Abstract
Paul Kruger, who was the president of the South African Republic ( Zuid-Afrikaansche Republic [ZAR]) from 1883 until 1900, was a symbol of Boerrepublicanism in the 19th century. In the development of this image, he also became an honoured prototype of an Afrikaner for his fellowmen. Kruger was born and bred in the North Eastern Cape as a member of that element of Afrikaners which became known as the ‘Doppers’. They were a group of people from which many, after 1859, became members of the newly found Reformed Churches in South Africa. They based their tenets of faith on the State Translation of the Bible published in 1637 in the Netherlands. The ‘Doppers’ were known as conservative people in their faith, in the customs organised in their church and in their approach of life. They were known for their believe that God should be honoured through life as a whole, that everything in church and in life should be based on Scripture and that theological liberalism was unacceptable in church and theology. They clothed in a simple and peculiar way. In their obedience to God, they were strict in the interpretation of the commands of God they deemed to be biblical. Kruger, as the state president of the ZAR, remained true to his church, but also kept up with new developments in society. He had a reasonable and modernised influence on his church.
Highlights
Original ResearchRead online: Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online
Die belangrike historiese invloed in Suid-Afrika gedurende die negentiende eeu word deur sekere skrywers aan Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger (10 Oktober 1825 – 14 Julie 1904) toegedig
Hoe het Kruger vanuit sy geestelike en lewensbeskoulike lewe in die kern van sy menswees aan hierdie rigting as gemeenskapsleier – dit is politieke, militêre en geestelike leier – in die ZAR uiting gegee?
Summary
Read online: Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online. Kruger was born and bred in the North Eastern Cape as a member of that element of Afrikaners which became known as the ‘Doppers’ They were a group of people from which many, after 1859, became members of the newly found Reformed Churches in South Africa. As the state president of the ZAR, remained true to his church, and kept up with new developments in society. As die belangrikste kampvegter vir sy Transvaalse Republiek (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek [ZAR]) word Paul Kruger geleidelik ook ’n vegter vir die negentiende-eeuse Afrikaner. Volgens Jan Smuts wat nie in alle opsigte ’n geesgenoot van Kruger was nie, was sy egtheid nie net uiterlik nie, maar gewortel in sy innerlike as ’n mistikus en sy opregte, nederige lewe met God. President Steyn van die Oranje-Vrystaat stel dit so ‘... Uit historiese geskrifte kom die beeld van ’n man, broos en menslik, maar tegelykertyd groot en ‘met die vlam van onverganklikheid in die hart’ (Kruger 1961:xvi)
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