Chief Sandile’s

Xhosa Chief Sandile, born in the Ciskei in 1820, was killed in Denge Forest in a skirmish with the Fingos under Captain J. Lonsdale. Sandile was a son from the Great House of Ngqika. During the Seventh Frontier War (1846-47) Sandile was defeated and his territory was put under British command and called British Kaffraria. His dissatisfaction with the appointment British commissioners to rule the territory led to the Eighth Frontier War (1850-53). Sandile was deposed and a White man, Charles Brownlee, was appointed in his place as paramount chief. In 1878 Sandile, joined by Kreli of the Galekas, waged war against Colonial forces, which included loyal Fingos, at the Battle of Kentani in attempt to regain his position. He was defeated and fled to Denge, where he met his untimely death.