Reconciliation marks story of revenge

For the first time in South African history, Zulus and Afrikaners will together commemorate the battle of Blood River with the unveiling today of a Zulu monument marking the 1838 clash, writes MICEL SCHNEHAGE in Durban

AT LEAST 3 000 Zulus died defending their land against the voortrekkers when they engaged 468 Boers under the leadership of Andries Pretorius on December 16, 1838, at the Ncome River, near Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Afrikaners renamed the Ncome River Blood River after the battle. The battle was the result of an unsettled land claim with then Zulu king, Dingane.

According to Afrikaner history, the voortrekkers vowed to God that if He gave them victory over the Zulus they would forever note the date thereof and celebrate it in honour of God.

Two monuments were afterwards erected by the Boers and they celebrated the day first as Dingane's Day, then the Day of the Covenant.

It is now called the Day of Reconciliation. Zulu people up till now were largely left out of commemorating the day.

Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Minister Lionel Mtshali said the erection of the new monument was in line with the cabinet's approval of the Ncome/Blood River project as part of the legacy project.

The legacy project was directed at aspects of a common heritage that had been neglected in the past and to present a balanced picture depicting the contribution of previously marginalised people.

"In line with our objective, the need was identified to correct the current imbalances as far as the portrayal of the events at Blood River/Ncome is concerned.

"Research was commissioned by the department to investigate ways of addressing these imbalances. The end result will be a monument to commemorate the events of 16 December 1838 in a meaningful and balanced way."

Mtshali said the process was not intended to address the controversial issues surrounding the battle but to concentrate on reconciliation and nation building.

He said for the Afrikaners the monument erected by them became a cornerstone of Afrikaner nationalism but for those who could not identify with it, it became a symbol of Afrikaner domination.

"It is important for us to move away from this type of one-sided representation of events to an interpretation that recognises that both the Zulu and Afrikaner perceptions of the events were valid within the context of their interests at the time.

"Two monuments at the site of the battle, commemorating the participation of both sides, will complete the symbolism.

They will also unite the protagonists of 160 years ago, and in so doing, they will hopefully help to reconcile the conflicting historial interpretations."

Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini, Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi and a representative of the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge will address dignitaries at the unveiling of the monument today. -- Sapa