thumb|left|Voortrekkers; a 1909 depiction|alt=A romantic depiction of settlers in covered wagons, driving lifestock The Voortrekkers faced indigenous competition for the area they were entering from Mzilikazi and his Ndebele (or Matabele) people, a branch from the Zulu Kingdom to the south-east. On 16 October 1836, the 11-year-old Kruger took part in the Battle of Vegkop, where Potgieter's laager, a circle of wagons chained together, was unsuccessfully attacked by Mzilikazi and around 4,000–6,000 Matabele warriors. Kruger and the other small children assisted in tasks such as bullet-casting, while the women and larger boys helped the fighting men, of whom there were about 40. Kruger could recall the battle in great detail and give a vivid account well into old age.
thumb|left|Voortrekkers; a 1909 depiction|alt=A romantic depiction of settlers in covered wagons driving lifestock The Voortrekkers faced indigenous competition for the area they were entering from Mzilikazi and his Ndebele (or Matabele) people a branch from the Zulu Kingdom to the south-east On 16 October 1836 the 11-year-old Kruger took part in the Battle of Vegkop where Potgieter's laager a circle of wagons chained together was unsuccessfully attacked by Mzilikazi and around 4000–6000 Matabele warriors Kruger and the other small children assisted in tasks such as bullet-casting while the women and larger boys helped the fighting men of whom there were about 40 Kruger could recall the battle in great detail and give a vivid account well into old age