FACTION FIGHT

Grey River Argus, 11 September 1939, Page 10

FACTION FIGHT

NINE NATIVES KILLED. OLD TROUBLE RECURS. DURBAN, July 8. Nine natives were killed and many others were injured in a dispute between two tribes on the farm area of Doornkloof, near Stoney Hill, in the Eston district, Rifles were said to have been used and about 50 shots were fired. The dispute was an old one between the followers of Chief Nkasa and Mpambele. Between 300 and 400 men took part in the fight, which was short but sharp. ATTthe casualties were said to have been on Mpambele’s side. The night before the fight, about 40 or 50 huts were burned; and frightened women and children withdrew with their possessions into the bush. When news of the fight reached Maritzburg, a party of 10 armed police went to restore order. The fight was over when they arrived, but they remained in the area until the trouble had passed over. Some time ago both factions were in the news when they came to blows over the ownership of a leopard skin. A magisterial ruling was necessary. Farmers in the area are sure that this ruling was the cause of the fight, but there are others who think the dispute goes deeper than that.