South African history, 1795-1910 . 1918 . George Routledge & Sons, Limited New York; E. P. Button & Co. . 448-454 . 16 February 2021.
  3. https://books.google.com/books?id=X21BAQAAIAAJ&q=%22raadsaal%22 Transvaal: The Golden Province
  4. Book: Papengus . F. H. . The constitution ("grondwet") of the South African Republic . 1889 . London, H. MacLeay . 7–12 . 19 February 2021.
  5. Book: McCall Theal . George . History of South Africa since September 1795 . SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. . 1908.
  6. https://books.google.com/books?id=blgjhkGD0vgC&dq=%22zar%22+%22second+volksraad%22&pg=PA238 The Afrikaners: Biography of a People
  7. https://books.google.com/books?id=igkwAQAAIAAJ&q=%22zar%22+%22second+volksraad%22 The Anglo-Boer War: a Chronology
  8. https://books.google.com/books?id=ph8OAAAAYAAJ&q=%22zar%22+%22first+volksraad%22+%22burghers%22 Judge and be Judged
  9. Web site: Martin . Frederick . Keltie . Sir John Scott . Renwick . Isaac Parker Anderson . Epstein . Mortimer . Steinberg . Sigfrid Henry . The Statesman's Year-book . Palgrave . en . 1894.
  10. Web site: An Almanack for the Year of Our Lord 1897 . Joseph Whitaker . en . 1848.
  11. Web site: South African Republic: Chairman of the Volksraad: 1844 - Archontology.org . www.archontology.org.
  12. Web site: South African Republic: Chairmen of the Volksraad: 1845-1849 - Archontology.org . www.archontology.org.
  13. Web site: South African Republic: Chairmen of the Volksraad: 1849-1857 - Archontology.org . www.archontology.org.
  14. Web site: Muller . Hendrik Pieter Nicolaas . Oude tijden in den Oranje-Vrijstaat . Brill Archive . nl . 1907.
  15. Web site: Republic . South African . Jorissen . Eduard Johan Pieter . Codex van de locale wetten der Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek . Van Der Kamp . nl . 1894.
  16. Web site: Andrews . Thomas Edmund . Ploeger . Jan . Straat- en Plekname Van Ou-Pretoria . J.L. van Schaik . af . 1989.
  17. Web site: Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa . NASOU . en . 1970.
  18. Web site: Dictionary of South African biography . [Pretoria] : Nasional Boekhandel Bpk. for National Council for Social Research, Dept. of Higher Education . 1968.
  19. Web site: Gothaischer Hof Kalender zum Nutzen und Vergnügen . J. Perthes . de.
  20. Web site: Whitaker . Joseph . An Almanack for the Year of Our Lord ... . J. Whitaker . en.
  21. Web site: Almanach de Gotha: annuaire généalogique, diplomatique et statistique . J. Perthes . fr.
  22. Web site: Almanach de Gotha: annuaire généalogique, diplomatique et statistique . J. Perthes . fr.
  23. Web site: The Argus Annual and South African Directory . Argus Print. and Publishing Company . en . 1896.
  24. Web site: Whitaker . Joseph . 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. . en . 1891.
  25. Web site: Prins . Antony Winkler . Winkler Prins' Geïllustreerde encyclopaedie . Uitgevers-maatschappy "Elsevier" . nl . 1906.
  26. Web site: Transvaal (South Africa) . Locale wetten der Z.A. Republiek . nl . 1897.
  27. Web site: Phillips . Lionel . Fraser . Maryna . Jeeves . Alan . All that Glittered: Selected Correspondence of Lionel Phillips, 1890-1924 . Oxford University Press . en . 1977.
  28. Web site: THE TRANSVAAL. . Brisbane Courier . 4 October 1899.
  29. Web site: 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 . nl.
  30. Web site: Gothaischer Hof Kalender zum Nutzen und Vergnügen . J. Perthes . de . 1892.
  31. Web site: The Argus Annual and South African Directory . Argus Print. and Publishing Company . en . 1894.
  32. Web site: Whitaker . Joseph . An Almanack for the Year of Our Lord ... . J. Whitaker . en . 1898.

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