Journal 3

 The Power of One is set amongst the people of South Africa in the 1930’s – 1950’s. The main character, Anglo-African Peekay, grows up in a boarding school where he is confronted with racist people. This was a result of the conflict between the British and the Dutch settlers (Boers) who fought over African land in what’s known as the Second Boer War. Peekay’s peers, who were Boers, treat him like an enemy because he is a Rooinek (literally ‘red-neck’, the name given to British soldiers who invaded the Boers’ land).

The Second Boer War was a result of the conflict between the British Empire and the Dutch settlers from two independent republics, the Transvaal republic and the Orange Free State. Fought from the 11^th of October 1899 till the 31st of May 1902, the war ended with a British victory, both republics then being taken over by the British Empire. In contrast to the First Boer War it was quite lengthy, involving many British soldiers. The British fought directly against the two Dutch republics, defeating their forces first in open warfare and then an extensive guerilla battle. Many British soldiers were lost due to combat but also disease. The Dutch republics had no real army but relied on mounted militias, coined commandos. Their strategy was to strike swiftly, before any more British soldiers could arrive, and cause a rebellion amongst the colonists. At the open of the war, some 40,000 commandos invaded Natal (east of South Africa) causing a humongous civil war as thousands of colonists took up arms on the Boer side.

With no choice but to spread their army thinly, the Boer offensive soon ‘ran out of steam’. However the British army could not claim victory as soon as people had expected. The army had not enough mounted troops to keep up the Boer commandos, so it was divided into three separate armies. During what is known as ‘black week’, all three of these armies were defeated in three different battles on October 10^th, 11^th and 15^th.

The Boers had the sympathy of Europe and the Americans, but the American army were themselves fighting over another state in the Philippines. Both the Britons and Boers agreed that the black and coloured men of South Africa should not be used as soldiers, so as not to unsettle the white dominance. They were afraid that the non-white community would gain military strength giving them the opportunity to rebel against the dominant whites. The constant immigration of foreigners who reinforced the Boer army was halted as the British forced Portugal to close access from Transvaal to East Africa. On the other hand the British were constantly strengthening their army mostly with mounted infantry from different parts of the world.

At the end of 1901, 60,000 British troops marched against the Boer capitals. It took only seven months before the Boers admitted defeat, when 14,000 commandos handed over their weapons. However many Boers would not accept their downfall. The British army was largely stretched, trying to guard cities and goldmines and escort convoys. This allowed the young Boer commandos to harass their vulnerable opponent, opening negotiations with them. On one such occasion, a small army of Boer fighters captured a British general, Lord Methuen.

However, all resistance effort had minimal effect on the British, as the Boer army was hopelessly outnumbered. Boer Leaders were faced with the choice of British rule or death. On the 31^st May 1902 a peace agreement was signed, leading to a federated British South Africa in which both Boers and Britons had power over the black. Taking over 22,000 British and 53,000 Boer soldiers, the Second Boer War was simply two different parties fighting for a country that wasn’t theirs.