the two military leaders met in the vicinity of Pongola, near the present-day border of Mpumalanga, a province of South Africa. Shaka was victorious in battle, although his forces sustained heavy casualties, including his military commander, Mgobhozi Ovela Entabeni.

Already at this time, Shaka had grown famous for his use of the short stabbing spear. This spear was referred to as the "iklwa," see: assegai.