Sand River convention

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Sand River convention, 1852. Appointed governor of Cape Colony and high commissioner in southern Africa in 1847, Sir Harry Smith tried at first to reimpose British authority over the people of Dutch descent—Boers (Afrikaners)—who, dissatisfied with British rule, had quitted the colony some years earlier. The realization that such a policy might lead to endless strife forced Smith to reconsider his plan and to approve the Sand river convention which recognized the independence of Boers living north of the Vaal river. A similar convention was signed with the Boers residing north of the Orange river two years later.

Kenneth Ingham