A CONVENTION BETWEEN HER MAJESTY THE
QUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND AND THE SOUTH
AFRICAN REPUBLIC.
February, 1884.
Whereas the Government of the Transvaal State, through its Delegates,
consisting of Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, President of the said State,
Stephanus Jacobus Du Toit, Superintendent of Education, and Nicholas Jacobus
Smit, a member of the Volksraad, have represented that the Convention signed
at Pretoria on the 3rd day of August, 1881, and ratified by the Volksraad of
the said State on the 25th October, 1881, contains certain provisions which
are inconvenient, and imposes burdens and obligations from which the said
State is desirous to be relieved, and that the south-western boundaries
fixed by the said Convention should be amended, with a view to promote the
peace and good order of the said State, and of the countries adjacent
thereto; and whereas Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, has been pleased to take the said representations into
consideration: Now, therefore, Her Majesty has been pleased to direct, and
it is hereby declared, that the following articles of a new Convention,
signed on behalf of Her Majesty by Her Majesty's High Commissioner in South
Africa, the Right Honourable Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, Knight
Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George,
Governor of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, and on behalf of the
Transvaal State (which shall hereinafter be called the South African
Republic) by the above-named Delegates, Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger,
Stephanus Jacobus Du Toit, and Nicholas Jacobus Smit, shall, when ratified
by the Volksraad of the South African Republic, be substituted for the
articles embodied in the Convention of 3rd August, 1881; which latter,
pending such ratification, shall continue in full force and effect.
ARTICLES.
ARTICLE I.
The Territory of the South African Republic will embrace the land lying
between the following boundaries, to wit:
Beginning from the point where the north-eastern boundary line of
Griqualand West meets the Vaal River, up the course of the Vaal River
to the point of junction with it of the Klip River;
thence up the course of the Klip River to the point of junction with it of
the stream called Gansvlei; thence up the Gansvlei stream to its source in
the Drakensberg; thence to a beacon in the boundary of Natal, situated
immediately opposite and close to the source of the Gansvlei stream; thence
in a north-easterly direction along the ridge of the Drakensberg, dividing
the waters flowing into the Gansvlei stream from the waters flowing into the
sources of the Buffalo, to a beacon on a point where this mountain ceases to
be a continuous chain; thence to a beacon on a plain to the north-east of
the last described beacon; thence to the nearest source of a small stream
called 'Division Stream'; thence down this division stream, which forms the
southern boundary of the farm Sandfontein, the property of Messrs. Meek, to
its junction with the Coldstream; thence down the Coldstream to its junction
with the Buffalo or Umzinyati River; thence down the course of the Buffalo
River to the junction with it of the Blood River; thence up the course of
the Blood River to the junction with it of Lyn Spruit or Dudusi; thence up
the Dudusi to its source; thence 80 yards to Bea. I., situated on a spur of
the N'Qaba-Ka-hawana Mountains; thence 80 yards to the N'Sonto River; thence
down the N'Sonto River to its junction with the White Umvulozi River; thence
up the White Umvulozi River to a white rock where it rises; thence 800 yards
to Kambula Hill (Bea. II.); thence to the source of the Pemvana River, where
the road from Kambula Camp to Burgers' Lager crosses; thence down the
Pemvana River to its junction with the Bivana River; thence down the Bivana
River to its junction with the Pongolo River; thence down the Pongolo River
to where it passes through the Libombo Range; thence along the summits of
the Libombo Range to the northern point of the N'Yawos Hill in that range
(Bea. XVI); thence to the northern peak of the Inkwakweni Hills (Bea. XV.);
thence to Sefunda, a rocky knoll detached from and to the north-east end of
the White Koppies, and to the south of the Musana River (Bea. XIX.); thence
to a point on the slope near the crest of Matanjeni, which is the name given
to the south-eastern portion of the Mahamba Hills (Bea. XIII.); thence to
the N'gwangwana, a double-pointed hill (one point is bare, the other wooded,
the beacon being on the former) on the left bank of the Assegai River and
upstream of the Dadusa Spruit (Bea. XII.); thence to the southern point of
Bendita, a rocky knoll in a plain between the Little Hlozane and Assegai
Rivers (Bea. XI.); thence to the highest point of Suluka Hill, round the
eastern slopes of which flows the Little Hlozane, also called Ludaka or
Mudspruit (Bea. X.); thence to the beacon known as 'Viljoen's,' or N'Duko
Hill; thence to a point north-east of Derby House, known as Magwazidili's
Beacon; thence to the Igaba, a small knoll on the Ungwempisi River, also
called 'Joubert's Beacon,' and known to the natives as 'Piet's Beacon' (Bea.
