The Legacy of the Zulu Nation
The land of the Zulu Nation is now just a remainder of the land that was. This land has changed hands for about 6 times since the 1800s and each and every time this change happens the land decreased.
We illustrate briefly below a timeline of this important historical fact for your reading pleasure.
King Shaka kaSenzangakhona
1787 – 22 September 1828
King Shaka was the Son of King Senzangakhona ka Jama, iLembe as he was affectionately known. The first born of ISILO Senzangakhona and Queen Nandi. He was the unifier of the Nguni people into one powerful nation which is the Zulu Kingdom.
ILembe was the ultimate military strategist of the times. In the 12 years of his reign he managed to form a powerful nation and united the Zulu nation. During his reign in 1824 the first British settlers were received by him.
He was assasinated in 1828 and his final resting place is in KwaDukuza.
King Dingane kaSenzangakhona
1795 – 29 January 1840
King Dingane took the baton from his half brother King Shaka and was figthing a different battle. One that was seeking to protect the land and livestock of the Zulu nation from the British settlers. With his main palace in Umgungundlovu King Dingane defeated leaders of the cattle raiding expeditions led by the British.
King Dingane led to confrontation with the Voortrekkers at the battle of Ncome on 16 December 1838.
King Mpande kaSenzangakhona
1798 – 18 October 1872
After the battle of Ncome King Mpande challenged his brother King Dingane and defeated his army at the battle of Maqongqo and dethroned him.
During his time the first ever land grab of Zululand took place. The British Colony Leader Martin West and the then Surveyor General Dr W Stanger excised land belonging to the Zulu nation in 1846 through what they called the Land Boundary Commission. Large tracks of land were taken from the Zulu nation and given the white minority leaving the nation with barren and unproductive land.
Again in 1864 further restrictions were placed on this land that was left for the Zulu Nation in that a Natal Native Trust Land was formed to hold land under traditional leadership. This concept did not return the land back instead it was attempting to lock the communities into this land and did not allow them to move outside of this land without passports.
King Cetshwayo kaMpande
1st reign 1834 – 28 August 1879
2nd reign 1883 – 4 February 1884
King Cetshwayo kaMpande was the leader of the regiments that defeated the British army and is celebrated to date for that victory. He rose to power after the battle of Ndondakusuka where he defeated Prince Mbuyazi’s army.
He was exiled in Cape Town after loosing the battle of Hlobane. He passed on on 8 February 1884.
King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo
1868 – 18 October 1913
It is a known fact that zulu kings were constantly fighting for the return of the land and the assets taken by British colonialists. After taking over the throne King Dinuzulu took up arms and went to attack Zibhebhu, Mnyamana and Zwedu who had pledged their allegiance to the British government. This mission did not succeed and King Dingane was arrested, charged with treason and sentenced to exile in St Helena island. Upon his return he was demoted to a “chief” of Osuthu in Nongoma.
Part of the reasons behind the arrest and exile of the King is that in 1886 the Boer and British Convention further dispossessed land from the Zulu nation. This dispossession resulted in the formation of the Republic of Vryheid. Members of the Zulu nation who were residing in the dispossessed areas were forced to work there for their security of tenure as it is the case to date. This prompted the King to take action against the sellouts who had sold the land and pledged their allegiance to the British settlers.
A similar exercise to the Land Boundary Commission of 1846 further pushed people from prime to barren land. This was the Zululand Lands Delimitation Commission which occurred between 1902 – 1904. This commission declared the Zulu nation land as Native Reserves and could not allow anyone out of this land to other areas.
A final draw in the dispossession of land plan by the Boer and British settlers came in place in 1913 when the Natives Land Act was introduced. This Act was introduced during the establishment of the Union of South Africa and further dispossessed people of their land and forced people to move from farm areas to Native Reserves. It further prohibited the sale of land in white areas to blacks and vice versa.
King Solomon kaDinuzulu
1891 – 4 March 1933
King Dingane took the baton from his half brother King Shaka and was figthing a different battle. One that was seeking to protect the land and livestock of the Zulu nation from the British settlers. With his main palace in Umgungundlovu King Dingane defeated leaders of the cattle raiding expeditions led by the British.
King Dingane led to confrontation with the Voortrekkers at the battle of Ncome on 16 December 1838.
King Cyprian Bhekuzulu Nyangayezizwe kaSolomon
4 August 1924 – 17 September 1968
After the battle of Ncome King Mpande challenged his brother King Dingane and defeated his army at the battle of Maqongqo and dethroned him.
During his time the first ever land grab of Zululand took place. The British Colony Leader Martin West and the then Surveyor General Dr W Stanger excised land belonging to the Zulu nation in 1846 through what they called the Land Boundary Commission. Large tracks of land were taken from the Zulu nation and given the white minority leaving the nation with barren and unproductive land.
Again in 1864 further restrictions were placed on this land that was left for the Zulu Nation in that a Natal Native Trust Land was formed to hold land under traditional leadership. This concept did not return the land back instead it was attempting to lock the communities into this land and did not allow them to move outside of this land without passports.
King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu
1st reign 1834 – 28 August 1879
2nd reign 1883 – 4 February 1884
King Cetshwayo kaMpande was the leader of the regiments that defeated the British army and is celebrated to date for that victory. He rose to power after the battle of Ndondakusuka where he defeated Prince Mbuyazi’s army.
He was exiled in Cape Town after loosing the battle of Hlobane. He passed on on 8 February 1884.
King Misuzulu Sinqobile kaZwelithini
1798 – 18 October 1872
After the battle of Ncome King Mpande challenged his brother King Dingane and defeated his army at the battle of Maqongqo and dethroned him.
During his time the first ever land grab of Zululand took place. The British Colony Leader Martin West and the then Surveyor General Dr W Stanger excised land belonging to the Zulu nation in 1846 through what they called the Land Boundary Commission. Large tracks of land were taken from the Zulu nation and given the white minority leaving the nation with barren and unproductive land.
Again in 1864 further restrictions were placed on this land that was left for the Zulu Nation in that a Natal Native Trust Land was formed to hold land under traditional leadership. This concept did not return the land back instead it was attempting to lock the communities into this land and did not allow them to move outside of this land without passports.
