SOUTH-AFRICA-L Archives

Archiver > SOUTH-AFRICA > 2000-04 > 0954823845


From: Steve Hayes <>
Subject: Re: Treason Trials & G.W. Africa
Date: Tue, 04 Apr 2000 06:50:45 +0200
In-Reply-To: <38E8B4C3.42B34C54@futurenet.co.za>


On 3 Apr 00, at 17:12, Eileen & Marty Russell wrote:

> Hi All,
> During my recent visit to the Archive at Pretoria I came across the
> records of a relation who served in the Transvaal Police 1909-10. On the
> file was his application form which yielded some very interesting
> information as well as a couple of puzzles.
>
> Question 13 asked 'Have you ever served in any Police Force, the Army,
> Navy, Coast Guard, Gaol Guard, or any public situation?' - to which he
> answered 'Volunteer G.W. Africa, one year.' Can anyone explain what G.W.
> Africa was?

Probably Namibia, a more remote possibility is Cameroun
(Kamerun), Perhaps service in the German-Herero War of 1905.

> Question 15 'Have you ever been convicted of any offence? If so state
> the nature of the offence and the punishment inflicted'. Answer ' Yes.
> Treason. 7 years. S.I. Tribunal.'
>
> Also on the file is a letter from the Office of the Commissioner of Police
> part of which reads '.... he states that he was sentenced to a term of
> imprisonment at Kimberley during the late war for treason, I am directed
> by the Commissioner to state that in view of the fact that this conviction
> was for a Political offence, it will not in any way debar Bothma from
> entering the Force.'
>
> Where can I find out more about this trial? I asked at Pretoria Archive
> but no one there was able to help so I presume these documents are kept
> elsewhere.

Probably in the Cape Archives.

Kimberley was in the Cape Colony, and when the Cape Colony
was invaded by forces from the ZAR and OVS during the Anglo-
Boer War, some of the citizens of the Cape Colony aided the
invading forces, or even joined them, and so were charged with
treason if they were caught.

"The late war" undoubtedly refers to the Anglo-Boer War, which
had the ZAR and OVS on one side, and Natal and the Cape,
backed by the British Empire, on the other.


Keep well,

Steve Hayes
Web: http://www.geocities.com/hayesstw/steve.htm
E-mail: (text only, no attachmnents)
(use this address for attachments)
(for travel & emergencies)

This thread: