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1 History - The arrival of Shaka kaSenzangakhona also known as King Shaka 1787

KWADAKUZA ( PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS STANGER )

The town of Kwadakuza  is situated —– kilometres north of Durban on the N2. Dakuza was the site of the royal homestead of king Shaka and also his final resting place. Shaka born in 1787 was the son of Senzangakona a Zulu chieftain and an orphan princess of the Langeni clan by the name of Nandi. When Shaka was six Nandi returned to the Langeni taking her son with her. Around 1802 she and her son were driven out by the Langeni and subsequently found shelter with the Dletsheni a sub clan of the Mthetwa. On reaching the age of 23 Dingiswayo chief of the Mthetwa called up Shaka’s age group for military training. So impressed was Dingiswayo by the bravery of the young Shaka in battle that when Senzangakona died he used his military influence to help Shaka gain power. Shaka proceeded to reorganise and revolutionise the Zulu army. He demanded absolute discipline from his regiments insisting that his men remain celibate during their term of enlistment killing any warrior that flouted this ruling or displayed any signs of fear in battle. He developed complex new battle tactics the most successful and well known being the horn of the beast formation. It was customary for Zulu warriors in battle to throw their spears and retreat Shaka was unimpressed by this tactic considering it to be both cowardly and ineffectual. Shaka developed the method of using long cowhide shields and short stabbing spears known as “assegai’s” which enabled his warriors to retain their weapons and advance right up to their enemies behind protective shields. Shaka conquered and unified a large portion of the regions tribal clans incorporating  the defeated warriors into his royal army. His well provisioned regiments were housed in military towns known as ” iKhanda”. On the 22nd of September 1828 Shaka was assassinated at Dakuza by the treacherous action of his two half brothers Dingane and Umhlangana together with Shaka’s body servant Mbopa. The influence of Shaka’s mighty military machine was felt as far north as Lake Victoria he had succeeded in creating a powerful Zulu kingdom from a small tribal chieftainship.     

4 Luthuli Museum, Dukuza Museum & Shaka Monument

THE DUKUZA INTERPRETIVE CENTRE.

The Dukuza interpretive centre is situated on a section of King Shakas original homestead in the centre of modern day Kwadakuza/Stanger. The centre offers an interpretation of the history of the site through displays and audio presentations. Also on offer are literature and souvenirs.

 

CHIEF ALBERT LUTHULI MUSEUM

Albert John Lutuli (More commonly spelled Luthuli) born circa 1898 and died 21 July 1967. Known by his Zulu name Mvumbi he became a teacher and politician eventually being elected president of the (ANC) an umberella body that led opposition to white minority rule in South Africa. In 1960 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the non violent struggle to end apartheid becoming the first non European/American person to do so. On the

21st July 1961 while out walking near his home he was killed reportedly when he was struck by a train.

3 Ultimatum tree on the Tugela and the unacceptable ultimatum

 

ULTIMATUM TREE 1878  Factors which led to the iSandlwana battle.  

To get there

To access this tree use the track from the car park at Fort Pearson which leads to a footbridge over the N2 and on down to the tree on the banks of the Thukela. Or alternatively proceed—–metres towards the Thukela mouth from the gate into Fort Pearson take the short track on the left which leads to the tree.

Unfortunately the original tree was so badly damaged by the Damoina floods in—– (which washed out half the root system so badly) that it subsequently died . A new fig tree has been planted in its place. The original tree was a declared national monument.

 

On the 11th December 1878 British colonial officials issued an ultimatum to a delegation of Zulus on the banks of the lower Thukela. This ultimatum was to ultimately result in the Anglo Zulu war.

It was a complex series of events that led to the British demands being made. For a number of years the British government had followed a policy of confederation for Southern Africa, that is itwishedtoachieve some kind of political unity for the region. Secretary of state for the colonies, Lord Carnarvon was a major champion of this policy. He appointed Sir Bartle Frere as high commissioner at the Cape with the express view that he pursue this objective. In an effort to facilitate their confederation policy the British annexed the poverty stricken Transvaal in 1877 justifying their actions with promises of financial stability and increased security against hostile Zulus. Despite its obvious advantages the annexation was not popular among the boers.   

 

 Over the years the Transvaal boers had steadily encroached on Zulu territory. The Zulus Justifiably angry had turned to the less aggressive British colonists in Natal for support but support was not forthcoming.

 

A boundary commission was established in 1878 to investigate the respective Boer- Zulu land claims. It reported to Frere in July of that year that the majority of Zulu claims were justified. Therefore it was possible to resolve a major issue which was creating tension and dissatisfaction in Zululand. The problem was that by implementing the recommendations of the boundary commission Freres  confederation plans would have been dealt a major blow. If he supported the Zulus against the Boers, his promises of greater security for the Transvaal Boers would have lacked credibility. In those circumstances the Boers would probably have revolted against the British and would certainly have refused to become part of a confederation. Therefore Frere did not initially respond to the commissions recommendations.

