The temporary peace between Britain and Napoleonic France had crumbled into open hostilities, while Napoleon had been strengthening his influence on the Batavian Republic (which he will subsequently abolish later this year).

The British, who hope to keep Napoleon out of the Cape, and to control the Far East trade routes, had dispatched a fleet to the Cape in July 1805, to forestall French troopships that Napoleon had sent to reinforce the Cape garrison.

The colony is governed by Lieutenant General Jan Willem Janssens, who is also commander-in-chief of its military forces.

The forces are small and of poor quality, and include foreign units hired by the Batavian government.

They are backed up by local militia units.

The first British warship had reached the Cape on Christmas Eve 1805, and attacked two supply ships off the Cape Peninsula.

Janssens had placed his garrison on alert.

When the main fleet sailed into Table Bay on January 4, 1806, he mobilizes the garrison, declares martial law, and calls up the militia.