The Nieuwe Republiek (1884 – 1888) was one of 16 independent republics that came into being in South Africa before 1961. They were the result of a colonial south that accepted British Rule and a republican north that desired freedom and independence.
The Nieuwe Republiek with its capital ‘Vryheid’ in KwaZulu-Natal has a very close connection with Zulu history and especially with Dinizulu, head of the Usuthu tribe in North Western Zululand. On 4 June 1884, Dinizulu with the support of 100 mounted Boers defeated his opponent Usibephu. Following this partnership between Zulu and Boers, land was acquired by the Boers, giving birth to the Nieuwe Republiek.
The parliament building, also accommodating a fortress and a prison (never used) was built in 1884. The driving force and the first and only president of the Nieuwe Republiek was Lucas Meijer (1884 – 1888). During 1888 the Nieuwe Republiek merged with the ZAR following threats coming from the British authorities in Port Natal.
This parliament building today forms The Nieuwe Republiek Museum with its key theme (inside the Council chamber) “ Republics in the South African history…”
Good day.
I was wondering if maybe you can help me.
I am looking for information about my great grandfather and mother. They stayed in Vryheid since about 1901.
There names was Christian Johannes Jacobus Roestroff/Roestorff and Charlotte Roestroff/ Roestorff.
They were buried in the Vryheid cemetery.
I would like to know if there is anything about him in connection with the Wars. Charlotte was a nurse back then.
Hello Marlé I searched and found some information on Christiaan Roestroff please drop me an email and I can send the info to you. Regards
Hi Matt.
Can you please give me your email address or if it is possibly to send the information you found to my email. It will be appreciated!
Good day Matt – I am looking for a map of the Nieuwe Republiek, for a book being published by Footprint Press in Cape Town. Can you please email me at
Alternatively, what is your email address please?
Hello,
I have stumbled across material concerning the late husband of my late Grand Aunt, who was a decorated ANZAC and was born in Vryheid in 1893. I am anxious to follow up leads with local record sources in Vryheid. My grand uncle in law’s name is Michael Peter, or perhaps Petrus, MEYER, and his name appears in some Australian records as Meyers. His military records cite the address of his Mother, Nellie Meyer, as being at a place called Golden Valley,, Lenganie Drift via Vryheid, Natal. I am anxious to locate local records in Natal concerning my Grand Uncle and would be grateful for any leads that you might be able to provide so that I am able to follow them up.
Can anyone tell me where the original or a certified copy can be found of the cession/agreement between the Zulu King Dinuzulu and Genaral Lucas Meijer for the territory known as the Nieuwe Republiek.
Our family believes that we are decendants Genl Lukas Meyer. Is this the same Lukas Meijer. Why did the surname change
I’m writing the life story of Coenraad Abraham Birkenstock & his wife Elizabeth. Facts about their lives and experiences are hard to come by! Please help me, if you can!
My maternal family came from vryheid and as a child i can remember going tt the family farm near vryheid before its incorporation into kwazulu in the 60s.
the family name was de bruyn or sometime spelled de bruyjn.
one of the pieces of the family folk law was that my great grandfather had a price on his head for shooting british soldiers. in our family collection was a gun said yo be his. Anyway my parents has passed away and now nearly 10 years after my mother’s death I have started to go through the belongings. I have found an old German commission mauser which was supposed to belong to my great grandfather. it is of the type used by boer commandos. on cleaning 21 notches have been cut into the wood of the butt. could these represent the soldiers shot by my great grandfather ? there was supposed yo be a bounty on his head was there any truth to that.
his name was Daniel Jacobus debruyn.
I was also told that the family bible donated to the vryheid museum