Earlier British Seizure of the Cape Colony?

One of the hallmarks of alternate history (ASB, yes) the Domination of the Draka begins with the conceit of an earlier seizure of the Cape Colony by the British.

I'm not interested in that sort of scenario. How do you think the Cape Colony would have fared if it was seized by the British in say, 1781? (The Dutch DoW was in 1780)
 
Well to begin with, positing a 1780 seizure of the Cape Colony, I highly doubt that all the American loyalists would be settled there. I just don't see why the British wouldn't pursue their OTL policy in Canada to settle Loyalists there. Furthermore I just don't see the incentive being there for a massive settlement of Loyalists in the region. There will be some Loyalist/British immigration, far less than Stirling's Draka series but will it be enough to significantly change anything? That's the question.

I'm going to do some research at my university Library and see what I come up with.
 
Prison Colony -- Why send them to Australia when SAfrica is so much closer.
Lots more British, so a earlier Great Trek.
Zulu Wars before Shaka Zulu.
 

Lusitania

Donor
If South Africa is turned into a Penal Colony will the reluctant settlers be loyal to Britain or be integrated with the Dutch. Also a siezure of South Africa will also have a major impact on the Dutch there as well as elsewhere. Dutch ships sailing from Dutch East Indies to Amsterdam still need a friendly port, will the Dutch attack and sieze a port nearby. Will the Dutch leave British South Africa for the new Dutch Port?
 
Prison Colony -- Why send them to Australia when SAfrica is so much closer.
Lots more British, so a earlier Great Trek.
Zulu Wars before Shaka Zulu.

Actually, this is far more likely than any kind of Loyalist immigration (though some may indeed occur). The relatively empty South Africa would provide an excellent destination for Britain's convicts after the American revolution. That being said, there will still be a need in OTL to send convicts to "stake a claim" to Australia.
 
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