Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

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Voortrekkers of Utrecht subsequently threatened relations with KwaZulu,
M.W. Pretorius did not hesitate to intervene.'" On 9 March 1858 he
instituted a Commission consisting of J.B. Visser, J.c. Steyn and
Christiaan Klopper to visit Mpande.!9-l The Commission had to reinforce
the long existing friendship and good relations with the Zulu nation and
remove misconceptions that might have developed.'" By sending the
Commission to KwaZulu, M.W. Pretorius also wanted to demonstrate his
influence on Mpande. Mpande was friendly towards the Commission and
declared in the presence of all his headmen (izinduna), particularly his
Prime Minister (uNdunankulu) Masiphula Ntshangase, that he and the
Zulu nation were subjects ofthe Voortrekker Republic. 296
On 19 July 1858, three months after the Commission had left KwaZulu,
Mpande sent emissaries to Theophilus Shepstone in Pietermaritzburg to
report about his dealings with the Voortrekkers.'" The emissaries
conveyed to the British authorities Mpande's denial that he had made any
land session to the Voortrekkers. They argued that Mpande could not
""
I.P. BlignaUl: Die Ontstaan en Ontwikkeling van die ieuwe Republiek (Unpublished
MA Dissertation, UNlSA. 1943), pp. 143 - 144.
T.S van Rooyen: Die Verhouding tussn die Boere, Engelse en aturelle in die
Geskiedenis van die Oos-Transvaal. er Archive Yearbook for South African History.
Vol. n, 1955, p. 48.
D.W. Kruger: Die Weg na die See. cr Archive Yearbook for South African History,
Vol.l., 1938. p. 159.
FAF. Wichmann: Die Wordingsgeskiedenis van die Zuid-Afrikaanse Republiek. cr
Archive Yearbook for South African History, Vot IT, 1941, p. 224.
S.N.A. 11118: D.e. Toohey to T. Shepstone, 25 July 1858.