IX.); thence to the highest point of the N'Dhlovudwalili or Houtbosch, a
hill on the northern bank of the Umqwempisi River (Bea. VIII.); thence to a
beacon on the only flat-topped rock, about 10 feet high and about 30 yards
in circumference at its base, situated on the south side of the Lamsamane
range of hills, and overlooking the valley of the great Usuto River; this
rock being 45 yards north of the road from Camden and Lake Banagher to the
forests on the Usuto River (sometimes called Sandhlanas Beacon) (Bea. VII.);
thence to the Gulungwana or Ibubulundi, four smooth bare hills, the highest
in that neighbourhood, situated to the south of the Umtuli River (Bea. VI.),
thence to a flat-topped rock, 8 feet high, on the crest of the Busuku, a low
rocky range south-west of the Impulazi River (Bea. V.);
thence to a low bare hill on the north-east of, and overlooking the Impulazi
River, to the south of it being a tributary of the Impulazi, with a
considerable waterfall, and the road from the river passing 200 yards to the
north-west of the beacon (Bea. IV.); thence to the highest point of the
Mapumula range, the water-shed of the Little Usuto River on the north, and
the Umpulazi River on the south, the hill, the top of which is a bare rock,
falling abruptly towards the Little Usuto (Bea. III.); thence to the western
point of a double-pointed rocky hill, precipitous on all sides, called
Makwana, its top being a bare rock (Bea. II.); thence to the top of a rugged
hill of considerable height falling abruptly to the Komati River, this hill
being the northern extremity of the Isilotwani range, and separated from the
highest peak of the range Inkomokazi (a sharp cone) by a deep neck (Bea.
I.). (On a ridge in the straight line between Beacons I. and II. is an
intermediate beacon.) From Beacon I. the boundary runs to a hill across the
Komati River, and thence along the crest of the range of hills known as the
Makongwa, which runs north-east and south-west, to Kamhlubana Peak; thence
in a straight line to Mananga, a point in the Libombo range, and thence to
the nearest point in the Portuguese frontier on the Libombo range; thence
along the summits of the Libombo range to the middle of the poort where the
Komati River passes through it, called the lowest Komati Poort; thence in a
north by easterly direction to Pokioens Kop, situated on the north side of
the Olifant's River, where it passes through the ridges; thence about
north-north-west to the nearest point of Serra di Chicundo; and thence to
the junction of the Pafori River with the Limpopo or Crocodile River; thence
up the course of the Limpopo River to the point where the Marique River
falls into it. Thence up the course of the Marique River to 'Derde Poort,'
where it passes through a low range of hills, called Sikwane, a beacon (No.
