Annexation of Bantu Land

• How were black Africans treated by the Boers after they gained independence?


  Laws were implemented to limit rights of black Africans - mainly due to requests from the Boers. Black Africans were put into low paid jobs and were forced to live in segregated neighbourhoods and lost their cultural and political autonomy.
• Boer Independence of 1880


  After the Boers no longer needed British aid they again resumed demands of an independent Boer state. They defeated British troops at Majuba Hill in the year 1881. The Boers were angered by the abolition of slavery in 1833. Little thought was given to local Bantu tribes and their land became playground for European ambition. The discovery of diamonds and gold increased the wealth of the region, however, profit remained in the hands of the settlers and chartered companies.
• In 1879 what happened with the Anglo-Zulu War?


  The Boers reluctantly accept British aid and Frere invaded Zululand in order to obtain territory in South Africa and use the inhabitants to mine. British defeat the Zulus and annex Zulu territory after winning the Anglo-Zulu War.
• 1877 - 1878


  Between 1877 and 1878 Britain fought the Xhosa war against the Xhosa ( a Bantu ethnic group) in order to obtain their land. In 1877, the Transvaal which was an autonomous Boer community was coming under threat from the local Zulu and Pedi tribes. The state was on the verge of bankruptcy and Britain took advantage of its military and financial weakness, annexing the Transvaal.
• Boers rejecting the British


  In 1875, Britain proposed a federation of British and Boer territories and the Boers rejected this.
• 1871


  In 1871, Cecil Rhodes moved to Kimberley and by 1890 he had purchased every diamond mining company in Kimberley. He would later go on to form the British South Africa Company.
• 1867-69


  In 1867 diamonds (near Kimberley) in West Griqualand were discovered on the Orange River - this triggered a diamond rush. In 1868, the British annexed Bantu land and claimed them to be part of the Cape Colony. In 1869, British had a territorial dispute with Orange Free State which housed the Boer republic.