Historical information

William Schreiner was a barrister, politician, statesman, and Prime Minister of the Cape Colony during the Second Boer War.
His proximity to parliamentarians gave him an entry to political life. In 1893 he was elected a member of the Cape Parliament for Kimberly. He became Attorney-General in Cecil Rhodes's cabinet.
In1896, Schreiner and the rest of the parliamentary ministers resigned when it became obvious what Cecil Rhodes ambitions were. That ended Rhodes's term as Prime Minister.
Schreiner advocated integration and equal rights for all "civilised" men. His dedication to this ideal was proved when he resigned from the National Convention in order to represent Dinuzulu, who was to stand trial for his alleged treasonous participation in the rebellion of 1906.
With the forming of the Union Government in 1910 he became one of the first senators nominated to look after Black interests.

In 1906 the so-called Bambatha rebellion broke out. Dinuzulu was accused of giving orders to Bambatha to start the rebellion and put on trial for treason. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment.
When General Louis Botha became Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa he ordered Dinuzulu be released and transported to the farm Uitk yk in Transvaal.
The Bambartha rebellion was a Zulu revolt against British rule and taxation in Natal.







Physical description

Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.