Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

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Lieutenant-Colonel Cloete presented the proclamation of 12 May 1843 to
the Volksraad in Pietermaritzburg. The proclamation stated that there
would be legally no difference between colour, origin, language or
religion. No aggression against the Zulus and no slavery would be
tolerated. l57 The British laws disregarded all agreements the Voortrekkers
previously concluded with Mpande. The Voortrekkers were called upon
to present their views regarding the judicial and other local institutions
introduced by the British. I " They requested that Zulu refugees be moved
to the area north of the Thukela, except those who wished to work in
White areas I '. Cloete made it clear to the Volksraad that the British were
not prepared to differentiate between Whites and Blacks I60
The British were determined to curb Voortrekker advance to the east
coast. They realised that the possible harbour at St. Lucia estuary was
situated in the area Mpande had previously promised to the Voortrekkers
in payment of the commando costs against Dingane. 161 The Voortrekkers
did not regard St. Lucia Bay as part of the British annexation of the
Republic of Natalia. While negotiating with the British Commissioner,
they excluded St. Lucia. l62 They mentioned that the Republic's Volksraad
99
100
101
102
103
104
Cloete's Final Report, 30 May 1844, Bird. I. Annals of Natal, pp. 529 - 532.
V.c. MaJherbe: What Thev Said. 1795 - 19 IO HistOry Documents. pp. 79 - 83.
A. Cloete to Napier, 4 July 1842, Bird.. I. Annals ofNataJ. pp. 40 - 42.
J. Beall et aI: Conceptualising Natal-implications ofa regional political economy.
p.31.
C.J. Uys: In the Era of ShepSlom; p. 35.
Ibid., p. 35.