ROUGH TRANSLATION OF OPEN BRIEF OPEN LETTER To all Officials and Citizens of Z.A.R. which have hitherto exercised their duties for the Country and People’s faith. BROTHERS AND COUNTRY MEN, We feel it our duty to say thank you and goodbye to you to focus on termination of our struggle. It is our duty to inform you that a peace is very close, as set out in the Agreement to be signed by the two Governments, and was set up in the decision taken today by the People’s Assembly, in Vereeniging. We say thank you for heroism, for your sacrifice on so much that you loved and hold dear; for your obedience; and for thy faithful performance of duty, which stretches all the honour and glory for the Afrikaner people. We recommend all of you to rest in peace, quiet and to behave and obey the new Government with respect. We also propose to inform you that the representatives of both countries Main Committees were appointed for the purpose of obtaining money and resources to provide as much as possible, the needs of the Widows’ wellbeing, whose husbands and fathers lives were lost in the battle for freedom and justice, but whose memory will live on in our history. We also express this in our heart, actual Sympathy that mourners pray that the Lord may give them strength to cross. We must… also give a word of thanks to our Women and Children… Now there is peace, and although not a peace just as requested by us, let us acquiesce in that way in which God has led us. We can, with a clear conscience declare that People’s two and half year’s battle, has ruined in a manner just as almost unprecedented in history. Let us now grasp one another’s hand for the great struggle before us; good and welfare of our people in spiritual and social field … and let us learn to forget and so forgive, so that the deep wounds may be healed … S W BURGER LOUIS BOTHA Vereeniging 31st May 1902. 33(a) *See Translator’ Note (page I).
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