Ndongeni Zulu

Rossmin & Ndongeni Zulu

Extract from: H.C Lugg; Historic Natal and Zululand

As Rossmin develops and utilises the rich limestone mineral deposits entrusted to it under license from the Department of Mineral Resources we uncover more and more interesting facts about the area known as the Marble Delta and its surrounds.

Our mining license alongside the Umzimkhulu River, covers various farms known as West Slopes, Westlands Watershed, Virgo, and a particular area known as Ndongeni.

The significance of the Marble Delta and the Ndongeni farm dates back to the early 1800s, and links the stories of legendary characters spanning a time of intense rivalry between the Zulu, the Boer and the English; each party working with and against each other as deemed prudent in those tumultuous times.

The Ndongeni farm name derives from the Legendary figure Ndongeni Zulu, who together with Dick King created history, and was rewarded land via a grant of gratitude from the government of Natal, land which now forms part of the Rossmin Mineral right, linking Rossmin to this well-known feat of history.

Ndongeni Zulu (who was only 16 at the time of the epic horse ride) recounted his amazing journey with Dick King when he was interviewed by James Stuart in 1905; 63 years after the event.

Ndongeni was a descendant of the Zulu Royal family close to the throne that was caught up in the conspiracy leading to the assassination of King Shaka kaSenzangakhona. Ndongeni’s father, Xoki, was ultimately put to death by Dingane. Ndongeni and his mother fled to Port Natal (Ethekwini) and sought refuge with the English settlers at the Bay.

Meanwhile the other rivals in the area, the British and Boers were fighting for control of Natal. In 1842 the British annexed Port Natal by sending a garrison under the command of Captain Charlton Smith. The British garrison was besieged in Port Natal by the Boers who had established the Republic of Natalia, with Pietermaritzburg as the capital.

Following the Battle of Congella, where the English suffered heavy casualties, the British garrison had to retreat to their tented camp in Durban. The camp was besieged by the Boer, Andries Pretorius who kept up small arms and artillery attacks continuously, day after day.

A Trader, Christopher Cato, who was to become Durban's first mayor, informed Richard “Dick” King (a fellow trader and colonist) of the situation. Dick King, decided that together with the young Ndongeni, to ride to Grahamstown to seek help from the English garrisoned there. Before daybreak the next morning, King was met by the 16-year-old Ndongeni, who brought two horses to the current Salisbury Island in the bay. The horses swam tethered alongside the boat to the bluff, from where King and Ndongeni escaped and began their epic voyage.

The journey involved a ride of 960 kilometres; the fording of 120 rivers through the wilderness to arrive at Grahamstown. Ndongeni was forced to return halfway through the journey, as he had no saddle or bridle. Dick King reached Grahamstown 10 days after leaving Port Natal, a distance typically covered in 17 days. Dick King returned a month after his escape on the Conch, one of the British vessels which carried the relief parties. It arrived at the bay on 24 June, and the reinforcements were in time to save Smith's garrison from imminent surrender or starvation.

Mr James Stuart in his Hlangakula, p. 15, recorded events after the momentous ride. In it, Ndongeni tells that when he got back to Durban about a month after Port Natal had been relieved, he was accorded an ovation by the soldiers. Ndongeni was so overjoyed that he shed tears.

In 1898 Ndongeni was rewarded for his services by the Natal Government. In that year, he was exempted from the payment of future taxes and given a piece of land on the north bank of the Umzimkhulu, for occupation for the duration of his lifetime, the area now known as Ndongeni. He died on 20th April 1915 and was buried at “Ndongeni”.

Ndongeni farm remains to be transferred to the descendants of Ndongeni by the Department of Land Affairs, who have still not done so some 25 years after the establishment of democracy in South Africa.

Ndongeni (Extract from: H.C Lugg; Historic Natal and Zululand, Published by Shuter & Shooter, Pietermaritzburg in 1949, p6)