SA colonies meet to consider and adopt the South Africa Act, which leads to the Union of South Africa

In the aftermath of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), Britain annexed the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, two hitherto independent Afrikaner republics. These new territories, renamed the Transvaal and the Orange River Colony respectively, were added to Britain's existing South African territories - the Cape Colony and Natal. It was British government policy to encourage these four colonies to come together in closer union. After the grant of responsible government to the Transvaal and Orange River Colony in 1907, this aspiration was also held by the Afrikaner population. These political forces resulted in the 1908 National Convention, which met for the first time on 12 October 1908. By February 1909, a draft of the South Africa Act had been drawn up. The South Africa Act of 1909 was an Act of the British Parliament which created the Union of South Africa from the British Colonies of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Orange River Colony, and the Transvaal. On 30 March 1909, the parliaments of the four South African colonies meet at their respective capitals to consider and adopt the South Africa Act, as drafted by the National Convention. Click here to read about the formation of the Union of South Africa. Source: On this day, March 30 [online]. Available at: news24.com/News24/On_this_day/ [accessed 25 March 2009] The South Africa Act of 1909 [online]. Available at: wikipedia.org [accessed 25 March 2009]