 

In the meantime tension between Zululand and her neighbours mounted . Border incidents began taking place. In one of these two of chief Sihayos wives who had fled across the Buffalo River into Natal seeking refuge, were abducted by the chiefs son and his brother taken back across the border into Zululand and murdered. This incident soured Natal Zululand relations especially as Cetshwayo refused to send the culprits back to Natal to face trial.

 

Frere decided that the easiest solution to his problems was to go to war wit the Zulus. Determined to eliminate the independent and military powerful Zulu Kingdom, he despatched reports to Britain creating the impression that, due to the tensions and border incidents in south- east Africa, war with the Zulus was imminent and that reinforcements were urgently required. And that the whole confederation policy was at stake. However by now Lord Carnarvon had been replaced by Sir Michael Hicks-beach who was not nearly so committed to confederation as his predecessor and as a result not co-operative, urging Frere to find a peaceful solution. However Frere set about flooding the colonial office  with reports of an impending conflict so that he was eventually allowed to move troops from the Cape to Natal. He was now ready to act against the Zulus. On the 16th November 1878 he informed them that the boundary decision would be announced at a meeting on the lower Thukela on the 11th December.

 

Cetshwayo sent three principal chiefs headed by Uvumandaba, eleven subordinate chiefs and about forty followers, to represent him.  The British delegation consisted of J.W.Shepstone secretary for native affairs, C.Brownlee commissioner for native affairs; Cape, H.F.Fynn magistrate and colonel Forestier Walker.  By 11.00h all representatives had gathered on the banks of the lower Thukela those who could find shade did so under a large fig tree now known as the ultimatum tree, others seated themselves under canvas shelters.

 

The boundary award which was read out in English and translated for the chiefs largely upheld the Zulu claims although it had been largely watered down by Frere. However the Boers who could now find themselves in Zulu territory as a result of this award would have their territory guaranteed by the crown. The chiefs were relatively satisfied with the award.

 

After lunch, Shepstone proceeded to read to the Zulus a 4,000 word document which had been drawn up earlier by Frere. They listened to it with growing consternation for it made numerous and harsh demands on their king.  Using certain border incidents as pretext, Frere had in effect, issued an ultimatum, with the following demands to be met within twenty days.

 

 

  • Sihayo’s brother and his three sons were to be surrendered for trial by the Natal
  • A fine of 500 head of cattle was to be paid for Mahlokazulus outrages. And for Cetshwayo’s delay in acceding to Natal’s previous request for his surrender.
  • A further fine of 100 head of cattle was to be paid for an offence committed on the border against two colonists.

 

 

Further demands to be met within thirty days were:

 

  • Mbilini and others were to be surrendered by the Transvaal

 

  • The observance of the king ‘s coronation promises regarding the unjust shedding of blood.

 

  • The Zulu army to be disbanded.

 

  • Every Zulu to be free to marry on reaching maturity.

 

  • Current Zulu system to be disbanded and substituted with a new one worked out between the Zulus and the British.

 

  • Re-admission of missionaries to Zululand.

 

  • A British resident to reside in Zululand to enforce these provisions.

 

  • Any dispute involving a white was to be held in public in the presence of the king and British resident.

 

  • War could be only undertaken with the consent of the British resident.

 

 

As expected it was impossible for the Zulus to comply with this ultimatum it did not give them enough time to consult their people and it effectively struck at the whole social and economic structure of the Zulu nation. The result was that on the 11th January 1879 the British forces invaded Zululand. The left column under Col. Wood entered from the west crossing the Blood river near Bembas Kop; the central column under Col. Glyn entered at Rorkes Drift and. Lastly on the 12th January the right column consisting of 4,750 men under Col C.K. Pearson crossed the Thukela river at Fort Pearson. Frere had got his war.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE PUNT AND ULTIMATUM TREE THUKELA RIVER

 

 

TROOPS OF THE 99th REGIMENT BEING FERRIED ACROSS THE THUKELA RIVER

 

Lagoon Lodge Tee Garden
Proud's Pizza

Zinkwazi Beach Attractions

Zinkwazi Beach Surrounds

Activities

  • Ocean Echo Fishing Charters (Zinkwazi Beach)
  • Prince’s Grant Golf Estate (8.4km)
  • Darnall Country Club (7km)
  • Harold Johnson Nature Reserve (11.7km)

 

Restaurants

  • Ocean Reef Hotel– 032 485 3776
  • The Millers Restaurant (Darnall Country Club) – 032 486 1207
  • Zinkwazi Beach Café – 032 485 3465
  • Proud’s Pizza – 073 169 2367
  • Raffia Lagoon Restaurant – 032 485 3344