Jan Gerritze Bantjes (Beaufort West, 8 July 1817 – Potchefstroom, 10 March 1887) was a Voortrekker[1][2][3] whose exploration of the Natal and subsequent report were the catalyst for mobilising the Great Trek.
[4] Jan Gerritze Bantjes was born on 8 July 1817 in the Nieuveld district of Graaff-Reinet[5] and was baptised at the Dutch Reformed Church in that town on 6 October 1817.
[6] The aim of the trek, which was led by Piet Uys, was to explore the region around Port Natal (later Durban) and assess its potential as a new homeland for the Cape Boers disenchanted with British rule.
Bantjes also wrote a disputed land treaty[8] which, in 1838, triggered the massacre by the Zulu King Dingaan of Boer Commander Piet Retief and his 70 strong party at uMgungundlovu.
[9][10] The original "Bantjes Journal" of the expedition (now lost, though a verbatim copy exists) records the Battle of Blood River that took place on 16 December 1838, resulting in the defeat of King Dingaan and his 25,000 strong army.