Some of the articles of the Bond's original manifesto can be considered entirely neutral, e.g. those referring to the administration of justice, honouring people, etc. However, these clauses were meaningless in the view of the government in Cape Colony, for Article 3 on the manifesto advocated complete independence (Zelfstandieheid) for South Africa, which was tantamount to treason against the Crown.
Nogen af artiklerne i Bonds oprindelige manifest kan regnes som helt neutrale, dvs. de som henviste til justitsadministrationen, ærede folket osv. Men disse klausuler var meningsløse i synet på myndighederne i Kapkolonien, for artikel 3 i manifestet talte for en fuldstændig uafhængighed (zelfstandieheid) for Sydafrika, noget som tilsvarede højforræderi mod tronen.