 Jan G. Bantjes, fluent in both spoken and written Dutch and English, was a close confidant of Paul Kruger with their link dating to the Great Trek days.Jan's father, Jan Gerritze Bantjes had given Paul Kruger his elementary education during the trek and Jan Gerritse was part of his inner core of associates.This closed council would be the committee which set the Transvaal Republic on a collision course with Great Britain and the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902 and which set German feelings toward Britain at boiling point by siding with the Boers.