Pretoria, October 1837
The shanty town of tents, wagons and lean-to buildings was growing daily. The Great Trek had inspired the people of the Cape like no movement before. But once the deed was done and the long drive was over the realities of the situation were clear to everyone.
Hard work – and lots of it - were to be reward for the Boers in the new land. The two republics, Oranje and the Transvaal were still struggling to set up any kind of central authority. For the most part a “central authority” was precisely what the majority of the people sought to avoid. However, there were a few visionaries amongst them who looked for more than scratching an existence from the soil. Men who had a dream. Men who could see a future where the limitless wealth of Africa could be harvested and used to fuel a vibrant new state based on the old values but incorporating the new ideas of industry and capital. One of those men was Luuk Visser.
At 20 Luuk was one of the youngest members of the Presidential Council. He’d grown up in the Cape after the war and had learnt much from the Uitlanders. He’d understood better than most the changes sweeping Europe as farms turned into factories and turnpikes into railways. But convincing the Council would be harder. As he strode towards the only two storey building in the “town” he knew that this Council meeting would be crucial for the future of the Transvaal.
“…………and I say that we stay true to our roots!” yelled Peter Smutts, leader of the Boeren party as he banged his fist on the table. “Solidarity with Oranje is non-negotiable. We must stick together against the Uitlanders. This defensive alliance is the bedrock on which we should build out future.”
“Ah, Luuk, thank you for getting here eventually” interrupted Jan Vermin, President elect of the Transvaal and leader of Luuk’s faction, the Voortrekkers. “Perhaps you could outline the ideas we discussed last night?”
“Thank you, Mr President” replied Luuk. He looked Smutts in the eye. “You are right, sir. Solidarity with Oranje is the basis for out state’s security. Already there are those in the Cape who argue that our nation is a mirage, an illusion. They argue that we are too weak, too divided to survive. And they are right!”
A murmur of dissent flew around the rough wooden table.
“I have a vision. A dream. A dream of the endless veldt. A dream of a free Boer nation united in exploiting the riches of Africa. Already there are reports of gold and diamonds in Rustenburg. With the wealth from these mines we can forge a strong nation state, not a farmer’s collective!” He stared at Smutts.
“But we cannot do this divided. Between Oranje and Transvaal the Uitlanders will drive a wedge and snap us up one state at a time. We must be united, truly united to meet the challenge ahead. So, when Oranje propose an alliance I saw NO. What I propose is a Union. A Union of the Boer states into the Union of the Transvaal.”
“But they will reject this!” exclaimed Smutts “What do you propose to do – shoot them?”
“We won’t need to. Already our militia is five or six times the size of theirs. In three months we could be in Bloemfontain. It will be bloodless and I believe the people will support us. We must unite and look north. Already Portugal and the English are expanding their colonies. We must focus on preventing them from encircling us. We must drive ever northward. Eventually we will break out into the virgin provinces of the interior. We will set the pace of development in Africa. One day, one glorious day I foresee a mighty Transvaal stretching from Cape to Cairo, bound into a strong nation, united by a railroad of shining steel stretching the length of the continent.”
“And the first step is the coal and iron of Oranje! Gentlemen, I give you a toast” He raised his glass of imported Genever.
“Gentlemen, I give the Union of the Transvaal – and a trans-African railroad. Hurrah!”
