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23-460: Standerton was founded in 1878 on a farm called Grootverlangen and named after its owner Commandant Adriaan Henrik Stander. The South African Republic's Volksraad approved the formation of a town at the drift in 1876 and proclaimed two years later. It was granted municipal status in 1903. The crossing over the Vaal River , now bridged, was known as Stander's Drift and a hill close to the town

46-545: A unicameral body, the Volksraad was divided into two chambers in 1890 in order to keep Boer control over state matters while still giving Uitlanders (foreigners) — many of whom were temporarily employed in the mining industry — a say in local affairs, in order to fend off British complaints. From 1890 the Volksraad consisted of two houses of 24 members each. The "Second Volksraad " had suffrage for all white males above 16 years, and had limited legislative powers in

69-667: A fountain was proposed for the square by Mr. Samuel Marks . This piece in turn was moved to the Pretoria Zoo , making way for the current collection of sculptures. The turreted Palace of Justice was the scene of arguably the most famous political trial in South Africa's history, the Rivonia Trial . During this trial, Nelson Mandela and a number of other ANC members were charged with treason, found guilty and subsequently incarcerated. Nearby Pretoria landmarks include

92-615: Is a rural town surviving mainly on agriculture, it has produced talented people prominent in South African society. Volksraad (South African Republic) The Volksraad of the South African Republic (English: "People's Council" of the South African Republic, Afrikaans : Volksraad van die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek ) was the parliament of the former South African Republic (ZAR), it existed from 1840 to 1877, and from 1881 to 1902 in part of what

115-917: Is now South Africa . The body ceased to exist after the British Empire 's victory in the Second Anglo-Boer War . The Volksraad sat in session in Ou Raadsaal in Church Square, Pretoria . In 1840, at the beginning of the Natalia Republic , an adjunct Volksraad was created in Potchefstroom for settlers west of the Drakensberg . The Potchefstroom Volksraad continued despite the British annexation of

138-431: Is situated in the upper reaches of the Vaal River less than 10 km upstream of Standerton. It has a catchment area of 8,195 km, a mean annual precipitation of approximately 750 mm, a mean annual potential evaporation at the dam site of 1,400 mm and a natural inflow of 580 million m/a. The full supply capacity of the reservoir is 364 million m. The Grootdraai dam was completed in 1982. Although Standerton

161-430: Is the square at the historic centre of the city of Pretoria , Gauteng , South Africa . The founder of Pretoria, Marthinus Pretorius , determined that the square be used as a market place and church yard. It was subsequently named for the church buildings that stood at the centre of the square from 1856 to 1905. The square's most prominent feature, since June 1954, is the statue of the late Boer leader and president of

184-590: The African National Congress in October 2009. The riots included the burning of tyres and blocking some entries to the town. The area around the town promotes mixed agriculture with crops such as maize , sunflower seeds , ground nuts and potatoes . Poultry and dairy farming is also conducted in the region. Standerton Mills Pty Ltd was established in 1947. Mainly manufacturing and supplying yarn and woven industrial fabrics. Grootdraai Dam

207-732: The South African Republic , Paul Kruger , at its centre. Statues of four anonymous Boer citizen-soldiers surround that of Kruger on a lower level of the plinth . Several historically and architecturally significant buildings surround the square: the Palace of Justice , the Old Capitol Theatre , the Tudor Chambers , the Ou Raadsaal (Old Council Chamber) and the General Post Office , which

230-737: The Natalia Republic in 1843. It eventually passed the Thirty-three Articles, the precursor to the 1858 constitution ( Grondwet ), in 1849. In 1858 the Grondwet permanently established the Volksraad as the supreme authority of the nation. Volksraad was initially a unicameral body. It consisted of three members for each of the districts of Potchefstroom , Lydenburg , Rustenburg , Zoutpansberg , Pretoria , Wakkerstroom , Utrecht , Middelburg , Heidelberg , Waterberg, Marico, and Bloemhof , and one member for each of

253-473: The damage and prohibited attempts to remove another statue erected in memory of Anglo-Boer war concentration camp victims. In May 2010, the memorial was rebuilt on its original site. The township of Sakhile near Standerton was the site of violent, service delivery riots that led to the Lekwa Municipality mayor Juliet Queen Radebe-Khumalo and other senior municipal officials, being recalled by

