Mgolombane Sandile
Encyclopedia
Mgolombane Sandile was a Chief of the Ngqika
("Gaikas") and King of the Rharhabe
tribe - a sub-group of the Xhosa nation. A dynamic and charismatic chief, he led the Xhosa armies in several of the Cape-Xhosa Frontier Wars
. Newly armed with guns, Sandile's forces successfully inflicted losses on their enemies that led to Sandile gaining a reputation as a Xhosa hero. He was captured during the War of the Axe in 1847, but on his release he was granted land in "British Kaffraria" for his people. He later supported Chief Sarhili(Kreli) in a war against the Cape Colony
and the Fingo
tribe, and he was killed in 1878 in a shootout with Fingo soldiers.
.
The Xhosa nation had long been divided between the eastern Gcaleka
(ruled at the time by Sarhili) and Sandile's Rharhabe
to the west.
War". Tensions had long been simmering between farmers on both sides of the frontier between the Cape Colony
and the Xhosa lands, and cattle raids were frequently launched across the border.
The conflict was sparked when a Khoikhoi
escort, who was transporting a manacled Xhosa thief to Grahamstown
to be tried for stealing an axe, was attacked and killed by Xhosa raiders. Sandile refused to surrender the murderer and war broke out in March 1846. Sandile's Ngqika
s were the chief tribe engaged in the war, assisted by portions of the Ndlambe and the Thembu
. Xhosa soldiers had, by this time, replaced their traditional weapons with modern firearms and it was their new use of guns and horses that made the Xhosa much more effective in fighting the British.
A slow British column, sent to confront Sandile, was temporarily delayed at the Amatola Mountains and Xhosa raiders were able to quickly capture the center of the three mile long wagon train which was not being defended - carrying away the British officer's supply of wine and other supplies. On 28 May, a force of 8,000 Xhosa attacked the small British and Fingo Garrison at Fort Peddie, but were defeated after a long shootout.
A sizable army of Ndlambe Xhosa were also defeated on June 7, 1846 by General Somerset
on the Gwangu, a few miles from Fort Peddie. By early 1847, most of the major Xhosa clans had made peace with the colony.
Violence flared up again over claims that members of Sandile's tribe stole a number of goats from the neighbouring Kat River Settlement. Sandile gained considerable respect for successfully eluding the British during their intensive sweeps of the Amatola forests, in spite of his physical disability.
The war continued until Sandile was eventually captured and sent to Grahamstown
. The other chiefs gradually followed suit. On 23 December 1847, the Keiskamma to upper Kei region was annexed as the British Kaffraria
Colony, with King William's Town
as capital.
Believing that the chiefs were responsible for the unrest caused by Mlanjeni's preaching, Governor Sir Harry Smith travelled to British Kaffraria
to meet with the prominent chiefs. Sandile refused to attend a meeting outside Fort Cox as he distrusted Governor Smith's motives, so Smith ordered him deposed and declared him a fugitive. On 24 December, a British detachment sent to arrest Sandile was ambushed by Xhosa warriors in the Boomah Pass. The party was forced to retreat to Fort White under heavy fire.
The Xhosa forces advanced into the colony and British Kaffraria
erupted in a massive uprising in December 1850, joined by half-Khoi, half-Xhosa chief Hermanus Matroos. British military villages along the frontier were burned, and the post at Line Drift captured.
After these initial successes, however, the Xhosa experienced a series of setbacks. Xhosa forces were repulsed in separate attacks on Fort White and Fort Hare. Similarly, on January 7, Hermanus and his supporters launched an offensive on the town of Fort Beaufort
, which was defended by a small detachment of troops and local volunteers. The attack failed however, and Hermanus was killed.
By the end of January, the imperial troops had received reinforcements from the Cape Colony
and a force under Colonel Mackinnon was able to successfully drive north from King William's Town to resupply the beleaguered garrisons at Fort White, Fort Cox and Fort Hare. With fresh men and supplies, the British expelled the remainder of Hermanus' rebel forces (now under the command of Willem Uithaalder) from Fort Armstrong and drove them west toward the Amatola Mountains
. Insurgents led by Sandile's brother Maqoma established themselves in the forested Water Kloof and held out for a considerable time in this stronghold.
