Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

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surrendered the land to the Voortrekkers. 208 They were under the
impression that this area formed part of Natal Colony and after the death
of P.C. Scheepers, one of the residents of the area, sent an auctioneer
(p. Ferreira) to sell his farm "Renosterfontein.''209 Andries Spies and other
delegates of the "Klip River Republic" protested violently against the
British interference. Ferreira had to return to Pietermaritzburg with no
result. They argued that no one had a right to interfere with a country
they bought from Mpande."·
The British authorities rejected the independence of the Klip River
Voortrekkers and their friendship with Mpande. They feared that the Klip
River Voortrekkers, in cahoots with the Zulu king, could invade Natal m
In a desperate attempt to subject these Voortrekkers to British power, two
Natal Zulus (Zashuke and Nomzwezwe) were sent to Andries Spies with a
letter and a few copies of a document which indicated the borders of
Natal, including the Klip River area as part of Natal Colony 21' Spies
returned the documents unopened with the message:
210
211
21::!
M.C. van Zyl: Lurtenant-Goewerneur Martin West en die ataIse Voortrekkers, 1845­
1849, p. 156.
J.0. Huyser: Die aturelle-Politiek van die Suid-Afrikaanse Republjek-, p. 92.
C.O. 179/50, P.R.O.: P. Ferreira to D. Moodie, 21 May 1847; C.W. de Krewiet:
British Colornal Policv and the South African Republics. 1848 - 1872, pp. 100-2.
M.M. Behn: The Klip River Insurrection, 1847. (Unpublished M.A. Dissertation,
Natal, 1932), pp. 13 - 15.
J.SA., Vol. I, Evidence ofZashuka and Olllzwezwe, 12 May 1914, p. 27; S.N.A.
1/1/9, N.A: A Spies to Shepstone, 4 June 1847.