Volksraad (South African Republic)

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Volksraad van die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek
Coat of arms of the South African Republic.svg
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 Plenarsaal.jpg
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]

Contents

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 South Africa Pretoria Old Raadsaal.jpg
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).

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).

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References

  1. 1 2 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. 1 2 McCall Theal, George (1908). History of South Africa since September 1795 (PDF). SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO.PD-icon.svg 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "South African Republic: Chairmen of the Volksraad: 1845-1849 - Archontology.org". www.archontology.org.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 "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. 1 2 "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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