/Fingo
people, by Sarhili's Gcaleka
Xhosa. The Fingo nation, however, were traditional allies of the Cape Colony
and a war between the Gcaleka Xhosa and the Cape ensued. When summoned to meet at King William's Town
, the Gcaleka chief refused. Sandile, who on his release had been granted land in "British Kaffraria" for his people, fatally threw in his lot with Sarhili and his Gcaleka armies. The armies of the Fingo and the Cape Colony soon emerged victorious, Sandile was killed in a shootout with Fingo soldiers in 1878, and all remaining Xhosa territory then became part of the Cape Colony .
Xhosa, and had consequently become traditional allies of the Cape Colony
).
He died a few days later and his body was brought to a nearby military camp. Widely admired by this time, he was given a full military funeral at which his body was carried on eight rifles by Fingo pall-bearers. Sandile was buried by the graves of British soldiers A.Dicks and F.Hillier, who were killed in the same war.
Sandile's grave is today about 16 kilometres from Stutterheim at the foothills of the Amatola Mountains
where he fought many of his campaigns. A memorial plaque erected at the grave site in 1941 reads as follows:
SANDILE
Chief of the Gaikas. Born about 1820
Killed in the Ninth Kaffir War 1877/1878
and buried here on 9.6.1878
Recent excavations - overseen by the local Xhosa community - have confirmed the body's identity and dispelled centuries-old rumours that Sandile was post-humously decapitated.
Ngqika
The Ngqika are a tribe of the Rharhabe Xhosa whose homeland is in the former Ciskei area of the Eastern Cape.Their famous chief Sandile led most of the Rharhabe Xhosa in a series of the frontier wars with the Cape Colony....
("Gaikas") and King of the Rharhabe
Rharhabe
The Rharhabe are a Xhosa sub-group found on the Ciskei section of the Eastern Cape. Their counterparts are the AmaGcaleka which are found on the Transkei section of the Eastern Cape.-History of the Rharhabe:...
tribe - a sub-group of the Xhosa nation. A dynamic and charismatic chief, he led the Xhosa armies in several of the Cape-Xhosa Frontier Wars
Xhosa wars
The Xhosa Wars, also known as the Cape Frontier Wars, were a series of nine wars between the Xhosa people and European settlers, from 1779 to 1879 in what is now the Eastern Cape in South Africa....
. Newly armed with guns, Sandile's forces successfully inflicted losses on their enemies that led to Sandile gaining a reputation as a Xhosa hero. He was captured during the War of the Axe in 1847, but on his release he was granted land in "British Kaffraria" for his people. He later supported Chief Sarhili(Kreli) in a war against the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
and the Fingo
Fingo
Fingo may refer to:* The Fingo tribe of South Africa.* Fingo fever, a disease of Victorian Australia.* FinGO, a mobile communications company.* The 'hypotheses non fingo'....
tribe, and he was killed in 1878 in a shootout with Fingo soldiers.
Early life
He was born at Burns Hill in 1820, at which time the Xhosa lands were still independent. His father died in 1829 while Sandile was still quite young and Maqoma, Sandile’s brother, acted as Regent until 1872 when Sandile was installed as King. Sandile was born with one leg shorter than the other, which made it difficult for him to walk, but he nevertheless played an important role in the Frontier WarsXhosa wars
The Xhosa Wars, also known as the Cape Frontier Wars, were a series of nine wars between the Xhosa people and European settlers, from 1779 to 1879 in what is now the Eastern Cape in South Africa....
.
The Xhosa nation had long been divided between the eastern Gcaleka
Gcaleka
The Gcaleka are a major sub-group of the Xhosa found in the Transkei area of the Eastern Cape. Their counterparts in Ciskei are the Rharhabe.The Gcaleka kingdom was founded by Gcaleka kaPhalo, who became chief in 1775....
(ruled at the time by Sarhili) and Sandile's Rharhabe
Rharhabe
The Rharhabe are a Xhosa sub-group found on the Ciskei section of the Eastern Cape. Their counterparts are the AmaGcaleka which are found on the Transkei section of the Eastern Cape.-History of the Rharhabe:...
to the west.
The Seventh Frontier War (1846-1847)
The 7th Frontier War was also known as the "War of the Axe" or the "AmatolaAmatola Mountains
Amatola, Amatole or Amathole are a range of densely forested mountains, situated in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The word Amatole means "calves", and Amatole District Municipality, which lies to the south, is named after these mountains.-Natural history:Part the 'Amatola and...
