Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

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In 1847, there were already 70 families in the area where A.T. Spies, C.
van Rooyen, 1. de Lange, N. Smith, J. Meyer and D.e. Uys promoted
friendly ties with Mpande. IO ' Andries Spies, Gert van Niekerk, Isak van
Niekerk and Lodewyk de Jager, accompanied by a Zulu interpreter
Mkhonto (alias Assegai), at this stage went to Mpande who told them that
his area stretched up to the Thukela. '9s The Zulu king denied that he had
given up the area between Thukela and Mzinyathi (Buffalo) Rivers to the
British.'96
Mpande wanted to pursue a "milder and more peaceful" diplomacy. He
welcomed the Voortrekkers as a buffer between his kingdom and the
British. To determine the border between the Voortrekkers and the Zulus,
Mpande sent a few of his headmen to the Voortrekkers. '97 It was agreed
that the whole area up to Mzinyathi River would be occupied by the
Voortrekkers. Spies first wanted to ensure that the land did not belong to
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19S
196
197
A.I. du Plessis: Die Republiek alalia er. Archive Yearbook for South African History. Vol. l
1942, p. 214: I.F. van Oordt Paul Kruger en de opkOmSl van de Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek..
pp. 53 - 56.
C.O. 179/50, P.RO.: AT. Spies to W. Harding, 27 September 1847.
M.C. van Zyl: Luitentant-Goewemeur Martin West en die Natalse Voortrekkers. 1845
- 1849, p. 135.
TJ. Lucas: The Zulus and the British Frontiers, pp. 109 - 110; B.P.P: Statement­
T. Shepstone - installing Cetshwayo, August 1873. pp. 5 - 7.