Image: South Africa Act 1907 Cartoon

Description: A Punch cartoon commenting on the granting of Responsible Government to the Transvaal Colony and the Orange River Colony and Louis Botha's appointment as Premier of the Transvaal Colony in 1907 opening up the way for the passage of the South Africa Act two years later. It reads: "SHADE OF PAUL KRUGER. "What! Botha Premier? Well, these English do 'stagger Humanity'!" In 1907 South Africa was, in effect, given back to the Dutch" It came a few years after the United Kingdom won the Second Boer War. It depicts Paul Kruger looking on in amazement as Louis Botha, dressed in the attire of a premier, leaves a building whilst reading the newly passed South Africa Act. A British soldier salutes Botha. The cartoon seems to express dismay at "handing over" South Africa to local politicians that fought against the British in the war. The reference to the "Dutch" refers to the "Afrikaners" of South Africa, many of whom fought against the British in the war.
Title: South Africa Act 1907 Cartoon
Credit: The New Punch Library (1932), volume 1
Author: Bernard Partridge
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No