Bomvana

After the death of Njilo’s wife, their grandson Dibandlela refused to send, in accordance with custom, the isizi cattle to his grandfather.

After experiencing two centuries of tribal wars, the amaBomvana were driven out of Pondoland into the area east of the Mbashe river, including the present-day Cwebe reserve and they put themselves under the wing of the Gcaleka, with permission from King Hintsa, who was the Paramount of all states in the Eastern Cape.

While most of the other Xhosa tribes suffered famine because of this prophecy they had obeyed, the Bomvana people grew their cattle and farmed their lands.

In 1878, the countryside which the AmaBomvana occupied was involved in a war and Moni, the chief of the Bomvanas, was unable to maintain neutrality so applied to be received as a British subject.

The high commissioner accepted his offer, and took possession of the district surrounding the Mbase River, called Elliotdale, and brought the area under the British flag, ensuring the protection of the AmaBomvana.