Volksraad
Encyclopedia
The Volksraad was the parliament
of the former South African Republic
(ZAR), which existed from 1857 to 1902 in part of what is now the South Africa
. The body ceased to exist after the British
victory in the Second Anglo-Boer War. The Volksraad sat in session in Ou Raadsaal
in Church Square, Pretoria
. It was a unicameral body with 24 members.
The Volksraad was divided into two chambers in 1890 in order to keep Boer control over state matters while still giving "foreigners"—many of whom were temporarily employed in the mining
industry—a say in local affairs. This was done in order to fend off British complaints. This bicameral legislature consisted of a "Second Volksraad", with suffrage for all white males above 16 years, as well as a "First Volksraad" (which was the highest authority in charge of state policy), with suffrage limited to persons above 30 with permanent property and a longer history of settlement.
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
of the former South African Republic
South African Republic
The South African Republic , often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Not to be confused with the present-day Republic of South Africa, it occupied the area later known as the South African...
(ZAR), which existed from 1857 to 1902 in part of what is now the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The body ceased to exist after the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
victory in the Second Anglo-Boer War. The Volksraad sat in session in Ou Raadsaal
Ou Raadsaal
Ou Raadsaal was the Parliament Building of the Transvaal Republic Government in Pretoria, South Africa. The Volksraad sat session in this building at the end of the 19th century when Paul Kruger was the last President of the old Boer Republic...
in Church Square, Pretoria
Church Square, Pretoria
Church Square or Kerkplein , is the historic centre of the city of Pretoria, South Africa.Its most prominent feature is the statue of the Boer leader and president of the South African Republic Paul Kruger at its centre...
. It was a unicameral body with 24 members.
The Volksraad was divided into two chambers in 1890 in order to keep Boer control over state matters while still giving "foreigners"—many of whom were temporarily employed in the mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
industry—a say in local affairs. This was done in order to fend off British complaints. This bicameral legislature consisted of a "Second Volksraad", with suffrage for all white males above 16 years, as well as a "First Volksraad" (which was the highest authority in charge of state policy), with suffrage limited to persons above 30 with permanent property and a longer history of settlement.