15 October 1960: When 70,000 Afrikaners Gathered to Give Thanks for a Republic Ten days after South Africa voted to become a republic, tens of thousands gathered at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria for a day of thanksgiving, remembrance, Christian worship and celebration. For many Afrikaners, it marked the approaching fulfilment of a political ambition that had survived generations. On 5 October 1960, South Africa went to the polls to decide whether the country should become a republic, replacing the British monarch as head of state with a South African president. At the time, South Africa was known as the Union of South Africa. Although it had governed its own affairs for decades, the British monarch remained its constitutional head of state, represented locally by a governor-general. For many Afrikaners, becoming a republic represented something much bigger than changing the country's constitution. It was the continuation of a struggle for political independence that stretched back through the nineteenth century, the Boer republics and the Anglo-Boer War of 1899–1902, when the independent Boer republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State lost their sovereignty to Britain. Now, nearly sixty years after that war, the question of republican government was being placed before the electorate. The result was close. Of the votes cast, 850,458 supported a republic, while 775,878 opposed it. The winning margin was 74,580 votes. Only white voters were eligible to participate in the referendum, and political opinion was divided, particularly between Afrikaans-speaking and English-speaking communities. Nevertheless, the referendum gave Prime Minister Dr Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd's government the mandate, under the voting arrangements of the time, to proceed with establishing the republic. South Africa would officially become the Republic of South Africa on 31 May 1961. But Afrikaner cultural organisations did not wait until the following year to mark the decision. The FAK steps forward Two days after the referendum, the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (FAK) was approached to organise a thanksgiving celebration. The FAK, whose name translates as the Federation of Afrikaans Cultural Associations, was founded in Bloemfontein in December 1929. Its purpose was to bring together Afrikaans cultural organisations and promote the Afrikaans language, Afrikaner history, literature, music and cultural identity. By 1960, it had become an influential institution in organised Afrikaner cultural life, providing a platform for cultural activities and commemorations across the country. The FAK had also supported the ideal of republican government for many years. It accepted the request. What followed was a remarkable organisational effort. Within days, arrangements were made for a major public celebration at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria. The thanksgiving festival, known as the Republikeinse Dankfees, took place on Saturday, 15 October 1960. Approximately 70,000 people gathered in the monument's amphitheatre. The monument itself was significant. Completed and inaugurated in 1949, it commemorated the Voortrekkers, the predominantly Dutch-speaking pioneer communities who travelled from the Cape into the South African interior during the 1830s and 1840s. For many Afrikaners, it symbolised the history of migration, sacrifice, faith and the establishment of their own political communities. It was therefore a deliberate and meaningful setting for the celebration. A ceremony of remembrance The proceedings began at exactly three o'clock in the afternoon. Prime Minister H.F. Verwoerd, members of his cabinet, the four provincial administrators and members of the FAK's Executive Committee assembled in the Sarcophagus Hall of the monument. The four administrators were the appointed heads of the provincial administrations of the Cape Province, Transvaal, Orange Free State and Natal. The Sarcophagus Hall, situated at the base of the monument, contains the symbolic tomb honouring the Voortrekkers. Above it is the monument's Cenotaph Hall, where sunlight falls on the cenotaph each year on 16 December. Here, the political and cultural leaders paid tribute to earlier Afrikaner leaders who had worked towards republican government. The gathering then moved to the amphitheatre, where the much larger public celebration was waiting. Scripture, thanksgiving and faith The religious character of the day was unmistakable. Senator G.R. Wessels delivered the Scripture reading from Romans 8, a chapter of the New Testament dealing with faith, suffering, hope and the assurance of victory through God's love. The reading was followed by a thanksgiving address from the Reverend G.J.J. Boshoff, a Christian minister. His message drew on Psalm 124:7, which describes a bird escaping from a hunter's trap: "We have escaped like a bird from the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped." For those gathered, the words carried a particular historical meaning. The image of a bird escaping captivity expressed the freedom that many Afrikaners associated with the establishment of a republic. After decades in which the question of independence had shaped Afrikaner politics, they saw the referendum result as an answer to generations of political aspirations. Professor H.B. Thom then welcomed those assembled. Thom was an Afrikaans historian and academic, closely associated with the study of Afrikaner history and later rector of Stellenbosch University. He described the occasion as "a spring day in our history", connecting the changing political circumstances with the symbolism of renewal and a new beginning. Verwoerd addresses the crowd When Prime Minister Verwoerd rose to speak, the crowd greeted him with thunderous applause. Verwoerd had become prime minister in 1958, succeeding J.G. Strijdom. He had made the establishment of a republic a central objective of his government and had led the referendum campaign. The October result was therefore a major political achievement for his administration. Addressing the gathering, he called on South Africans to dedicate themselves to their country with the confidence that came from religious faith. The message reflected the strong Christian symbolism of the ceremony and the belief among those attending that republican government carried responsibilities beyond the political victory itself. For the thousands gathered in Pretoria, the day was intended not merely as a celebration of winning a referendum, but as an occasion to give thanks and affirm their commitment to the country's future. Honouring the