Who were the boers? how did they influence the european presence in south africa?

The Boers were immigrants from Germany, France and the Netherlands who settled in the First European Colony established in South Africa ( at present day Cape Town) in 1653 by a Dutchman called Jan Van Riebeek. The Boers created very large farms which served to bring much economic gain. At first, the Dutch were only interested in establishing a supply base for the Dutch East India Company in 1652. But over the next 150 years, The Dutch and other immigrants which formed the Boer community moved further inland and began engaging in agriculture and other economic activities, thus encouraging more Europeans to come and settle there.