Griqualand West Annexation Act

This factor no doubt influenced Waterboer's decision, however the Cape government initially decided against incorporating the territory, due primarily to objections from both the European settlers and from certain portions of the indigenous population.

Upon the Cape's initial refusal to incorporate it in 1873, Griqualand West became a separate British Crown Colony, with Sir Richard Southey as its Administrator and Lieutenant Governor.

In 1875 Southey was replaced as Lieutenant Governor by Major William Owen Lanyon, who publicly professed a great dislike for the Griqua people and for Griqualand West overall, which he dubbed a "hideous and disgusting place".

The Cape finally agreed to incorporate the territory four years later in 1877, following agreement by the British government on compensation to the Orange Free State for its competing land claims.

[5] The promulgation of the act was set for 18 October 1880, when the last Lieutenant Governor, James Rose Innes stepped down and direct British imperial rule over the territory ended.

Caricature from "Incwadi Yami" , showing Major William Owen Lanyon , the British imperial administrator of Griqualand West, being eaten by the Cape Colony.
Nicolaas Waterboer, Griqua Kaptejn and leader.
Map showing the Cape Colony, with the Griqua and Boer states in green and pink respectively.