Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

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Mpande north of the Thukela. The Voortrekkers attempted to ensure for
themselves a peaceful land with rich promises ....
The Voortrekkers of the Republic of Natalia established a regular
government and settlement. The previous tyrannical Zulu potentate had
been replaced by Mpande, whom they perceived as not so bellicose and
overbearing." The area south of the Thukela became populated by
Voortrekkers in a very short time. The policy ofthe Republic's Volksraad
was to keep the area between the Thukela mouth and Mzinyathi reserved
for security reasons, "for compensation of damage inflicted by the Zulus
of Dingane that were not yet paid.''96 The Republic east of the
Drakensberg was divided into three magisterial districts:
Pietermaritzburg, Port Natal and Weenen. Pietermaritzburg became the
capital city and seat ofthe parliament."
The Voortrekkers, convinced of Mpande's cordial disposition, resolved
not to interfere with his domestic affairs. This was with the proviso that
Mpande kept to the agreements regarding humanitarian principles aimed
.. 95
97
T.S. van Rooyen: Die Verhouding tussen die Boere, Engelse en Naturelle in die
geskiedenis van die Oos-Transvaal, p. 74; G.S. Preller: Amlries Pretorius,
pp. 120-121.
lA.l. Agar-Hamilton: The Native Policy ofthe Voonrekkers, pp. 32 - 33.
W.R. Ludlow: Zululand and Cetshwavo, p. 20 I. .
A.P van de Merwe: Die Voorgeskiedenis van die Republiek Lvdenburg, p. 9; G.S.
Preller: Andries Pretorius, pp. 127 - 128.