Sandrivier Konvensie - Afrikanergeskiedenis

Uitgegee deur/Published by
DIE HISTORIESE GENOOTSKAP VAN SUID.AFRIKA
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRIGA
NR. 62 10c MEL/MAY 1972
S andr iu ier -K ona ensi,e
g e d,enkt eksn
Sand Ri,uer Conuention Monument

INHOUD/CONTENTS
Sandrivierkonvensie-monument
The Sand River Convention
Dr. T. A. du Plessis tree uit
Vyf Geskiedenisleerlinge kry geldprys
Die vyf matrikulante van die Vrystaatsehoiirskole
Name en foto's van 10 leerlinge
Tiener-Ateljee . . . foto van wenners van oi.
stryd
My Suiderland, operette, foto's ......
Jakarandabome
SANDRIVIERKONVENSIE.MONUMENT
.7
,
3
5D
,aoi1;;d;.iji;
Die reisiger wat die krag van sy vuurwa langs die gedenktekentjie
op die koppietjie langs die hoofweg aan die noordelike
oewer van Sandrivier afskakel, sal nie alleen 'n eienaardige bouwerk
en 'n panoramiese landskap in die omgewing van die rivierdrif
sien nie, maar hy sal by 'n tasbare mylpaal op die Pad van Suid-
Afrika staan, wat in sy betekenis en gekristalliseerde simboliek van
vryheidstrewe, opoffering, lyding, smart, helde-heldinne- en kinderdade
moontlik groter is as die grootste monument in ons Republiek.
Op hierdie plekkie op die plaas van P. A. Venter het gerieraal
Andries Pretorius en vyftien Transvaalse afgevaardigdes die Britse
verteenwoordigers, Hogge en Owen, ontmoet en die samesprekings
het daarop uitgeloop dat op 17 Januarie 1852 die betekenisvolle
Konuensie uan Sandriuier ondprteken i,s, waardeur Groot Brittanie
die ormf hanklikheid u an T r ansu aal, erken het.
'n Onafhanklike vrye staat en 'n eie veilige woonplek was die
doelwit waarvoor duisende vaders, moeders en kinders in die dertiger
jare van die vorige eeu huis en haard, vriende en familiebetrekkinge,
besittings en kerkhofankers vaarwel ges6 het, en met
hulle vernaamste besittinkies op die tingerige Voortrekkerwaentjies
na die vreemde en onbekende w6reld noord van die Oranje- en
Vaalriviere en oor die Wolk- en Drakensberge getrek het.
Vryheid en 'n vaderland vir hulle kinders het Hans van Rensburg
en sy vyftigtal siele verder as die Soutpansberg laat trek waar
swait gedaantes hulle koppe met knopkieries veertig myl, noord van
die sameloop van die Olifants- en Limpoporiviere platgeslaan h,et.--
Dieselfde vryheidsgees het Louis Trichardt en sy mense hulle
waens weer laat oppak waar hulle 'n jaar aan die voet van Soutpans'
berg vertoef het, om langs onbekende vanggatweij en oor ho6 be_rge
en iotse waar die ribbok en die klopspringerbokkies beswaarlik kon
speel, hulle gesinne en duisende stuks vee te laat neerd-aal op pad
na Lourenco Marques waar hulle 'n hawe en rus kon vind, maar die
prooi geword hef van en vernietig is deur die tsetsevlieg en die
rnalaria-muskiet. Hulle het verdwyn.
20

Piet Retief, Piet Uys, Gerrit Maritz, Hendrik Potgieter en duisende
ander Voortrekkers kon die vryheidsdrang in hulle siele nie
doodsmoor nie, maar het die roepstem gevolg om oor die Drakensberg
na Natal te trek waar honderde van hulle by Ungungundlovu
Italeni, Bloukrans en soveel ander plekke die marteldood gesterf
het.
Die vryheidsvisioen het die moeders in Pietermaritzburg aan
die Britse afgesant onomwonde laat verklaar dat hulle eerder kaalvoet
oor die Drakensberge sou terugstap as om onder die vreemde
regering te buk. Toe die Boererepubliek Natalia in 1842 tot niet gegaan
het, het talle Trekkers na die Vrystaat en die Overvaal uit die
Tuinkolonie padgegee en getrek.
Vier jaar voor die onafhanklikheidsverklaring by Sandrivier
het generaal Andries Pretorius met 'n kommando uit Transvaa
gekom om die Vrystaters te help en daar het 'n hewige geveg in
1848 by Boomplaas plaasgevind waar die Voortrekkermense die wyk
moes neem. Sir Harry Smith het die Britse gesag noord van die
Oranjerivier weer herstel.
Kort daarna het die Basoetoe-opperhoof, Mosjesj, weer moeilikheid
begin gee en hy het selfs met generaal Andries Pretorius in
verbinding getree om hulp teen die Britse beheer te verkry.
Sir Harry Smith en die Britse regering wou verdere botsings
en onkoste vermy. So het Transvaal in 1852 vry en onafhanklik geword.
Die Bloemfonteinse Konvensie van 1854 het ook vryheid en
onafhanklikheid aan die Oranje Vrystaat besorg. Die Voortrekkerideale
het gesetjvier.
Wonderlik hoe groot volksideale soms sonder bloedvergieting
so maklik bo verwagting werklikheid word.
Die mens wik maar God beskik.
Oorgeneem utt Die Mglpaal..
THE SAND RIVER CONVENTION
Sir Harry Smith's annexation of the
land between the Vaal and Orange
Rivers caused great dissatisfaction
among the inhabitants of the territory,
particularly the emigrant farmers
and consequently led to the signing of
the Sand River Convention four years
later.
Andries Pretorius, who was much
opposed to the annexation, together
with a commando of one thousand men
marched to the Orange River to protest.
When Sir Harry heard of this he
took command of eight hundred men HiLLarg Potts, Randfontei,n
including the late garrison of Bioem- Hi.gh School.

