Potgieter and his party moved inland to the present Free State, where they signed a treaty with the leader of the Barolong, Moroka.

The attack was beaten off, but the Matabele made off with most of the trekker oxen, crucial draught animals for the wagons.

His group joined up with Retief and Maritz at Thaba Nchu, where they formed a Voortrekker government and decided to move to Natal.

To prevent schism and discord, the new Voortrekker leader in Natal, Maritz, diplomatically pronounced that both Uys and Potgieter were to be in command.

The divided force was lured into an ambush by the Zulus at Italeni, and both Uys and his son Dirkie, were killed.

Later, in 1845, he also founded Ohrigstad (originally named Andries-Ohrigstad after Potgieter himself and George Ohrig) as a trading station.

These newcomers and their leader, Andries Pretorius, refused to accept the authority of Potgieter, and a power struggle developed.