Transvaal War of Independence
There are a number of Battlefields that shaped South Africa’s destiny, and Majuba is one of these. The Battle of Majuba in 1881 marked the end of the Transvaal war of Independence, and it was here that Britain suffered their final defeat. Visitors can be taken on a tour to Majuba Hill, and for the energetic, it is a worthwhile climb.
General Colley was determined to defeat the Boers, who he regarded as 'unsophisticated rebels' and to restore his reputation as a militarist. He felt that the Majuba Mountain, which towered above Laing's Nek could be the ideal vantage point to force the Boers into retreat. He occupied the mountain on the night of 26th February with some 400 men.
When the Boers realised that this mountain had been occupied, they stormed it from various sides. The British were taken by surprise and in the ensuing battle General Colley was killed and British forces were forced to retreat.
The British defeat was overwhelming and brought independence within the reach of the Boers. On the 6 March 1881 General Joubert and Colley's successor, General Wood, signed an armistice agreement. This was followed by a peace agreement on the 23rd of March. On the 3rd of August the Pretoria Convention was signed to establish Transvaal's independence.
Other historical places of interest in the Newcastle area include Fort Amiel Museum, which is a typical frontier fort, the Battlefields of Schuinshoogte and Laing's Nek and O'Neill's Cottage, where the truce was signed.