Sekhukhune successfully resists the Boers

Sekhukhune I, King of the Bapedi, successfully resisted the Boers during a protracted Boer/Bapedi land ownership dispute. On 16 May 1876, the Volksraad of the South African Republic declared war on Sekhukhune and his followers. A Boer commando under President T.F. Burgers, armed with 7 pounder Krupp guns, reached the Bapedi stronghold on 1 August. The Bapedi, also armed with rifles, offered stiff resistance and inflicted a humiliating defeat on the well-armed Boer force. Even the support of an impi of Swazis, sworn enemies of Sekhukhune, could not secure a victory for Burgers. After the final assault on 2 August, the Boer commando retreated and went home, leaving a corps of volunteers behind under command of Capt. C. von Schlickmann, a former German officer. Click here to read more about the Bapedi. References: Kruger, D.W. (ed)(1972). Dictionary of South African Biography, Cape Town: Human Sciences Research Council, v. 2, p. 647. Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds)(1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v. 9, p. 576. Pedi Wars