Hlubi Chief Langalibalele Imprisoned and Exiled to Robben Island
On 9 February 1874, considered to be in “rebellion” against the British Empire, the Hlubi Chief, Langalibalele, was imprisoned and exiled to Robben Island, after being captured following his flight to Basutoland. As a hereditary chief of the amaHlubi, Langalibalele inhabited the area near present day Estcourt in the Drakensberg foothills.
The reason for being deemed to be in “rebellion” was his refusal to register firearms that were owned by his people with the British colonial authorities. The Hlubi had received these firearms as a form of payment from the owners of diamond mines for the labour provided by Hlubi men who worked in the mines. Langalibalele was then summonsed to Pietermaritzburg for failure to register firearms belonging to his people. After refusing to go to Pietermaritzburg, a force was sent to capture King Langalibalele after he fled to Basutoland.
Langalibalele, which means “the blazing sun” (also known as Mthethwa, Langalibalele I KaMthimkhulu II, Mdingi kaJobe), was the second son of Mthimkhulu II, king of the amaHlubi, who was born on the eve of the arrival of European settlers in the Natal province, around 1814. Following the murder of his elder brother, Dlomo, by the Zulu Isilo Mpande, Langalibalele took over as King of amaHlubi in 1836. After being in conflict with the Zulu Isilo Mpande, for failing to heed his summonses to the Zulu Royal kraal, since the amaHlubi di
