Boer forces of the South African Republic carried out the siege on Rustenburg, a British-controlled city inside of the Transvaal Colony, and captured it after three months.

In November 1880, several months before the opening of hostilities, much of the British garrison was withdrawn, leaving only a single battalion of 62 men of the 21st Regiment of Foot in Rustenburg.

[1] Following a rise in tension, and with conflict in South Africa imminent, British forces under Captain Auchinleck strengthened the defences of Fort Rustenburg, which included adding additional sandbags on top of existing Paraparats, laying small mines around the fort and the construction of additional military huts.

Captain Auchinleck and his men succeeded in driving the occupants from the trench, after which the Boer Commando fired on the fort from all directions.

On 14 March 1881, the Boers notified the British garrison in the fort about the terms of the truce and on 30 March, Lieutenant Ryder, of the 60th Rifles, arrived from Sir Evelyn Wood's camp with a message that peace had been negotiated.