Despite warnings , Retief left the Tugela region on 28 January 1838 , in the belief that he could negotiate with Dingane for permanent boundaries for the Natal settlement . The deed of cession of the Tugela-Umzimvubu region , although dated 4 February 1838 , was signed by Dingane on 6 February 1838 , with the two sides recording three witnesses each . Dingane invited Retief 's party to witness a special performance by his soldiers . Dingane ordered his soldiers to capture Retief 's party of 70 and their coloured servants . Retief , his son , men , and servants , about 100 people in total , were taken to kwaMatiwane Hill at , a site where Dingane had thousands of other enemies executed . The Zulus killed the entire party by clubbing them and killed Retief last , so as to witness the deaths of his comrades . Their bodies were left on the hillside to be eaten by wild animals , as was Dingane 's custom with his enemies . Dingane directed the attack on the Voortrekker laagers , which plunged the migrant movement into serious disarray . Following the decisive Voortrekker victory at Blood River , Andries Pretorius and his " victory commando " recovered the remains of the Retief party . They buried them on 21 December 1838 . Also recovered was the undamaged deed of cession from Retief 's leather purse , as later verified by a member of the " victory commando " , E. F. Potgieter . An exact copy survives , but the original deed disappeared in transit to the Netherlands during the Anglo-Boer War . The site of the Retief grave was more or less forgotten until pointed out in 1896 by J. H. Hattingh , a surviving member of Pretorius ' commando . A monument recording the names of the members of Retief 's delegation was erected near the grave in 1922
laagers
Weenen massacre
UMgungundlovu