Die Legende van Scotty Smith, Suid-Afrika se perdedief

Fritz Joubert – Avonture tot met, en tydens die Eerste Wêreldoorlog

Fritz Joubert – Verkenner, saboteur, spioen, bobaas ontsnapper, joernalis, grootwildjagter, en meer…

Ossewa-brandwag (deel 2)

Ossewa-brandwag (deel 1)

Afrikaner vs Boer

In the following days, the Boers drove away the Ndebele, who sought shelter in the Enzelsberg area. The "Battle of Koppieskraal" on 6 November included an attack on scattered huts of Kobalonta, which led to the Ndebele retreating northward. In a counterattack, Marap, with reinforcements from Silkaatskop, fiercely fought back, but he suffered significant losses and ultimately withdrew.

Meanwhile, Mzilikaze began to evacuate all his settlements, and women and children were escorted out of the area by Gundwane with the Mnyama Makanda regiment. Kalipi, Sebeku, and two cattle-fighting regiments (which attack by releasing cattle on their enemy) defended the main settlement of Kopanyeng. The Boers attacked Silkaatskop, and the Ndebele were forced to retreat in the south-southwest direction.

THE FIRST BOER REPUBLIC:
SECOND PIECE OF LAND - THE "NINE DAYS BATTLE" (1/2)

The "Nine Days Battle," which took place from 4 to 12 November 1837, broke the Ndebele dominance in the region. A commando of 360 Boers, led by Hendrik Potgieter and Piet Uys, launched an extensive attack on the Ndebele, to destroy all their concentration points. They were assisted by the Tswana leader, Moiloa II of the Bahurutshe, and the Barolong under the leadership of Chief Motlabe.

The attackers carried out a systematic search and destroy operation, and no Ndebele kraal was left untouched. On 4 November, the Ndebele kraal of Karnpu was attacked, during which the Ndebele offered limited resistance, after which the kraal was set on fire by the Barolong fighters.

It was decided that, while Governor Retief undertook the critical mission to negotiate the territory in southern Natal with Dingane, other Boer leaders such as Potgieter, Uys, and Gert Rudolph went on a mission to neutralise the Ndebele threat in the western highveld region. 

Removing the Mzilikazi threat from the Highveld was crucial for peace and security in the region. Boer leaders considered the impending campaign against Mzilikazi of such importance to the migration movement that even Andries Pretorius, who hadn't started his trek yet, joined them for their upcoming battle with Mzilikazi.

Dirkie shot three Zulu warriors, which resulted in a momentary Zulu retreat, but they came rushing again and stabbed him with assegais (spears) until he fell from his horse. Dirkie fell next to his father, where they both met their end.

This act of heroism is depicted on one of the historical friezes in the Voortrekker Monument.