Dingane ka Senzangakona
Dingane, or Dingaan as he is known by Europeans, was the son of Senzangakona, and brother of the Great Tshaka and Mpande. He succeeded his brother Tshaka to the Zulu throne.
Dingane had not the military genius of Tshaka, nor had he the vision of a great African Empire, the Empire that his brother had so eagerly fought for, even to the extent of earning for himself the name of “Tshaka the Terrible.” It was during Dingane’s reign that the Boer Voortrekkers frequently visited his country, and it is said that on more than two occasions reports were brought to him by his spies that the Boers were seen by night on all sides of the village in which the Royal Kraal was situated.
This, no doubt, alarmed Dingane and his people; such behaviour was resented and taken to be a challenge. About the same time it was reported that the Boers had driven off a large herd of cattle belonging to the Zulus. Dingane at once sent to the Boers to return his cattle, but the Boers denied that they had taken the cattle, and suggested that a Msutu chief, Sikonyela, must have taken them. They offered to go to this chief and persuade him to return the cattle. A few days later the Boers returned the cattle saying they found them at the kraal of Sikonyela. It was later reported to Dingane that the cattle were never at the kraal of the Msutu chief, but that they were with the Boers all the time. Unpleasant rumours began to circulate as to the intentions. of these strange Boers.
It was stated further that the Boers were daily increasing in numbers. The fact that these people were all armed with deadly sticks that emitted fire which was capable of killing an ox instantly at a distance (rifles)) made matters worse.
The Zulus, who were used to countless victories in their wars, became terrified at the change of events. These strange intruders must be got rid of somehow, and so Dingane and his people decided to kill them if it was proved that they were conspiring against the Zulus. Dingane sent messengers to the Boers to invite them to his kraal. The Boers unsuspectingly accepted the invitation, and on their arrival at the kraal they were closely questioned, but their explanations did not satisfy the Zulu. Dingane decided that they were guilty of conspiring against the Zulus, and plotting to make war. He ordered his warriors to kill them.
This deplorable state of affairs led to the battle between Dingane’s warriors on the one hand and the Boers and Mpande’s-Dingane’s brother-regiments on the other hand. Mpande assisted the Boers because he was anxious. to get rid of his brother and install himself as the ruler of the Zulus, but he feared that the risk was too great if he worked independently. Thus he and all the Zulu warriors under him joined hands with the Boers against Dingane. Finally Dingane was defeated with heavy losses at Blood River (Encome), Natal. Dingane fled to Swaziland and was there murdered.