The Weenen massacre () was the massacre of Voortrekkers, Khoikhoi and Basuto by the Zulu Kingdom on 17 February 1838. The massacres occurred at Doringkop, Bloukrans River, Moordspruit, Rensburgspruit and other sites around the present day town of Weenen in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province. near the town of Weenen.

"Not a soul was spared. Old men, women and babies were murdered in the most brutal manner."

Death toll

Among the Voortrekkers, 41 men, 56 women and 185 children were killed. In addition another 250 Khoikhoi and Basuto who accompanied the Voortrekkers were killed, bringing the casualties to 532–534.

The murdered included George Biggar, the son of Alexander Biggar, a trader at Port Natal. Biggar and his second son, Robert, subsequently participated and died in retaliatory attacks on the Zulus. Most people camped at the Klein- and Groot-Moordspruit were murdered. Here a Boer woman, Johanna van der Merwe, sustained 21 assegai wounds but survived.

Two months afterwards, on 15 April 1838, Andries Pretorius reflected in his journal: "As we were separated from one another, they succeeded in their attack at daybreak at Blaauwekrans, thereby killing 33 men, 75 women and 123 children." This implies a total of 231 deaths at the Blaauwekrans camps. The name Blaauwekrans () refers to bluish cliff faces present in the area.

The town of Weenen (Dutch for "crying" or "weeping") was established two months after the massacre.

See also

  • List of massacres in South Africa

Notes

  • The Laagers are Attacked
  • Voortrekkers van Weenen/Bloukrans Slagting 16–17 Februarie 1838