The day the Tugela ran red

Just shy of 60km North of Ballito – near the town of Mandeni – lies the site of one of the most important battles of the Zulu people, the battle of Ndondakasuka Hill.

Peter Ardington, an amateur historian who grew up on a farm that the battle rolled right over, is concerned that much of the history is being lost.

Together with Nyoni local Vincent Ngcobo, Ardington has been educating people about the rich history of the area and in particular, the significance of the battle of Ndondakasuka Hill.

“I grew up knowing of the battle and in the 60’s numerous artifacts, such as assegais, were found just above the current site of the Total filling station,” said Ardington, whose father bought the farm in 1936.

“This sparked my interest and I did a lot of research on the battle over the years, as well as talking to locals.”

The battle was the culmination of a succession struggle between Cetshewayo and Mbuyazi, the two eldest sons of the king Mpande.

Cetshewayo was the eldest son of King Mpande and next in line for the throne of the Zulu nation, but Mpande favoured his next eldest son, Mbuyazi.

Mbuyazi was Mpande’s second son by a widow of the great Shaka, which formed part of the basis for Mpande’s support of Mbuyazi.

Meanwhile, Cetshewayo was seen by many Zulus as the rightful heir, and so warriors flocked to his support.

“Mpande loved the gentler and non-militaristic Mbuyazi,” according to Ardington.

“Cetshewayo in turn was horrified that, in his view, his father was gradually letting the mighty nation that Shaka had forged degenerate into a soft, idle, undisciplined people.”

“The more Mpande perceived Cetshewayo’s support to be growing the more he favoured Mbuyazi with royal favours and praises.”

“The more he did this the more it antagonized the half brothers and polarized their supporters.”

This set the stage for one of the bloodiest civil battles in Zulu history.

Much of the battle – which included not only Zulus from both sides but also a few white colonials, both British and Afrikaans – took place along the banks of the Tugela River and over the surrounding hills.

It is estimated that between 15 000 and 20 000 people were killed during this brutal battle on December 2, 1856 which was eventually won by the ruthless Cetshewayo.

So many people were killed that the mouth of the Tugela River where the bodies began to wash up was later referred to as the Mathambo (‘place of bones’).

One of the more remarkable events of the battle was the experience of E.F Rathbone.

Rathbone was a hunter-tradesman who found himself caught on a small sandy island in the middle of the Tugela river in the midst of this brutal fight as Cetshewayo’s forces were pushing their enemies across the river, slaughtering as they went.

According to Ardington, “he was liked and respected by many Zulus of both factions as an honest and helpful trader. ”

To his utter surprise, Rathbone found that many of the Zulu warriors, instead of slaughtering him along with the rest, interrupted the business of killing to greet him in the traditional, polite Zulu way.

“This rigorous code of politeness and civility – the Hlonipha of the old Zulu order – was so strongly embedded in these young men that the serious business at hand had to be interrupted to ensure that any fellow human one came across could not be denied customary respect and greeting.”

“May it be reborn in many black and white young people today.”

Ardington explained that he and Ngcobo are trying to stimulate more interest in the area among both tourists and local Zulus.

“Vincent has translated much of the talk on the battle into Zulu, which is great because there are thoughts and ideas he can express in Zulu that just aren’t the same in English.”

Ardington has in the past offered talks for groups and school tours and is very keen to get Ngcobo more involved, “as a Zulu talking to Zulus.”

Peter Ardington can be reached at 083 655 3339 and Vincent Ngcobo at 072 941 9052 or 072 454 1754.

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