War". Tensions had long been simmering between farmers on both sides of the frontier between the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
and the Xhosa lands, and cattle raids were frequently launched across the border.
The conflict was sparked when a Khoikhoi
Khoikhoi
The Khoikhoi or Khoi, in standardised Khoekhoe/Nama orthography spelled Khoekhoe, are a historical division of the Khoisan ethnic group, the native people of southwestern Africa, closely related to the Bushmen . They had lived in southern Africa since the 5th century AD...
escort, who was transporting a manacled Xhosa thief to Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
to be tried for stealing an axe, was attacked and killed by Xhosa raiders. Sandile refused to surrender the murderer and war broke out in March 1846. Sandile's Ngqika
Ngqika
The Ngqika are a tribe of the Rharhabe Xhosa whose homeland is in the former Ciskei area of the Eastern Cape.Their famous chief Sandile led most of the Rharhabe Xhosa in a series of the frontier wars with the Cape Colony....
s were the chief tribe engaged in the war, assisted by portions of the Ndlambe and the Thembu
Thembu
The Thimbu are one of the handful of nations and population groups which speak Xhosa in South Africa. In Xhosa the name is abaThembu, aba- being a common prefix for peoples....
. Xhosa soldiers had, by this time, replaced their traditional weapons with modern firearms and it was their new use of guns and horses that made the Xhosa much more effective in fighting the British.
A slow British column, sent to confront Sandile, was temporarily delayed at the Amatola Mountains and Xhosa raiders were able to quickly capture the center of the three mile long wagon train which was not being defended - carrying away the British officer's supply of wine and other supplies. On 28 May, a force of 8,000 Xhosa attacked the small British and Fingo Garrison at Fort Peddie, but were defeated after a long shootout.
A sizable army of Ndlambe Xhosa were also defeated on June 7, 1846 by General Somerset
Henry Somerset (British Army officer)
Lieutenant General Sir Henry Somerset KCB KH was a British Army officer, the eldest son of Lord Charles Somerset....
on the Gwangu, a few miles from Fort Peddie. By early 1847, most of the major Xhosa clans had made peace with the colony.
Violence flared up again over claims that members of Sandile's tribe stole a number of goats from the neighbouring Kat River Settlement. Sandile gained considerable respect for successfully eluding the British during their intensive sweeps of the Amatola forests, in spite of his physical disability.
The war continued until Sandile was eventually captured and sent to Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
. The other chiefs gradually followed suit. On 23 December 1847, the Keiskamma to upper Kei region was annexed as the British Kaffraria
British Kaffraria
British Kaffraria was a British colony/subordinate administrative entity in present-day South Africa, consisting of the districts now known as King Williams Town and East London.The term Kaffraria stems from the word "Kaffir"...
Colony, with King William's Town
King William's Town
King William's Town is a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa along the banks of the Buffalo River. The town is about 40 minutes' motorway drive WNW of the Indian Ocean port of East London...
as capital.
The Eighth Frontier War (1850–1853)
Also known as the Mlanjeni's War. Bitter at their recent defeat in the War of the Axe, the Xhosa found hope in a new prophet Mlanjeni, who predicted that the Xhosa would be unaffected by the colonists' bullets and promised supernatural aid to assist in the overthrow of their white neighbours.Believing that the chiefs were responsible for the unrest caused by Mlanjeni's preaching, Governor Sir Harry Smith travelled to British Kaffraria
British Kaffraria
British Kaffraria was a British colony/subordinate administrative entity in present-day South Africa, consisting of the districts now known as King Williams Town and East London.The term Kaffraria stems from the word "Kaffir"...
to meet with the prominent chiefs. Sandile refused to attend a meeting outside Fort Cox as he distrusted Governor Smith's motives, so Smith ordered him deposed and declared him a fugitive. On 24 December, a British detachment sent to arrest Sandile was ambushed by Xhosa warriors in the Boomah Pass. The party was forced to retreat to Fort White under heavy fire.
The Xhosa forces advanced into the colony and British Kaffraria
British Kaffraria
British Kaffraria was a British colony/subordinate administrative entity in present-day South Africa, consisting of the districts now known as King Williams Town and East London.The term Kaffraria stems from the word "Kaffir"...
erupted in a massive uprising in December 1850, joined by half-Khoi, half-Xhosa chief Hermanus Matroos. British military villages along the frontier were burned, and the post at Line Drift captured.
