Final answer:
The Boers, descendants of Dutch settlers, fought against the British and resented the presence of the Afrikaners during the Boer Wars, resulting from tensions over British colonial policies and the discovery of minerals in South Africa.
Step-by-step explanation:
The people who fought against the British and resented the presence of the Afrikaners were primarily the Boers, descendants of Dutch settlers in South Africa. The Boers, also known as Afrikaners, engaged in a series of conflicts with the British, notably during the Boer Wars. The first Boer War saw the Boers successfully repel a British invasion in 1881, while the Second Boer War (1899-1902) was a brutal conflict involving guerrilla warfare and led to the ultimate defeat of the Boers. The Second Boer War was influenced not only by British interests but also by external factors including German support of the Boers, which contributed to the tension between Britain and Germany on the eve of World War One.
During the 19th century, the Boers, seeking to maintain their autonomy and lifestyle, began the 'Great Trek' inland to escape British control and policies such as the abolishment of slavery. The trek led to the formation of independent republics, namely the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State. However, the discovery of valuable minerals like diamonds and gold in Boer territories intensified British efforts to dominate the region, culminating in increased military confrontations culminating in the aforementioned Boer Wars.
Aside from the Boers, other indigenous groups such as the Xhosa and Khoisan, and even the coloured communities, which were a mix of European, African, and native Dutch East Indies descent, had various levels of conflict with the British and Dutch settlers over land rights, autonomy, and later over the oppressive policies of racial segregation known as apartheid.