The first large group of Voortrekkers left the Eastern Frontier at the end of 1835 under the leadership of Louis Tregardt and Lang Hans van Rensburg, two elephant hunters. They moved across the Orange River to the Transorangia mainly on rafts made from tree stumps, on their way to the Soutpansberg and the Limpopo River Valley. It was an excellent hunting area, but, unfortunately, also home to the tsetse fly and malaria mosquito.

Van Rensburg moved into the Limpopo River Valley in order to open a route for ivory trade with Delagoa Bay, but clashed with the local Tsonga and his whole group was killed.

The Tregardt group could not find them and left for Delagoa Bay. Only a few Trekkers survived the journey because of malaria. Tregardt kept a complete diary about this. From there, they went to Port Natal aboard a ship.

Early in 1836, Andries Hendrik Potgieter’s and Sarel Cilliers’ parties arrived at Thaba Nchu. Potgieter traded land from the Taung under the leadership of Makwana. Potgieter received land in exhange for cattle and protection against the Ndebele. They also met Maroka, chief of the Rolong. They also had friendly relations with the neighbouring Tlokao under Sekonyela and Piet David’s Griquas. The Voortrekkers made friends with the Basotho. They traded in livestock, ammunition and rifles.

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Meanwhile, Potgieter went to Tregardt at the Soutpansberg to negotiate accommodation and a harbour in the north. Their groups stayed near Thaba Nchu. Small groups of these people often crossed the Vaal River to hunt.

Mzilikazi was very worried about the large groups of people who could threaten his Ndebele Empire. The Rolong, Tlokoa and Griquas often carried out raids and the Zulu often attacked him.

Mzilikazi’s chief induna, Kaliphi, then attacked the Voortrekkers and carried off some of their livestock. The Liebenberg party was almost completely destroyed, but the other groups helped to ward off the attack.

Potgieter heard about this on his return in August 1836. In October, the Ndebele attacked the square shaped Voortrekker laager at Vegkop. The main battle did not last longer than 30 minutes and approximately 40 Trekkers repulsed the 6 000 Ndebele. About 430 Ndebele and two Voortrekkers were killed. The Ndebele also raided 100 horses, 400 cattle, 5 600 sheep and the draught oxen. Food became very scarce, because it was not safe to hunt. Maroka offered the Trekkers food and draught oxen.

b) Imagine you are a Zulu spy during the Battle of Vegkop. Find answers to the questions below and then write a short report on the battle.

c) Divide the class into groups and discuss the following:

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Meanwhile, Gerrit Maritz’s, Piet Uys’s and Piet Retief’s parties also arrived at Thaba Nchu. Retief was elected as chief leader of the more than 5 000 Trekkers. A Volksraad was elected to maintain law and order. A constitution was adopted to regulate affairs and give the community a republican character. They also decided to exchange land and establish farms.

Difference of opinion on the future route to be followed led to divisions among the Voortrekkers:

Potgieter wanted to establish a strong Boerestaat in the northern interior. There they would be far away from British domination. He did not wish to settle on the land exchanged from Makwana. He did not want to trek to Natal, because he believed that the English would be interested in the coastal area.

The Volksvergadering then decided to trek to Natal, over the Drakensberg, while Potgieter’s group would trek northwards.

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d) Look at the sketch of the trek over the Drakensberg to Natal and answer the questions:

Why are the trees chopped down?

Activity 1

(a) See reasons for the Trek

They respected each another

Place to stay before they continued their trek northwards.