Ndlela KaSompisi - Under Dingane

Under Dingane

After Dingane assassinated and succeeded Shaka he remained the highest ranking political and military officer in Dingane’s regime. With Dingane’s volatility and thirst for blood, Ndlela proved he was a shrewd operator by maintaining these highly influential positions in a changing regime where Dingane was quick to order an execution of his perceived enemies.

He served as Dingane's inDuna - his chief advisor and Ndunankulu (Prime Minister) and uMkhuzi wamaButho kaZulu - Commander-In-Chief of the Zulu Army. He was general of Dingane's forces at the Battle of Blood River (16 December 1838) with Dambuza Nzobo, a significant defeat for the Zulus as the spears and large numbers of Zulus were unable to breach the Boer laager of Andries Pretorius defended with muskets.

Neither Shaka nor Dingane had children. Mindful of the lineage of the Zulu kings, Ndlela repeatedly defied Dingane's request that he assassinate Mpande, half-brother of Shaka and Dingane as he was a threat to Dingane's power. He argued that it would diminish his greatness and that, in any case, Mpande did not aspire to the throne. The Battle of Maqongqe where the forces of Mpande and Dingane clashed in 1840 culminated in Dingane calling Ndlela a traitor. During this battle Ndlela strayed from the normal Zulu attack method of shock and awe where the Zulu army overwhelmed its enemies with great numbers. Instead he chose to send the army into battle by battalion (amabutho). This resulted in a great loss for Dingane against his brother Mpande who had co-opted the Boer to fight on his side.

Dingane ordered his death through slow strangulation by cow hide thong.