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Introduction to the Resolutions
of the Council of Policy of Cape of Good Hope


In 1651 the first Resolutions were recorded at sea

In order to establish a refreshment station and military presence at the Cape, Jan van Riebeeck and his company sailed at the end of 1651 from Texel “vande Camer Amsterdam” [under the auspices of the Chamber of Amsterdam] in three small ships called Drommedaris, Reijger and Goede Hoope. On Saturday 30 December the sea-council, actually called the Broad Council, took the first Resolutions (resolutien ‘decisions’) on board the Drommedaris. These Resolutions introduced the legislative and constitutional Dutch governance to South Africa.

The next two meetings held on 20 January and 29 March 1652 respectively, took place on board ship before Table Bay was reached, while the meetings of 8 and 19 April were held “in ’t schip den Drommedaris” [on board the ship Drommedaris] already in Table Bay. On 11 May the Council meeting took place “in ’t scip den Drommedaris ter rhede in de Tafelbaai” [on board the ship Drommedaris at the anchorage ground in Table Bay], but on 13 August it was held ashore: “aen Cabo de Boa Esperance in ’t Fort de Goede Hoope”[at the Cape of Good Hope in the Fort of Good Hope]. When the captains of the fleet left, the Council consisted of high-ranking officials and the military commander.

 


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