SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC. Constitution and Government. THE South African Republic, also known as the Transvaal, was originally formed by part of the Boers, who left the Cape Colony in 1835 for Natal, but quitted that colony on its annexation to the British Crown. In 1852 the independence of the Transvaal was recognised by the British Government, and the constitution of the State is based on the Thirty-Three Articles,' passed May 23, 1849, and the 'Grondwet,' or Fundamental law of February 13, 1858. On April 12, 1877, the Transvaal was annexed by the British Government, against which in December 1880 the Boers took up arms, and a treaty of peace was signed March 21, 1881. According to the convention ratified by the Volksraad, October 26, 1881, self-government was restored to the Transvaal so far as regards internal affairs, the control and management of external affairs being reserved to Her Majesty as suzerain. A British resident was appointed, with functions analogous to those of a Consul-General and Chargé d'Affaires. Another convention with the Government of Great Britain was signed in London February 27, 1884, ratified by the Volksraad, August 8, by which the State is to be known as the South African Republic, and the British suzerainty restricted to control of foreign relations. Instead of a Resident the British Government is represented by a Diplomatic Agent. The Constitution has been frequently amended down to January 1897. The supreme legislative authority is vested in a Parliament of two Chambers, each of 27 members, chosen by the districts. Bills passed by the second Chamber do not become law until accepted by the first. Members of both Chambers must be 30 years of age, possess fixed property, profess the Protestant religion, and never have been convicted of any criminal offence. The members of the first Chamber are elected from and by the first-class burghers, those of the second Chamber from and by the first and second-class burghers conjointly, each for 4 years. First-class burghers comprise all male whites resident in the Republic before May 29, 1876, or who took an active part in the war of independence in 1881, the Malaboch war in 1894, the Jameson Raid in 1895-6, the expedition to Swaziland in 1894, and all the other tribal wars of the Republic, and the children of such persons from the age of 16. Second class burghers comprise the naturalized male alien population and their children from the age of 16. Naturalization may be obtained after two years' residence, and registration on the books of the Fieldcornet, oath of allegiance, and payment of 21. The Executive Council has also the right, in special instances, to invite persons to become naturalised on payment of 21. Naturalized burghers may by special resolution of the first Chamber, become first-class burghers 12 years after naturalization. Sons of aliens, though born in the Republic, have no political rights, but, by registration at the age of 16, may, at the age of 18, become naturalized burghers, and may, by special resolution of the first Chamber, be made first-class burghers 10 years after they are eligible for the second Chamber, or at the age of 40. The President and Commandant-General are elected by the firstclass burghers only; District-Commandants and Fieldcornets by the two classes of burghers conjointly. The Executive is vested in a President, elected for five years, assisted by a council consisting of four official members (the State Secretary, the Commandant-General, Sup. of Natives, and the Minute-keeper), and two non-official members. The State Secretary, Sup. of Natives, the Minute-keeper and Secretary, and the two non-official members, are elected by the first Volksraad. State President.-S. J. Paulus Kruger, elected for the fourth time February, 1898. Vice-President.-General P. J. Joubert, elected May 13, 1896. Executive Council.-Official members: P. J. Joubert, Com. -Gen. (Vice. President); F. W. Reitz, State Secretary; Com. P. A. Cronje, Sup. of Natives; J. H. M. Kock, Minute Keeper. Non-official: J. M. A. Wolmarans, S. W. Burger. Area and Population. The area of the Republic is 119,139 square miles, divided into 20 districts, and its white population, according to a very incomplete census of 1896, is 245,397, of whom 137,947 are men and 107,450 women; the native population in April, 1896, was estimated at 622,500. The State Almanack for 1898 gives the population as follows: whites, 345,397 (137,947 males and 107,450 females); natives, 748,759 (148,155 men, 183, 280 women, and 417,324 children); total population, 1,094,156. The boundaries of the State are defined in the convention of February 27, 1884-since altered by a supplementary convention, by which the former New Republic (Zululand) was annexed to the South African Republic as a new district, named Vrijheid, and by the terms of the Convention regarding Swaziland, ratified by the Volksraad, August 20, 1890, by which Swaziland comes under the administration of the Transvaal. The seat of government is Pretoria, with a white population of 10,000. The largest town is Johannesburg, the mining centre of Witwatersrand goldfields, with