An unforgivable crime against our people.The Barbaric beheading of another black monarch of South Africa after the theft of the land and the cattle of his people by white settlers.A great Xhosa King Hintsa Ka Khawuta was beheaded and his “preserved” head taken to England as a trophy.After being shot in the head, his ears were cut off and his teeth pulled out as trophies by the settler troops too!Hintsa ka Khawuta (circa 1789 – 12th May 1835), also known as Hintsa the Great or King Hintsa, was the 4th king of the amaXhosa nation from his great ancestor, King Xhosa. He ruled from 1820 until his death in 1835.
His territory stretched from Mbhashe River, south of Mthatha to the Gamtoos River in the Southern Cape.Hintsa led the most powerful kingdom (AmaXhosa) in the Eastern Cape, which fought against white colonists for a period of 100 years over the generations.The Courageous and Painful death of the King in defense of his people, their vast land and thousands of their cattle:On May 12, 1835, when he was about 45 years old, was riding as a prisoner (In his own Kingdom) in the company of British soldiers led by Governor Harry Smith. Hintsa was being guarded on the ride back over the Kei and the Fish rivers by a corps of guides led by George Southey. Soon after breakfast, Hintsa asked Smith: “What have the cattle done that you want them? Why must I see my subjects deprived of them?” To which Smith replied, “That you know far better than I do.” Soon after that Hintsa spurred his horse forward and galloped away. Smith gave chase and twice tried to fire on the fleeing monarch.Twice his pistols malfunctioned but he caught Hintsa and pushed him off his horse. Hintsa got up and ran, still carrying his assegai (Spear). “Shoot, George, and be damned to you,” cried Smith to Southey. Southey fired and hit Hintsa in the leg but still he ran. Southey fired again. Hintsa was again hit but ran into a stream. “Be damned to you,” cried Smith to Southey, “Shoot again.” By this time Hintsa was in deep water and couldn’t stand properly. He threw his spear but it landed harmlessly near Southey, who took aim again. “Mercy,” cried the King. And again. “Mercy.” But there was to be no mercy. Southey, whose Xhosa was fluent, fired, and hit King Hintsa’s in the head, killing him. Southey got to the body first and took off Hintsa’s brass body ornaments for himself. Others grabbed for his beads and bracelets. Southey or his brother William cut off one of Hints’ ears as a trophy and someone else cut off the other. A doctor travelling with them was seen trying to pull out some of Hintsa’s teeth. Later, even Smith could no longer bear the barbarism he had caused and ordered Hintsa’s body dropped from his horse and to be left in the bush for his followers to find. His body was subsequently dismembered by troops in search of grisly momentoes and that his head was been preserved and taken back to Britain.”King Hintsa’s head is still missing.Too many people died to free South Africa and not to enrich a heartless cadre of corrupt and greedy elites.
Kunu Matima
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