Naas Ferreia was the eldest child among three sons and four daughters of Petrus Marthinus Ferreira (Uitenhage, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 6 September 1818 – Winburg, Lejweleputswa, Orange Free State, August 23, 1898) and Christina Elizabeth Ferreira (Uniondale, Western Cape, 10 November 1824 – Senekal, Orange Free State, 11 March 1904).

[2] Ferreira married Anna Margaretha Rademeyer (Humansdorp, Western District, Eastern Cape, 14 October 1843 – Ladybrand, Motheo, Free State, 18 June 1911)[5] and fathered three sons and two daughters.

There he distributed the Boer troops more evenly over their hidden trenches for a maximum lethal result when the British under Lieutenant General Lord Methuen fatally attacked in a close formation.

[8][9][10] However, when the British relief expedition of Lieutenant-General John French arrived, Ferreira was left with only 200 men and had to retreat, so that Kimberley was liberated on February 15, 1900.

[11][12] At Paardeberg, Ferreira commanded the Boer burghers from Hoopstad and Ladybrand[13] to help Piet Cronjé's 4000-odd troops escape from their embattled position in the north bank of the Modder River.