a population within a radius of 3 miles, according to census of July 15, 1896, of 102,078 (79,315 males and 22,763 females). The population consisted of 50,907 whites, 952 Malays, 4,807 coolies and Chinese, 42,533 Kaffirs, and 2,879 of mixed race. third of the population of the Republic are engaged in agriculture. Religion. One As no census has been taken the following figures must be considered approximate: The United Dutch Reformed Church is the State church, claiming 30,000 (1895) of the population; other Dutch Churches, 32,760; English Church, 30,000; Wesleyans, 10,000; Catholic, 5,000; Presbyterians, 8,000; other Christian Churches, 5,000; Jews, 10,000. Instruction. According to the report of the Superintendent of Education for the year 1897, the sum of 140,2867. was spent for the education of 11,552 pupils. In 1896 there were 34 village schools and 395 ward schools, besides a model school with 284, a gymnasium with 61, and a girls' school with 210 pupils at Pretoria. There are many schools in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and other places belonging to the English and other denominations not subsidised by Government. Finance. The following table shows the ordinary revenue and expenditure for the last 6 years, exclusive of advances made and refunded, and deposits made and withdrawn : £ £ £ £ £ £ Revenue 1,255,829 1,702,684 2,247,728 3,539,955 4,807,513 4,480,218 4,394,066 In 1897 the chief sources of revenue were: import duties, 1,276,3197. ; Netherlands railway, 737,3667.; prospecting licences, 427,230l. ; explosives, 300,000l.; stamps, 258,396l.; posts and telegraphs, 215, 3207. The chief branches of expenditure were public works, 1,012,8667.; salaries, 996,9607. ; war department, 396,3847.; purchase of explosives, 271,4357. Of the Mining Commissions department, Johannesburg, the receipts in 1897 amounted to 896,0447., and expenditure to 101,3697.; credit balance, 794,6757. The public debt on September 9, 1897, was 2,673,6907., including direct liabilities to the British Crown 146,6907., and Rothschild loan, 2,500,0007. The State lands were valued in 1884 at 400,000l., but may now be valued at some millions, as the goldfields at Barberton are on Government lands. The debt due to Great Britain bears interest at 3 per cent., and is to be extinguished by a sinking fund of 31. Os. 9d. per cent. in twenty-five years. Defence. The Republic has no standing army, with the exception of a small force of horse artillery of 32 officers, 79 non-commissioned officers, and 289 men, all able-bodied citizens being called out in case of war. There are 3 foot and 6 mounted volunteer corps, numbering about 2,000 men, subsidised by Government. The number of men liable to service in 1894 was 26,299. Production and Industry. The South African Republic is specially favourable for agriculture as well as stock-rearing, though its capacities in this respect are not yet developed. It is estimated that 50,000 acres are under cultivation. The agricultural produce, however, is not sufficient for the wants of the population. There are about 12,245 farms, of which 3,636 belong to Government, 1,612 to outside owners and companies, and the rest to resident owners and companies. Gold-mining is carried on to a great extent in the various goldfields, principally Barberton and Witwatersrand. The total value of gold production from the year 1884 has been :— The official returns date from the year 1891. Of the gold output in 1897, 3,034,678 oz. (10,583,6167.) were from Witwatersrand; 113,972 oz. (398,9027.) from De Kaap; 50,942 oz. (178,2967.) from Lydenburg; 84,781 oz. (296,7337.) from Klerksdorp; 223 oz. (7917.) from Zoutpansberg; 5,120 oz. (17,9227.) from Swaziland, &c.; total output of 1897, 3,289,720 oz. (11,476,2607.). In 1897, according to returns furnished by 72 companies, the number of whites employed at the mines was 8,060, the amount paid to them in wages being 2,521,6037. ; the number of natives employed, according to these returns, was 50,791, but the total number employed was estimated at about 70,000. Working for silver, lead, and copper has been suspended since 1894; tin is found in Swaziland. Coal of fair quality is found near Witwatersrand and other goldfields; the total output in 3 years has been: 1895, 1,133,466 tons; 1896, 1,437,297 tons; 1897, 1,600,212 tons (value 612,6687.). Commerce and Communications The principal exports are gold, wool, cattle, hides, grain, ostrich feathers, ivory, and minerals. The value of imports on which dues were charged amounted in 1894 to 6,440,2157.; in 1895 to 9,816,3047.; in 1896 to 14,088,1307.; in 1897, 13,563,8277. The import duties amounted in 1896 to 1,355,4867., and in 1897 to 1,289,0397. The total imports in 1897 have been estimated at 21,515,000l., of which 17,012,0007. were from Great Britain, 2,747,000l. from the United States, 1,054,2267. from Germany, and the remainder from Belgium, Holland and France. In the official returns for 1897 the largest imports were clothing, 1,254,0587.; machinery, 1,876,3917.; railway material, 869,4437.; iron wire, plates, &c., 864,1267. The various railway lines connect the Republic with the Orange Free State, Cape Colony, Natal, and Portuguese East Africa. The total mileage open in September, 1898, was 774, under construction 270, and projected 252. The Republic is in telegraphic communication with the surrounding States and Colonies as far north as Blantyre, near Lake Nyasa. The lines within the State extend over 2,000 miles. Weights and measures are the same as in Cape Colony, the currency is English money, and Government gold, silver, and bronze coin issued from a mint established in Pretoria. From 1892 to June 30, 1897, the nominal value of the coin issued from the mint was: gold, 1,342,4157.; silver, 288,6527.; bronze, 3891.; total, 1,631,4567. British Agent at Pretoria.