fontein and four fresh companies of the Cape, and advanced to the
Orange River.
Before his troops crossed the river the emigrant commando fell
back towards Bloemfontein. A rumour had reached the farmers that
another army was coming up from Natal to place them between two
fires. On the 27th Auglst, 1848, Sir Harry's troops marched from
the Orange River towards Bloemfontein. On the evening of the 28th
scouts were sent out. They examined the land as far as Boomplaats
without meeting anyone.
On the 29th August the column moved forward. The features
of the country had now changed and the road passed through a
number of hills arranged in a horseshoe. Unknown to Sir Harry the
burgher commando was hidden in the hills ready for attack. Unfortunately
for Pretorius, one of his men became nervous and fired a
shot too soon thus warning the column of the burghers' presence.
The battle of Boomplaats in which twenty two of Sir Harry's men
died, was the result.
This led to the dismissal of Sir Harry Smith as it was clear
evidence that the majority of the people were against the annexation.
It also cost the British Government a large sum of money and
was one of the main factors which led to the Convention.
The annexation also caused much dissatisfaction among the
Basuto. The Warden line of 1849 reduced their land causing complaining,
plundering and stealing. Major Warden, the British Resident
in Bloemfontein, did nothing to help matters, but on the contrary
worsened relations by interfering in tribal feuds.
Moshesh had one aim in mind now - revenge. He sent groups
of Basuto with orders to plunder the loyal trekboers' property only.
The result was that when Warden requested a commando in 1,851",
very few people volunteered. It was no wonder therefore that the
British were defeated at Viervoet.
The canny Moshesh also realised that relations between the
British and the emigrant farmers were tense. He sent Adriaan van
der Kolf, a notorius rascal, to Pretorius with a request for help. On
top of this, Moshesh stirred up trouble among the Zulu in Natal thus
diverting British attention from the Sovereignty.
The Zulu became restless and sent messengers to Pretorius with
a request for help. In return the Zulus would help him drive the
British out of Natal. On August the 25th Pretorius also held a meeting
with those Voortrekkers who had been cut off from the Transvaal.
They promised to help him regain the Sovereignty.
Pretorius now found himself in a favourable position to act
against the British. However, he was a good diplomat and acted
carefully. He requested permission to send delegates for the purpose
of making friendly proposals to the Government. It was agreed that
a meeting would be held on a place nearer to the Vaal than Bloemfontein.
The choice fell upon the farm of Piet Venter, six miles east
of the Sand River

on January- the 15th and 16th, Boers began arriving from all
directions. on the following day_the British iommissionErs, Majoi
Soggu an4 9, M.-owen arrived. The convention was signed irn tittr
January, 1852. The following were the terms:
(1) Tle British Government guaranteed full independence to the
"Emigrant Farmers north of the Vaal,'.
(2) rf any misunderstanding arose about the word "Vaal River"
commissions from both sides would setile the matter.
(3) Britain renounces all alliances with Bantu tribes.
(a) No slavery will be practised by the Boers.
(5) Freedom of movement will be granted to traveilers on either
side of the Vaal River.
(6)
Ihg.pnlg.runt Boers could purchase ammunition from any
British Colony.
(7) Criminals would be mutually punished.
(8) Marriage certificates would be legally valid in British colonies.
(9) Anyone owning land in either the British territory or the Transvaal
had the right to sell it unhindered and go ind rive where
he chose.
The Sand River convention was of great importance as it meant
that the voortrekkers had achieved the aim oi the Great rrek -
they had gained independence. The hostility between Briton and
Boer was ended and replaced by co-operation against the Bantu
menace. The convention was the foundation for the establishment
of the south African Republic and was to have important bearings
on the events of later years.
Hillary Potts, Randfontein High
DR. T. A. DU PLESSiS
TREE UIT
. Pt. afgelope-tien jagf het dr. T. A. du Plessis gehelp met die
redaksionele werk van Historia Junior. Hy was h6ofsaaklik verantwoordelik
vir die nasien van die leesmateriaal, die kontrole van
die drukp{ogwe en die rangskikking van die bladsyproewe.
, sy redaksionele hqlp het nou die eindpunt bereik want hy tree
uit as redaksielid van Historia Junior.
- Hy het- fsig waardevolle hulp gelewer aangesien hy in Johannesburg
naby die drukkery gewoon en gewerk het.
Dr. en mevrou Du Plessis word baie hartlik bedank vir die hulp
en werk in verband met hierdie geskiedenistydskriffie.
- v_o_ordat hy pensionaris geword het, was hy hoof van die Ho6rskool
vorentoe in B.ossmore, Jo-hannesburg. Daarna was hy tydelik
verbonde aan die Goudstadse onderwyskollege. op die odmbtik is
hy lid van die Johannesburgse Huurraad
In Historia Junior, Nr. 42, verskyn daar op bladsy 20 ,n foto
van dr. Du Plessis.
ons beste wense vergesel dr. en mev. Du plessis, huile kinders
en kleinkinders op hulle verdere loopbaan.