the second boer war (1899 to 1902) caused the end of the south african republic. after this war, the united kingdom took control of south africa. during the war, winston churchill was imprisoned in the staats model school in pretoria. he later got free and went to mozambique. the city surrendered to british forces on june 5, 1900. the war ended in pretoria with the signing of the peace of vereeniging on may 31 1902.