Mzilikazi was originally a lieutenant of Shaka, but in 1823 he had a quarrel with him and rebelled. In 1821, Mzilikazi felt strong enough to become independent. Shaka sent him to attack a small Sotho tribe (Ranisi- Rantsi) northwest of Zululand and, as always, he brought back with him a number of cattle taken during the battle. However, this time he did not hand them over to Shaka as he had done before. When Shaka sent his messengers to collect the cattle, Mzilikazi refused to return them. After this, he was attacked by Shaka's army and had no option but to flee with his people.
He first travelled to Mozambique but in 1826 he moved west into the Transvaal due to continued attacks by his enemies. As he conquered the Transvaal he absorbed many members of other tribes and established a military despotism, such as Mzilikazi's attacks in the Nzunza kraal at Esikhunjini, where the Nzunza king Magodongo and others were kidnapped and subsequently killed at Mkobola river. For the next ten years, Mzilikazi dominated the Transvaal.(reads Gauteng)
Mzilikazi trekked northwards with his people until he reached the Olifants (Elephants) River. He was now in the territory of powerful Sotho tribes, which he attacked, taking their women, children and livestock. He attacked tribes as far as Tswanaland – (Bophuthatswana now Northwest) and overpowered them by the military tactics perfected by the Zulu people. His tribe eventually became known as the Matabele-MaNdebele-Matebela.
It is said that some of the people amongst this groups were still part of the Jele clan. Different route different times (Soshangane, Xaba, Zwangedwa including Mzilikazi) all of them tracking up-north of Zululand. Mzilikazi decided to trek to the central Transvaal and he eventually settled in the vicinity of what is today known as Pretoria. Mzilikazi crossed the Soutpansberg Mountains and the Limpopo River into which is today known as Zimbabwe. He died there some years later. After the tribes of Zwide, Soshangane, Zwangendaba and Xaba,had been defeated by Shaka, they fled to Mozambique as well. There, they destroyed the Portuguese settlement at Delagoa Bay.
The tribes of Soshangane and Zwangendaba coexisted in harmony until 1831, when they went to war. Zwangendaba had to flee before Soshangane, after which Soshangane, went on to attack Nxaba (Xaba??), who responded by fleeing with his followers to the present-day Tanzania. With Soshangane’s biggest enemies out of the way, he began building his Gaza Kingdom. From his capital, Chaimite, soldiers were sent in all directions to attack other tribes. Even the Portuguese were forced to accept him as paramount chief. It is also believed that Jeles were amongst these different groups as well. Now you will realize on how far we have come as Jele’s since.
