2 December 1879
Sekhukhune captured after the Anglo-Pedi War
After annexing the Transvaal, unsuccessful operations and failed attempts to secure Sekhukhune's submission, Britain mounted a much larger campaign with colonial and Swazi allies and captured him.
Britain annexed the South African Republic in 1877 and claimed authority over its unresolved frontier with Sekhukhune's Pedi kingdom. British officials demanded submission and taxation; Sekhukhune rejected those claims after successfully resisting the ZAR invasion of 1876. Earlier British operations and attempts to compel a settlement failed to defeat him.
In November 1879, Sir Garnet Wolseley assembled two British regiments, colonial units and approximately 8,000 Swazi allies, whose rulers had a longstanding conflict with the Pedi. They stormed the fortified Pedi stronghold after heavy fighting. About 1,000 Pedi, including Sekhukhune's heir, were reported killed; Sekhukhune escaped to a cave but was captured on 2 December.
The victory ended the Pedi kingdom's independent military power and enabled colonial demands for taxation and migrant labour. Sekhukhune was imprisoned in Pretoria and later released after the restoration of the South African Republic.
Significance
The conquest removed a major independent African polity from Britain's planned regional order and opened Sekhukhuneland to tighter colonial control, taxation and labour recruitment.
Why it matters
The conquest removed a major independent African polity from Britain's planned regional order and opened Sekhukhuneland to tighter colonial control, taxation and labour recruitment.
Perspective notes
British authorities regarded the campaign as enforcing sovereignty inherited through annexation of the Transvaal; Sekhukhune rejected that sovereignty and defended the independence preserved by the Pedi victory in 1876.