The "young Afrikanders": Jan Smuts and Piet Grobler during the months of storm and stress (January to October 1899)

Abstract

In 1893 the First Volksraad of the Transvaal Republic (ZAR) decided that wherever possible, "zonen des lands" (sons of the soil) should receive preferential
treatment as far as appointments in die civil service were concerned. At that time most government positions were in the hands of Dutch officials and the Afrikaner population felt marginalised. Attempts would have to be made in future to appoint young Afrikaners even if it meant that more capable Dutch officials had to be overlooked.