leaders who came before The celebrations included a large procession, music, choral performances, recitations and ceremonial tributes. Douglas Fuchs, known for his broadcasting and involvement in major Afrikaans cultural productions, announced the procession. Representations of Boer fighters, young people and women's organisations passed before the cheering crowd. Their participation carried historical symbolism. The Boer fighters recalled the military struggles of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The women represented the role of Afrikaner women in family, community and cultural life, while the youth symbolised the generations expected to carry the republican ideal into the future. With trumpets sounding and large banners displayed, tributes were paid to three former political leaders. General J.B.M. Hertzog had been a Boer military commander during the Anglo-Boer War and later served as South African prime minister from 1924 to 1939. He was closely associated with the principle that South Africa should determine its own political destiny. Dr D.F. Malan, prime minister from 1948 to 1954, had helped consolidate the National Party's political power and supported the eventual establishment of a republic. Advocate J.G. Strijdom, who served as prime minister from 1954 until his death in 1958, had been an especially determined advocate of republican government. Together, the three were presented as important figures in the political journey that preceded Verwoerd's referendum victory. The procession was intended to connect different generations of Afrikaner history, from the Boer republics to the approaching Republic of South Africa. A Bible presented to the Prime Minister One of the final moments of the celebration was the presentation of a specially bound Bible to Verwoerd. It was handed to him by Dr S. du Toit, the son of the Afrikaans poet and theologian Jacob Daniël du Toit, better known by his pen name, Totius. Totius was one of the leading figures involved in translating the Bible into Afrikaans, a major cultural and religious achievement completed in 1933. For Afrikaner Christians, the availability of the Bible in their own language had been an important milestone in the development and recognition of Afrikaans. The presentation of the Bible at the thanksgiving festival symbolised the close connection between faith, language and national identity among those attending. It brought the religious theme of the day's programme to a fitting conclusion. The flowers left behind Even after the crowd had dispersed, the day's commemorations were not finished. Women attending the gathering had brought large numbers of bouquets. Members of the FAK's Executive Committee and staff collected many of these flowers and carried them to the graves of two former political leaders. The first was President Paul Kruger, who had led the South African Republic, commonly called the Transvaal Republic, during the period leading up to the Anglo-Boer War. Kruger had become one of the most prominent symbols of the Boer republics' struggle to retain their independence. The second was former Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom, who had died in 1958, only two years before the referendum. Flowers were placed at their graves as a final act of remembrance. It was a quiet ending to a day that had drawn tens of thousands of people to Pretoria. A republic becomes reality The thanksgiving gathering took place on 15 October 1960, but the constitutional change was still months away. On 31 May 1961, South Africa formally became a republic. The date was significant for two reasons. On 31 May 1902, the Treaty of Vereeniging ended the Anglo-Boer War and brought the two Boer republics under British control. Eight years later, on 31 May 1910, the Union of South Africa was established. Choosing 31 May 1961 therefore connected the new republic with two earlier turning points in South African history. The country's first state president was Charles Robberts Swart, commonly known as C.R. Swart, who replaced the British monarch's representative as head of state. For supporters of republican government, the long political journey had reached its destination. The meaning of 15 October 1960 The Republican Thanksgiving Festival was more than a large public gathering. It brought together history, politics, cultural organisation and Christian worship in a single ceremony. The FAK had organised approximately 70,000 people in little more than a week. The country's prime minister and senior officials attended. Former leaders were honoured. The Bible was read, prayers of thanksgiving were offered, and a specially bound Bible was presented as a symbol of faith. The celebration revealed how deeply the republican ideal had become woven into the cultural and historical consciousness of many Afrikaners. Not everyone in South Africa shared that enthusiasm, and the referendum itself represented the decision of a restricted electorate. Nevertheless, the event remains an important part of understanding the aspirations and institutions that shaped Afrikaner political and cultural history. For those who gathered beneath the Voortrekker Monument on that October afternoon, the approaching republic was not simply a change of government. It represented the culmination of a political ambition passed down through generations. And as the enormous crowd dispersed, leaving flowers to be placed on the graves of their former leaders, the Republic of South Africa was still seven months away. But for the thousands who had gathered that day, the celebration had already begun. Sources Gelofteland, Kultuurdagboek, "1960: Republikeinse Dankfees", 15 October historical entry. Detailed account of the ceremony, speakers, procession and Bible presentation. gelofteland.org/index.php/on… Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (FAK), FLINK, April 2019. "1960: Republiek Dankfees." FAK's own retrospective account of the 15 October gathering. fak.org.za/wp-content/upload… Afrikanergeskiedenis, "Republiekwording en die drie van Mannetjies Roux". Referendum results, 15 October celebrations and establishment of the republic. afrikanergeskiedenis.co.za/2… South African History Online, "Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (FAK)". Historical background on the organisation's establishment and cultural activities. sahistory.org.za/article/fed… FAK, "95 jaar van die FAK in 2024". History of the FAK's founding, objectives and heritage activities. fak.org.za/95-jaar-van-die-f… Bible Gateway, Psalm 124:7. Verification of the biblical quotation used in the thanksgiving address. biblegateway.com/verse/en/Ps… Credits: Vootrekker Monument