The Treaty of Vereeniging brought a formal conclusion to the Anglo-Boer War, and signalled the beginning of the total disenfranchisement of all African, Indian and Coloured South Africans.
The Treaty signalled the closing of one chapter in South African history and the opening of another. This new chapter however, was one that all non-European South Africans wished would have stayed closed.
On May 15th thirty representatives from each Republic met and a decision was reached to elect a committee to negotiate with the British. Respected Boer Generals, Botha, Smuts, De La Rey, Hertzog and De Wet were the members of the committee chosen to go to Pretoria to meet Milner and Kitchener. For nine days they argued for the return of their independence, however when it became clear that this would not be granted they capitulated.
On May 29th they reported back to the waiting delegates at Vereeniging with the British terms and after two days of spirited debate, the delegates voted in favour of accepting the terms. The five Generals then returned to Pretoria, where the peace Treaty was signed on May 31, 1902. The Afrikaners accepted that the old Republics would become British colonies, but would eventually gain responsible self-government. The treaty also made provision for, the freeing and repatriation of Boer prisoners, the use of the Dutch language in schools and the courts, even though English would be the official language. Britain also agreed to pay 3 million pounds to assist in restoration work.
The most critical and controversial issue of the treaty however, was the question of the native franchise. In the negotiations the British agreed to a rewording of the treaty and the word ‘franchise’ was changed into ‘the question of granting the franchise’.
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