Expansion, Settlement & Survival

Mathunjana later crossed the Thukela River, firmly establishing the AmaNkwanyana presence in new territories. Through marriage and leadership, he extended the family settlement toward Ntunjambili near Kranskop, where successive generations continued to thrive despite political instability and colonial encroachment.

The AmaNkwanyana lineage endured turbulent historical moments, including the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, particularly during the period surrounding the Battle of Shiyane (Rorke’s Drift). Despite displacement and loss, the royal house survived through unity, adaptability, and adherence to ancestral principles.

One of the revered AmaNkwanyana heroes, Mbokodo kaMangena of the Dayingubo House, fled during the British invasion of the Zulu Kingdom and eventually settled in Mtshezi (Estcourt). After years of displacement, rejection, and eventual rediscovery, Mbokodo established a new homestead at Mabhanoyini, founding the AmaNkwanyana royal branch known as kwaMangena.