Chief Sekonyela of the Batlokwa dies
Date: 20 July, 1856
Chief Sekonyela of the Batlokwa passed away in the Wittebergen Reserve, Herschel district. As his father had died at an early age, his mother, Mmanthatisi, was regent during his minority. In the early 1830s Sekonyela became Chief and settled along the Caledon River. He raided cattle from neighbouring people in the hope of exchanging stock for fire-arms and horses and was embroiled in fighting with the Voortrekkers under Piet Retief until a peace treaty was concluded in 1837.
Sources:
Kruger, D.W. (ed)(1972). Dictionary of South African Biography, Cape Town: Human Sciences Research Council, v.2, p. 647-649 .
Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds)(1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v. 9, p. 576.