This Day in History: Oct 25, 1854: Makapane's Cave is under siege (South Africa)

The nearly month-long siege of Makapane's Cave took place after warriors of the Ndebele chief Makapan (Makapane) massacred twenty-three Voortrekkers, men, women, and children, who were on a hunting expedition under Hermanus Potgieter at Moorddrift in northern Transvaal (now Limpopo). The punitive burger commando was led by Commandant-General Piet Potgieter and M.W. Pretorius. The body of Piet Potgieter, who lost his life in the early stages of the siege, was retrieved by Paul Kruger, later president of the ZAR, at the risk of his life. During the siege, the Ndebele tribe was wiped out by hunger, thirst and bullets. Paul Kruger slipped into the cave under cover of darkness and urged them to leave the cave, assuring them that only Makapan was sought, but to no avail.

Ndebele chief Makapan (Makapane) massacred twenty-three Voortrekkers, men, women, and children.

Source: google.co.za via Juan on Pinterest

Source: google.co.za via Juan on Pinterest

Taken from: http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/makapane039s-cave-under-siege [25.10.2012]

Makapan Kraal

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M.W. Pretorius

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Paul Kruger

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Commandant-General Piet Potgieter

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References:

1. Kruger, S.J.P. (1902). The Memoirs of Paul Kruger: Four Times President of the South Africa-Republic, told by himself, ed. by Schowalter, London: Unwin.
2. Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds)(1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v. 7, p. 124.
3. Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.
4. Davie, L. 2004. Blown away by Mapungubwe [Online] 23 September. Available at: www.safrica.info/ [accessed 22 October 2010]
   
5. Limpopo Game Reserves: Makapansgat Valley, Limpopo [Online]. Available at: www.sa-venues.com/ [accessed 22 October 2010]