1814 - 1882

King of the baPedi, 1861 - 1879

Sekhukhune I was King of the baPedi, who had settled near what is now Steelpoort in Limpopo around 1850.

In 1861 Sekhukhune seized the kingship by force from his half-brother Mampuru II and built his formidable empire on military strategy and conquests, diplomatic marriages, and the inclusion of other chieftainships.

At the beginning of King Sekhukhune's reign the baPedi lived peacefully with the Boers who had moved into the same territory. Along with other African rulers, Sekhukhune sent young baPedi men as migrant labourers to the diamond diggings in Kimberley. On their return they were able to buy guns and cattle and pay tribute to their King. By 1870 the baPedi were a powerful kingdom.

The first wars between the baPedi and the Boers began in 1876, with King Sekhukhune and his regiments victorious. In 1877 the British annexed the Transvaal and demanded allegiance, land, and taxes from the baPedi, which Sekhukhune refused.

This triggered two brutal campaigns against Sekhukhune, but the baPedi remained undefeated. On 28 November 1879 during a third campaign, Sekhukhune and the baPedi troops were eventually beaten in bloody battle by a combined force of Britons, Boers and 8,000 Swazi troops. There were many casualties on both sides. King Sekhukhune was eventually captured on 2 December 1879 and, together with some of his family and generals, imprisoned in Pretoria.

Sekhukhune was released in 1881 and allowed to return to his people. On 13 August 1882 he was murdered by his half-brother, Mampuru ll, who claimed he was the lawful king. Mampuru was later captured and hanged for the murder of Sekhukhune in Pretoria.

The British divided up the baPedi lands - 'Sekhukhuneland' - into smaller tribal units, effectively dismembering a great African kingdom.