The Volksraad of the Orange Free State (Afrikaans: Volksraad van die Oranje-Vrystaat) was the unicameral parliament of the Orange Free State. It was the supreme authority of Orange Free State.[2]
Volksraad van die Oranje-Vrystaat | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | |
History | |
Established | 1854 |
Disbanded | 31 May 1902 |
Structure | |
Seats | 57[1] |
Length of term | 4 years |
Meeting place | |
Bloemfontein |
Volksraad had 52-57 members representing major town and districts in the republic.[3] The members had to be of European blood, over twenty-five years old, resident in the republic for at least one year, possessed real estate of the value of £200, and never convicted of crime.[2][3] The districts represented by members of Volksraad were Bloemfontein, Fauresmith, Caledon River, Winburg, Harrismith, Kroonstad, Boshof, Bethulie, Philippolis and Jacobsdal.[4]
The members were elected for four years, half of them retiring every second year.[2] Burghers were able to vote.
The Volksraad met once a year in ordinary session[2] in Bloemfontein. During Second Boer War, Volksraad met in Kroonstad in 1900.[3]
The chairman of the Volksraad (Voorzitter van den Volksraad) was elected annually.[5]
Chairman | Took office | Left office | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Josias Philip Hoffman | March 1854 | June 1854 | [6] |
Henry Halse | June 1854 | ? | [7] |
Lodewyk Jacobus Papenfus | ?-1857 | 1857-? | [8] |
Esaias Reynier Snijman | ?-1859 | 1859-? | [9] |
J. N. Uijs | ?-1860 | 1860-? | [10] |
Gert Petrus Visser | ?-1861[11] | 1863-?[12] | |
Esaias Reynier Snijman | ?-1864 | 1864-? | [12] |
Gert Petrus Visser | ?-1865 | 1865-? | [13] |
Hendrik Oostewald Dreyer | ?-1866 | 1866[2] | |
Gerhardus Johannes du Toit | 1866-? | ? | [14] |
Gert Petrus Visser | ?-1867 | 1875-? | [15] |
T. J. de Villiers | ?-1876 | 1876-? | [3] |
Gert Petrus Visser | ?-1877 | 1879 | [3] |
T. J. de Villiers | ?-1880 | 1883-? | [3] |
John G. Fraser | 1884 | 1896 | [16] |
Christiaan Willem Hendrik Van Der Post | 1896[17] | 1897 | [18] |
Cornelius Hermanus Wessels | 1897[19] | 1899-?[3] | |
? | 1899 | 1902 |