10) being erected on the spur of said range near to, and westward of, the
banks of the river; thence, in a straight line, through this beacon to a
beacon (No. 9), erected on the top of the same range, about 1,700 yards
distant from beacon No. 10; thence, in a straight line, to a beacon (No. 8)
erected on the highest point of an isolated hill, called Dikgagong, or
'Wildebeest Kop,' situated south-eastward of, and about 3-1/3 miles distant
from a high hill, called Moripe; thence, in a straight line, to a beacon
(No. 7) erected on the summit of an isolated hill or 'koppie' forming the
eastern extremity of the range of hills called Moshweu, situated to the
northward of, and about two miles distant from, a large isolated hill called
Chukudu-Chochwa; thence, in a straight line, to a beacon (No. 6) erected on
the summit of a hill forming part of the same range, Moshweu; thence, in a
straight line, to a beacon (No. 5) erected on the summit of a pointed hill
in the same range; thence, in a straight line, to a beacon (No. 4) erected
on the summit of the western extremity of the same range; thence, in a
straight line, to a beacon (No. 3) erected on the summit of the northern
extremity of a low, bushy hill, or 'koppie,' near to and eastward of the
Notwane River; thence, in a straight line, to the junction of the stream
called Metsi-Mashware with the Notwane River (No. 2); thence up the course
of the Notwane River to Sengoma, being the poort where the river passes
through the Dwarsberg range; thence, as described in the Award given by
Lieutenant-Governor Keate, dated October 17, 1871, by Pitlanganyane (narrow
place), Deboaganka or Schaapkuil, Sibatoul (bare place), and Maclase, to
Ramatlabama, a pool on a spruit north of the Molopo River. From Ramatlabama
the boundary shall run to the summit of an isolated hill called Leganka;
thence, in a straight line, passing north-east of a
Native Station, near 'Buurman's Drift,' on the Molopo River, to that point
on the road from Mosiega to the old drift, where a road turns out through
the Native Station to the new drift below; thence to 'Buurman's Old Drift';
thence, in a straight line, to a marked and isolated clump of trees near to
and north-west of the dwelling-house of C. Austin, a tenant on the farm 'Vleifontein,'
No. 117; thence, in a straight line, to the north-western corner beacon of
the farm 'Mooimeisjesfontein,' No 30; thence, along the western line of the
said farm 'Mooimeisjesfontein,' and in prolongation thereof, as far as the
road leading from 'Ludik's Drift,' on the Molopo River, past the homestead
of 'Mooimeisjesfontein,' towards the Salt Pans near Harts River; thence,
along the said road, crossing the direct road from Polfontein to Sehuba, and
until the direct road from Polfontein to Lotlakane or Pietfontein is
reached; thence, along the southern edge of the last-named road towards
Lotlakane, until the first garden ground of that station is reached; thence,
in a south-westerly direction, skirting Lotlakane, so as to leave it and all
its garden ground in native territory, until the road from Lotlakane to
Kunana is reached; thence along the east side, and clear of that road
towards Kunana, until the garden grounds of that station are reached;
thence, skirting Kunana, so as to include it and all its garden ground, but
no more, in the Transvaal, until the road from Kunana to Mamusa is reached;
thence, along the eastern side and clear of the road towards Mamusa, until a
road turns out towards Taungs; thence, along the eastern side and clear of
the road towards Taungs, till the line of the district known as 'Stellaland'
is reached, about 11 miles from Taungs; thence, along the line of the
district Stellaland, to the Harts River, about 24 miles below Mamusa;
thence, across Harts River, to the junction of the roads from Monthe and
Phokwane; thence, along the western side and clear of the nearest road
towards 'Koppie Enkel,' an isolated hill about 36 miles from Mamusa, and
about 18 miles north of Christiana, and to the summit of the said hill;
thence, in a straight line, to that point on the north-east boundary of
Griqualand West as beaconed by Mr. Surveyor Ford, where two farms,
registered as Nos. 72 and 75, do meet, about midway between the Vaal and
Harts Rivers, measured along the said boundary of Griqualand West; thence to
the first point where the north-east boundary of Griqualand West meets the
Vaal River.
ARTICLE II.
The Government of the South African Republic will strictly adhere to the
boundaries defined in the first Article of this Convention, and will do its
utmost to prevent any of its inhabitants from making any encroachments upon
lands beyond the said boundaries. The Government of the South African
Republic will appoint Commissioners upon the eastern and western borders,
whose duty it will be strictly to guard against irregularities and all
trespassing over the boundaries. Her Majesty's Government will if necessary
appoint Commissioners in the native territories outside the eastern and
western borders of the South African Republic to maintain order and prevent
encroachments.
Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the South African Republic
will each appoint a person to proceed together to beacon off the amended
south-west boundary as described in Article I of this Convention; and the
President of the Orange Free State shall be requested to appoint a referee
to whom the said persons shall refer any questions on which they may
disagree respecting the interpretation of the said
Article, and the decision of such referee thereon shall be final. The
arrangement already made, under the terms of Article 19 of the Convention of
Pretoria, of the 3rd August, 1881, between the owners of the farms
Grootfontein and Valleifontein on the one hand, and the Barolong authorities
on the other, by which a fair share of the water supply of the said farms
shall be allowed to flow undisturbed to the said Barolongs, shall continue
in force.
ARTICLE III.
If a British officer is appointed to reside at Pretoria or elsewhere
within the South African Republic to discharge functions analogous to those
of a Consular officer, he will receive the protection and assistance of the
Republic.
ARTICLE IV.
The South African Republic will conclude no treaty or engagement with any
State or nation other than the Orange Free State, nor with any native tribe
to the eastward or westward of the Republic, until the same has been
approved by Her Majesty the Queen.
Such approval shall be considered to have been granted if Her Majesty's
Government shall not, within six months after receiving a copy of such
treaty (which shall be delivered to them immediately upon its completion),
have notified that the conclusion of such treaty is in conflict with the
interests of Great Britain or of any of Her Majesty's possessions in South
Africa.
ARTICLE V.
The South African Republic will be liable for any balance which may still
remain due of the debts for which it was liable at the date of Annexation—to
wit, the Cape Commercial Bank Loan, the Railway Loan, and the Orphan Chamber
Debt—which debts will be a first charge upon the revenues of the Republic.
The South African Republic will moreover be liable to her Majesty's
Government for £250,000, which will be a second charge upon the revenues of
the Republic.
ARTICLE VI.
The debt due as aforesaid by the South African Republic to Her Majesty's
Government will bear interest at the rate of three and a half per cent, from
the date of the ratification of this Convention, and shall be repayable by a
payment for interest and Sinking Fund of six pounds and ninepence per £100
per annum, which will extinguish the debt in twenty-five years. The said
payment of six pounds and ninepence per £100 shall be payable half-yearly in
British currency at the close of each half-year from the date of such
ratification: Provided always that the South African Republic shall be at
liberty at the close of any half-year to pay off the whole or any portion of
the outstanding debt.
Interest at the rate of three and a half per cent, on the debt as
standing under the Convention of Pretoria shall as heretofore be paid to the
date of the ratification of this Convention.
ARTICLE VII.
All persons who held property in the Transvaal on the 8th day of August
1881 and still hold the same, will continue to enjoy the rights of property
which they have enjoyed since the 12th April, 1877. No
person who has remained loyal to Her Majesty during the late hostilities
shall suffer any molestation by reason of his loyalty; or be liable to any
criminal prosecution or civil action for any part taken in connection with
such hostilities; and all such persons will have full liberty to reside in
the country, with enjoyment of all civil rights, and protection for their
persons and property.
ARTICLE VIII.
The South African Republic renews the declaration made in the Sand River
Convention, and in the Convention of Pretoria, that no slavery or
apprenticeship partaking of slavery will be tolerated by the Government of
the said Republic.
ARTICLE IX.
There will continue to be complete freedom of religion and protection
from molestation for all denominations, provided the same be not
inconsistent with morality and good order; and no disability shall attach to
any person in regard to rights of property by reason of the religious
opinions which he holds.
ARTICLE X.
The British Officer appointed to reside in the South African Republic
will receive every assistance from the Government of the said Republic in
making due provision for the proper care and preservation of the graves of
such of Her Majesty's Forces as have died in the Transvaal; and, if need be,
for the appropriation of land for the purpose.
ARTICLE XI.
