Griquas riding oxen, from Andrew Smith’s journal.
The Difaqane impacted on the Griqua, who were drawn into the battle of Dithakong in June 1823. Interpretations on the reasons for this event and its consequences differ among historians, but Robert Moffat of the London Missionary Society asked the Griqua to assist in repelling an attack on the town of Dithakong – the residence of the Tlhaping under Mothibi by a militant group of Fokeng, Phuting and Hlakwana. Adam Kok, Barend Barends and Andries Waterboer responded to Moffat’s appeal and 100 armed and mounted Griqua successfully routed the attackers.
From 1826 the Ndebele under Mzilikazi established themselves on the western high – veld, forcing most Tswana chiefdoms into tributary status. These developments disrupted trading relations between the Griqua and their northern partners, and posed a threat to hunting operations north of the Molopo River. In 1829 the Griqua under Jan Bloem entered into a military alliance with some Tswana groups and sent a commando against Mzilikazi.
The raid was initially successful, but the Ndebele launched a counter-offensive and more than 50 of Bloem’s men were killed. Barends then took up cudgels to try to force the Ndebele out of the region. Seeing it as a visionary mission, in 1830 he gathered around him groups united in enmity to Mzilikazi. In June 1831 a combined Griqua/Rolong/Tlhaping commando marched on Mzilikazi. Nearly half of the 1 000-strong force was Griqua. This commando seized as many as 6 000 Ndebele cattle but the Ndebele again followed up this raid with a counter-offensive, surprising Barends’ camp at night and killing possibly as many as 400 Griqua.
The balance of power over the next few years lay with Mzilikazi, who established
A parade of warriors before Mzilikazi. In 1829 the Griquas entered into a military alliance with Tswana groups and sent a commando against Mzilikazi.
military outposts to the south. When the Voortrekkers arrived in the region in 1836, however, the Griqua quickly saw their potential as allies and in 1836 they participated in a combined Voortrekker/Rolong/Griqua attack on the Ndebele at Mosega. Thus Mzilikazi’s decision to trek away from the Marico district in 1837 was in part due to pressure exerted by Griqua communities.
Cobbing and some others have portrayed the role of the Griqua in the history of Transorangia (the Free State of today) as being disruptive, painting them as marauders ruthlessly seizing men and cattle, which were often sent southwards to the Cape. Dithakong has been cited as just such an example. A similar assertion has been made regarding their role at the battle of Mbholompo against Matiwane’s Ngwane in 1828.
These assertions are largely without foundation. The Griqua kaptyns often responded differently to the various problems they faced, according to particular circumstance and the strategy of particular leaders. This included dynastic marriages with African groups, such as the Tlhaping, and trading alliances with other communities in Transorangia. No doubt, as conditions in Trans orangia later became more competitive, the level of raids and reprisals became intensified and all communities reacted accordingly.
