Paul Kruger: ’n Christenstaatsman en Boerepolitikus in sy toesprake as president

Abstract

Paul Kruger: A Christian statesman and Boer politician in his speeches as president. Paul Kruger, the well-known president of the Boer Republic of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) from 1883–1900, openly confessed his Christian faith in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As a Reformed Christian and a committed Calvinist, Kruger believed that the triune God provided eternal principles for all aspects of life, including politics and state governance In his view, God, in his providence, granted the Boers an independent Transvaal to govern – an act of divine grace. As an expression of obedience, they were responsible for maintaining this state as an instrument of justice for all those residing within its borders.From Kruger’s biblical perspective, state authority was required to administer justice to all individuals according to their level of development. However, in a society where people differed in their capacity to participate in democratic governance, enforcing equality and democratic rights was not necessarily an act of justice. For Kruger, obedience to God within a state entailed a spiritual capacity to sustain democracy in an orderly manner and to uphold principles of justice as norms for treating people in everyday life.

Contribution: Kruger viewed cultural differences as justification for the separation of societies or states. He advocated for designated towns and territories for non-white people, including black people, coloureds, and Asians, within the ZAR.