[1] He settled near Swaziland with other Voortrekker families in what they called the Commonwealth of the Klein Vrystaat in 1875.

At the same time, Swazi King Mbandzeni granted a 36,000-acre grazing concession to Ferreira and his son-in-law, Franz Ignatius Maritz,[1][2] the largest concession to Boer settlers at the time.

[4] Ferreira was responsible for negotiating the transfer of land east of the Lebombo Mountains to the South African Republic.

His plans were frustrated by the actions of Sir Charles Saunders who annexed the territory which became known as British Maputaland.

[1][6] This biographical article related to the South African military is a stub.