All grants or titles issued at any time by the Transvaal Government in
respect of land outside the boundary of the South African Republic, as
defined in Article I, shall be considered invalid and of no effect, except
in so far as any such grant or title relates to land that falls within the
boundary of the South African Republic; and all persons holding any such
grant so considered invalid and of no effect will receive from the
Government of the South African Republic such compensation, either in land
or in money, as the Volksraad shall determine. In all cases in which any
Native Chiefs or other authorities outside the said boundaries have received
any adequate consideration from the Government of the South African Republic
for land excluded from the Transvaal by the first Article of this
Convention, or where permanent improvements have been made on the land, the
High Commissioner will recover from the native authorities fair compensation
for the loss of the land thus excluded, or of the permanent improvements
thereon.
ARTICLE XII.
The independence of the Swazis, within the boundary line of Swaziland, as
indicated in the first Article of this Convention, will be fully recognized.
ARTICLE XIII.
Except in pursuance of any treaty or engagement made as provided in
Article 4 of this Convention, no other or higher duties shall be imposed on
the importation into the South African Republic of any
article coming from any part of Her Majesty's dominions than are or may be
imposed on the like article coming from any other place or country; nor will
any prohibition be maintained or imposed on the importation into the South
African Republic of any article coming from any part of Her Majesty's
dominions which shall not equally extend to the like article coming from any
other place or country. And in like manner the same treatment shall be given
to any article coming to Great Britain from the South African Republic as to
the like article coming from any other place or country.
These provisions do not preclude the consideration of special
arrangements as to import duties and commercial relations between the South
African Republic and any of Her Majesty's colonies or possessions.
ARTICLE XIV.
All persons, other than natives, conforming themselves to the laws of the
South African Republic (a) will have full liberty, with their
families, to enter, travel, or reside in any part of the South African
Republic; (b) they will be entitled to hire or possess houses,
manufactories, warehouses, shops, and premises; (c) they may carry on
their commerce either in person or by any agents whom they may think fit to
employ; (d) they will not be subject, in respect of their persons or
property, or in respect of their commerce or industry, to any taxes, whether
general or local, other than those which are or may be imposed upon citizens
of the said Republic.
ARTICLE XV.
All persons, other than natives, who established their domicile in the
Transvaal between the 12th day of April, 1877, and the 8th August, 1881, and
who within twelve months after such last-mentioned date have had their names
registered by the British Resident, shall be exempt from all compulsory
military service whatever.
ARTICLE XVI.
Provision shall hereafter be made by a separate instrument for the mutual
extradition of criminals, and also for the surrender of deserters from Her
Majesty's Forces.
ARTICLE XVII.
All debts contracted between the 12th April, 1877, and the 8th August,
1881, will be payable in the same currency in which they may have been
contracted.
ARTICLE XVIII.
No grants of land which may have been made, and no transfers or mortgages
which may have been passed between the 12th April, 1877, and the 8th August,
1881, will be invalidated by reason merely of their having been made or
passed between such dates.
All transfers to the British Secretary for Native Affairs in trust for
natives will remain in force, an officer of the South African Republic
taking the place of such Secretary for Native Affairs.
ARTICLE XIX.
The Government of the South African Republic will engage faithfully to
fulfil the assurances given, in accordance with the laws of the
South African Republic, to the natives at the Pretoria
Pitso by the Royal Commission in the presence of the Triumvirate and with
their entire assent, (1) as to the freedom of the natives to buy or
otherwise acquire land under certain conditions, (2) as to the appointment
of a commission to mark out native locations, (3) as to the access of the
natives to the courts of law, and (4) as to their being allowed to move
freely within the country, or to leave it for any legal purpose, under a
pass system.
ARTICLE XX.
This Convention will be ratified by a Volksraad of the South African
Republic within the period of six months after its execution, and in default
of such ratification this Convention shall be null and void.
Signed in duplicate in London this 27th day of February, 1884.
HERCULES ROBINSON.
S.J.P. KRUGER.
S.J. DU TOIT.
N.J. SMIT.