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276-631: The facade of the municipality building, was constructed by Afrikaners to mark the 150th anniversary of the Great Trek . The Lekwa municipality's mayor Queen Radebe-Khumalo ordered the structure demolished in April 2007. "That piece of thing means nothing to us. It's just a piece of cement with tracks. I do not even know where it comes from", Radebe-Khumalo declared in a statement quoted by the Beeld newspaper. The incident led to widespread condemnation by

299-466: The fields of mining, road construction, copyright and certain commercial affairs, all subject to ratification by the "First Volksraad ". This was the highest authority in charge of state policy, with preference being given to fully franchised burghers for appointment to government posts. The members of the First Volkraad were elected for four years. First Volksraad members had to be born in

322-635: The local Afrikaans community. Jan Bosman, a spokesperson for the Afrikanerbond , claimed that "actions like these undo the spirit of reconciliation as promoted by former president Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu ". In June 2007, a joint initiative between AfriForum and Solidarity lodged an application to the Pretoria High Court requesting that the mayor offer compensation for damages claimed. A subsequent court order ruled that Radebe-Khumalo and her municipality would pay for

345-486: The square's north-western corner for about another 40 years. The building of further sheds and the paving of the Market Square c.1917 were consequences of Lord de Villiers' verdict. Lines for horse-drawn trams initially connected the railway station with Market, Church, du Toit and Esselen streets to the terminus at the east end of de Kock Street. This company ceased operations at the outbreak of war in 1899, and it

368-404: The square. Numerous street benches would be provided and the square's tar walkways would be replaced with slate. The Kruger statues at the centre of the square would remain, and the square will be closed for hawkers. Produce was conveyed to the Market Square by wagon, where their owners' oxen were also outspanned. The produce, if not sold direct from the wagon, would be placed on the ground amidst

391-641: The state. The Second Volksraad, of the Uitlanders, was allegedly without power. The chairmen of the unicameral Volksraad ( Voorzitter van den Volksraad ). The chairmen of the First Volksraad ( Voorzitter van den Eersten Volksraad ). The chairmen of the Second Volksraad ( Voorzitter van den Tweede Volksraad ). Church Square, Pretoria Church Square ( Afrikaans : Kerkplein ), originally Market Square ( Dutch : Marktplein),

414-488: The towns of Potchefstroom, Lydenburg, Rustenburg, and Pretoria. The members had to be of European origin, over thirty years old, possessed real estate, never convicted of crime, member of a Protestant church, and voters in the Republic of at least three years. Before 1873 the members were elected for two years, and half of the members retired every two years. The Volksraad met once a year in ordinary session. Initially

437-603: The trek oxen and the cattle and horses for sale. A first market shed was erected by the municipality after 1910 which led to a legal battle between the Pretoria Market and Estate Company and the town council. This was finally decided by Lord de Villiers at Bloemfontein, whose verdict gave the council control over 3/4 of the square, while the Market and Estate Company retained control of the Market Hall and buildings on

460-578: Was called Standerskop were also named after Stander. During the First Boer War (1880–81), a British unit was besieged by the Boer forces who shelled them from the nearby hill, the former holding out until the end of the war in February 1881. The town has received nationwide media attention in 2007 and 2008 following the destruction of an important voortrekker memorial. This monument, located near

483-436: Was designed by William Hawke . In keeping with the historical value of the square, a rejuvenation project was announced in 2014 in the old Raadsaal. Roads around the square would be converted for exclusive use by the A Re Yeng ("Let's Go") bus service and its service vehicles, while pedestrian areas would be made more public-friendly. The defunct south wall's fountain head would be restored and trees would be planted around

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506-536: Was not until c.1904 that the municipality purchased their concession and restarted it. Only in November 1910 were electric trams put into operation. The square became known as Church Square due to a succession of three churches that stood at the center of the square. The first church on Church Square was built in 1856 by Skinner and Devereux, and inaugurated in 1857. This was replaced by a larger building, which burnt down in 1882. This simple Cape Dutch style building

529-579: Was replaced by an early Gothic style building, built by Claridge, together with Leslie Simmonds. This third church building, known as the Verenigde Kerk, was demolished in 1904/1905, shortly after president Paul Kruger's state funeral was conducted from it. According to a Minute of His Worship the Mayor (Andrew Johnson) for the Mayoral Year ending 25th October 1905, Municipality of Pretoria ,

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