According to several sources peace was established on this date between the Cape government and the Xhosa under King Hintsa, ending the Sixth Frontier War (also called Sixth War of Dispossession).

Hintsa, grandson of Galeka and paramount chief of the AmaGaleka, having been assured of a safe passage, entered the British camp with fifty of his followers for talks. Treacherously he was taken prisoner and subjected to threats and interrogation by Cape Governor Benjamin D'Urban and Col. Harry Smith (later Sir Harry Smith, governor of the Cape). Their aim was to compel Hintsa to call on the other Xhosa leaders to end the Sixth Fontier War, also called the War of Hintsa. The war had started on 31 December 1934, when a large force of about 12 000 Xhosas, led by Maqoma, Tyali and other chiefs, had swept into the Cape Colony to reclaim land taken by the Cape Government. They destroyed 456 homes of White settlers in the Eastern Cape districts, killed twenty-two colonists and eighty Khoi-Khoi and drove off 5 700 horses, 115 000 head of cattle and 162 000 sheep.

According to several accounts, peace was agreed to on that very same day (29 April) and signed the following day, but Hintsa was not released. As is often the case in history, accounts vary about what actually happened during that time. According to Reader's Digest: Illustrated History of South Africa, Hintsa entered the British camp on 29 April, where he was interrogated for several days but refused to call on the other Xhosa leaders to surrender. If this account is true, peace was not concluded on 29 April, but only in September 1835. The date in April may reflect on an acceptance by Hintsa to British annexation of the area between the Keiskamma and Kei Rivers, as the Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa (v. 5, p. 59) also maintains that peace with the rebel chiefs was achieved in September.

However, on 12 May 1835 Hintsa allegedly tried to escape while accompanying a detachment of soldiers, led by Smith to round up cattle. Hintsa was pursued and jerked from his horse by Smith. He fought Smith bravely, but was shot dead at Nqabara Spruit by George Southey, a member of the Guide corps.

The matter is complicated by the fact that several other sources give his date of death as 12 February, meaning that he could not have been taken prisoner on 29 April.

After his death his body was mutilated by a number of British soldiers. His death made him a national hero and helped to foster patriotism amongst his people. It also caused a severe blow to the Xhosa's faith in the Cape government in particular and the White population in general.

Sources:

Kruger, D.W. (ed) (1972). Dictionary of South African Biography, Cape Town: Human Sciences Research Council, v. 1, p. 384.

Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds) (1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v.5, pp. 58 and 524.

Reader's Digest. (1988). Illustrated History of South Africa: the real story, New York: Reader's Digest Association, p. 106.

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