After the fall of Pretoria on 5 June 1900, without a shot being fired, Boer Commandant-General (Transvaal) Louis Botha, on 7 June 1900, called a meeting of all his senior officers. In addition to getting buy-in from all to carry on with the war, it was to plan a line of defence to prevent the British advance to the east. This defensive line was to extend for 40 km, with the Pretoria/Delagoa Bay railway line running through the centre of the position. The defensive position chosen was in the hills, 30 km to the east of Pretoria.
