The challenge: have as many of the OTL Griqua and Boer republics survive as you can. They must be independent states and the PODs/TLs must be plausible, so you can dispute each other's attempts and propose a more plausible POD/TL.
The max I think would be five; Oranje Free State, Transvaal, a smaller Boer state and two Griqua states.
Also why did the Orange Free State remain separate from Transvaal OTL?
One thing I wonder about is if the survival of the Natalia Republic would preclude the other states through butterflies.
Also why did the Orange Free State remain separate from Transvaal OTL?
I suspect that, realistically, the maximum number may be 0. I doubt the Brits would allow them to survive long term.
Swaziland and Lesotho weren't absorbed into South Africa...
Bruce
Why would it be unlikely?Swaziland and Lesotho were ruled by native monarchs who, after initial resistance, cleaved to British demands for influence and became protectorates. The Boer and Griqa states meanwhile were unlikely to come to such an agreement.
Why would it be unlikely?
I suspect that, realistically, the maximum number may be 0. I doubt the Brits would allow them to survive long term.
My understanding was that the London in the 1850s had a strategy to incorporate the Boer states into a confederation with the Cape Colony whereas the Cape Colony wanted to annex them outright.
Ok, but if they are confederated, are they 'independent'? Yes i could see them surviving as distinct states, but within the Empire.