After these initial successes, however, the Xhosa experienced a series of setbacks. Xhosa forces were repulsed in separate attacks on Fort White and Fort Hare. Similarly, on January 7, Hermanus and his supporters launched an offensive on the town of Fort Beaufort
Fort Beaufort
Fort Beaufort is a town in the Amatole District of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, and has a population of 78,300. The town was established in 1837 and became a municipality in 1883. The town lies at the confluence of the Kat and Brak rivers between the Keiskamma and Great Fish rivers...
, which was defended by a small detachment of troops and local volunteers. The attack failed however, and Hermanus was killed.
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
and a force under Colonel Mackinnon was able to successfully drive north from King William's Town to resupply the beleaguered garrisons at Fort White, Fort Cox and Fort Hare. With fresh men and supplies, the British expelled the remainder of Hermanus' rebel forces (now under the command of Willem Uithaalder) from Fort Armstrong and drove them west toward the Amatola Mountains
Amatola Mountains
Amatola, Amatole or Amathole are a range of densely forested mountains, situated in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The word Amatole means "calves", and Amatole District Municipality, which lies to the south, is named after these mountains.-Natural history:Part the 'Amatola and...
. Insurgents led by Sandile's brother Maqoma established themselves in the forested Water Kloof and held out for a considerable time in this stronghold.
The Ninth Frontier War (1877–1879)
This 9th War started after the supposed harassing of the MfenguMfengu
The Fengu are a Bantu people; originally closely related to the Zulu people. They were previously known in English as the "Fingo" people, and they gave their name to the district of Fingoland , the South West portion of the Transkei division, in the Cape Province...
/Fingo
Fingo
Fingo may refer to:* The Fingo tribe of South Africa.* Fingo fever, a disease of Victorian Australia.* FinGO, a mobile communications company.* The 'hypotheses non fingo'....
people, by Sarhili's Gcaleka
Gcaleka
The Gcaleka are a major sub-group of the Xhosa found in the Transkei area of the Eastern Cape. Their counterparts in Ciskei are the Rharhabe.The Gcaleka kingdom was founded by Gcaleka kaPhalo, who became chief in 1775....
Xhosa. The Fingo nation, however, were traditional allies of the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
and a war between the Gcaleka Xhosa and the Cape ensued. When summoned to meet at King William's Town
King William's Town
King William's Town is a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa along the banks of the Buffalo River. The town is about 40 minutes' motorway drive WNW of the Indian Ocean port of East London...
, the Gcaleka chief refused. Sandile, who on his release had been granted land in "British Kaffraria" for his people, fatally threw in his lot with Sarhili and his Gcaleka armies. The armies of the Fingo and the Cape Colony soon emerged victorious, Sandile was killed in a shootout with Fingo soldiers in 1878, and all remaining Xhosa territory then became part of the Cape Colony .
Death
On 29 may 1878 Sandile was mortally wounded in a shoot-out with a detachment of Fengu troops (The Fengu were a Xhosa speaking nation who had long suffered oppression at the hands of the GcalekaGcaleka
The Gcaleka are a major sub-group of the Xhosa found in the Transkei area of the Eastern Cape. Their counterparts in Ciskei are the Rharhabe.The Gcaleka kingdom was founded by Gcaleka kaPhalo, who became chief in 1775....
Xhosa, and had consequently become traditional allies of the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
).
He died a few days later and his body was brought to a nearby military camp. Widely admired by this time, he was given a full military funeral at which his body was carried on eight rifles by Fingo pall-bearers. Sandile was buried by the graves of British soldiers A.Dicks and F.Hillier, who were killed in the same war.
Sandile's grave is today about 16 kilometres from Stutterheim at the foothills of the Amatola Mountains
Amatola Mountains
Amatola, Amatole or Amathole are a range of densely forested mountains, situated in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The word Amatole means "calves", and Amatole District Municipality, which lies to the south, is named after these mountains.-Natural history:Part the 'Amatola and...
where he fought many of his campaigns. A memorial plaque erected at the grave site in 1941 reads as follows:
SANDILE
Chief of the Gaikas. Born about 1820
Killed in the Ninth Kaffir War 1877/1878
and buried here on 9.6.1878
Recent excavations - overseen by the local Xhosa community - have confirmed the body's identity and dispelled centuries-old rumours that Sandile was post-humously decapitated.