Volksraad (Orange Free State)


The Volksraad of the Orange Free State was the unicameral parliament of the Orange Free State. It was the supreme authority of Orange Free State.
Volksraad had 52-57 members representing major town and districts in the republic. The members had to be of European blood, over twenty-five years old, resident in the republic for at least one year, possessed real estate of the value of £200, and never convicted of crime. The districts represented by members of Volksraad were Bloemfontein, Fauresmith, Caledon River, Winburg, Harrismith, Kroonstad, Boshof, Bethulie, Philippolis and Jacobsdal.
The members were elected for four years, half of them retiring every second year. Burghers were able to vote.
The Volksraad met once a year in ordinary session in Bloemfontein. During Second Boer War, Volksraad met in Kroonstad in 1900.

Chairmen

The chairman of the Volksraad was elected annually.
ChairmanTook officeLeft officeNotes
Josias Philip HoffmanMarch 1854June 1854
Henry HalseJune 1854?
Gert Petrus Visser1855?
Lodewyk Jacobus Papenfus?-18571857-?
Esaias Reynier Snijman?-18591859-?
J. N. Uijs?-18601860-?
Gert Petrus Visser?-18611863-?
Esaias Reynier Snijman?-18641864-?
Gert Petrus Visser?-18651865-?
Hendrik Oostewald Dreyer?-18661866
Gerhardus Johannes du Toit1866?
Gert Petrus Visser?-18671875-?
Tobias de Villiers?-18761876-?
Gert Petrus Visser?-18771879
Tobias de Villiers18791884
John G. Fraser18841896
Christiaan Willem Hendrik Van Der Post18961897
Cornelius Hermanus Wessels18971899-?
Johan Godfried LuytJune 1900June 1900Last chairman