Meanwhile Potgieter prepared for a final reckoning with Mzilikazi. With 350 men, he attacked the Matabele military complex at Kapain, driving the Matabele north through several passes where they were successively attacked.
Eventually, after nine days of fighting, on the 12th November 1837 the Matabele broke and moved to what is now Southern Zimbabwe to found a new nation.
They lost an estimated 3,000 men to the trekkers' none. Potgieter now proclaimed their area - most of Botswana, the Transvaal and the Orange Free State - now trekker country. Again, as after Mosega, squabbling over the 7,000 cattle booty soon started. Returning, they found the trekker camp empty.
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