-W. Conyngham Greene. Swaziland. The boundary between Swaziland and the South African Republic on the north, west, and south has been surveyed and beaconed off, but the whole of the Eastern boundary has not yet been beaconed off. The country has an area of about 8,500 square miles, with a population estimated at 40,000 to 60,000 natives and between 800 and 1,000 whites. During the winter months this number is increased by trekkers from the South African Republic. The language spoken is a dialect of Zulu, and the habits and customs are for the most part identical with those of Zululand. By the Convention of 1884, between the British Government and the Government of the South African Republic, the independence of the Swazis was recognised; by that of 1890, the government of the white population was vested in a 'Swaziland Government Committee'; and by that of December 10, 1894, ratified by the Volksraad February 14, 1895, Swaziland is (subject to certain conditions) under the protection and administration of the Republic. In terms of that Convention, the territory is not to be incorporated into the Transvaal, and the natives retain the right to govern themselves according to their own laws and customs in so far as they are not inconsistent with civilised laws and customs, and they retain their lands and grazing rights. The hut tax and other taxes imposed on Swazis in the Republic have been levied since August, 1898. British subjects retain all their rights and privileges, and settlers since April 20, 1893, may obtain all burgher rights. Equal rights of the Dutch and English languages in the Courts shall be maintained. The customs dues shall not be higher than those of the Republic, and the Government of the Republic agrees to prohibit the sale or supply of intoxicating liquor to the natives. A British consular officer shall be appointed. The Paramount Chief Ngwane (alias U'Hili, or U'Bunu), born 1877, succeeded his father in 1889. His native Council consists of about 44 members. The native army contains about 18,000 men. The administration is carried on by a special Commissioner, a judge and other officials appointed by the Government of the South African Republic. The mounted police numbered (in 1898) 300 men. The revenue, which by the taxation of the natives will now be largely increased, has hitherto been from 2,000l. to 3,0007., and a grant in aid by the South African Republic of from 45,000l. to 48,0007. has been required to meet expenditure. No customs duties are at present levied. Gold-mining is carried on. The work of the tin-mining company has been suspended. A coal-mining company has recently been floated, and there are indications that other mineral and agricultural concessions will shortly be worked. British Consul.-J. Smuts. Special Commissioner.-J. C. Krogh. Statistical and other Books of Reference. Convention between Her Majesty and the South African Republic. London, 1884. Correspondence respecting the Debt due to H.M.'s Government by the Transvaal State. London, 1882-83. 1884. Correspondence respecting the Affairs of the Transvaal and adjacent Territories. London, Further Correspondence respecting the Affairs of the Transvaal and adjacent Territories (C. 4,275, 4,432, 4,588). London, 1885. (C. 4,643) 1886. Correspondence relative to the South African Republic. London, 1896. Local Laws of the South African Republic for 1886-93. In 3 series. Pretoria, 1888-94. Reports of Select Committee of British House of Commons on British South Africa, with Evidence. London, 1897. Report of Select Committee of Cape of Good Hope House of Assembly on the Jameson Raid. London, 1897. Staats Almanak der Zuid Afrik. Republiek voor het jaar 1899. Pretoria, 1899. Ninth Annual Report of the Witwatersrand Chamber of Mines for the year ending December 31, 1897. Johannesburg, 1898. Noble (John), Illustrated Official Handbook of the Cape and South Africa. 8. Capetown and London, 1893. Rapport v. d. Staats Myn Ingenieur over het jaar 1897 (with an English translation). Pretoria, 1898. Alford (Charles J.), Geological Features of the Transvaal, South Africa. London, 1891. Argus Annual and South African Directory for 1897. Cape Town, 1896. Bigelow (P.), White Man's Africa. London, 1897. Brown (A. S. and G. G.), Guide to South Africa. 6th ed. London, 1898. Denny (G. A.), The Klerksdorp Gold Fields. London, 1897. Distant (W. L.), A Naturalist in the Transvaal. 8. London, 1892. Dove (Dr. Karl), Das Klima des aussertropischen Südafrika. Göttingen, 1888. |