Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

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ofhis solemn undertakings, the Zulu king had no plans to co-operate with
the Voortrekkers 268
The reason was that the chances of success were limited for a small group
of Klip River Voortrekkers, surrounded by unco-operative Zulu refugees
to conquer the British forces. Mkhonto also played a double role and
convinced Mpande to give up the contemplated invasion. He assured the
Zulu king that the British were more powerful than the Voortrekkers and
then left for Pietermaritzburg to tell everything to the British.'69 This
resulted in Mpande's complete change of attitude. In January 1848 the
king sent a delegation consisting of Gebhula, Tshatsha, Mahhubulwana,
Mtshelwana and Madala to Theophilus Shepstone (Diplomatic Agent) in
Pietermaritzburg to keep him updated with the plans of the Klip River
Voortrekkers. 270 They told Shepstone that Mpande wished to live in peace
and friendship with the British. The Voortrekkers in the Laagers at
Doornkop concluded that negotiations with Mpande were unsuccessful.
They then prepared themselves to move over the Drakensberg to a free
territory in the interior. 271
268
269
270
:m
G.S. Preller: Amiries Pretorius, p. 120.
M.M. Behn: The Klip River Insurrection, 1847. (Unpublisbed M.A. Dissertation,
Natal, 1932), pp. 49 - 53.
M. C. van Zyl: Luitenant-Goewerneur Manin West en die Natalse Voortrekkers, 1845
_ 1849, p. 172: c.J. Uys: In the Era ofSbepstone, p. 28.
RP.P. - MWest to T. Sbepstone, 3 January 1848; S.N.A. 11112: D.e. Toonev to D.
Moodie, 28 December 1848; C.J. Uys: In the Era ofSbepstone, p. 28.