Discuss the reasons for the failure of the freeburgher system introduced at the cape in 1657.

It is perhaps a misnomer to speak of the "failure" of the
Free burgher system, as it was for many years quite successful. The Free burghers were
Dutch immigrants to South Africa who at first were restricted to supplying food and
supplies to ships from the Dutch East India Company, also known as the VOC or
Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie. The company at first prohibited
interaction with the native peoples of the area known as the Khoi khoi. A shortage of
supplies, etc. caused this restriction to be lifted and free burghers (as those released
from the restriction were called) soon established a thriving agricultural business
which was in part based on the enslavement of the local people. Strict Dutch Calvinists,
the free burghers interpreted their success as a sign that God had approved of and
blessed their occupation of the territory.

Their occupation
of the territory lasted until the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815 at which time Great Britain
took control of the Cape of South Africa. The Free burghers, now known as
Afrikaners(Africans) or Boers (farmers,) resented British rule, particularly the
abolition of slavery in 1833. They then began moving inland in the Great Trek. Those who
participated were known as voortrekkers, (Dutch for "pioneers.") They easily overcame
native people with the aid of firearms which again they interpreted as a sign of God's
favor toward them. They established a number of free republics which flourished until
the discovery of gold and diamonds brought in more British. The end result was the Boer
war, which culminated in 1902 with the establishment of the Union of South Africa, a
British colony. Thus the free burgher system was successful for almost 350
years.