As soon as the T.M.R. were relieved at Esidumbini, they proceeded to Durban. There they became the guests of the Mayor and Corporation during such time as they were in the town. The whole people rose in their honour and loudly acclaimed their performance. The regiment was entertained by the Government at luncheon on the 21st, when, in the course of an eloquent speech, intended also to apply to the "Rosebuds" (L. and Y.) and Rangers (N.R.), the Governor formally and warmly expressed the heartfelt thanks of the Colony for the splendid services that had been rendered by the Transvaalers, services which included the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from a stronghold supposed for many generations to be insurmountable and impregnable. Help such as that, freely and generously given by a sister Colony in time of need, would, said Sir Henry McCallum, never be forgotten. At Johannesburg, again, the return of these and other Transvaal troops was an occasion of much public rejoicing.
The following general resolution was moved and carried unanimously in the Legislative Council as well as in the Legislative Assembly on the 31st July:
"(1) That the cordial thanks of this Council (Assembly) are hereby accorded to the Militia and other forces now or lately engaged in the field, for the promptitude with which they responded to the call to arms for the purpose of quelling the rebellion of portions of the Native population of this Colony. That this Council (Assembly) in congratulating the Officers Commanding upon the success which has attended their arms, places on record its appreciation of the gallantry and endurance displayed by all ranks, and of the public spirit with which private interests have been sacrificed by all alike for the defence of the Colony. (2) That a copy of this resolution be conveyed to the Commandant of Militia, with an expression of the wish of this Council (Assembly) that its terms may be communicated to the various units engaged."
Two days later, some 2,000 troops, representing the various units recently engaged in the operations, including the Cape Mounted Rifles, headed by the band of the Cameron Highlanders, marched to and paraded on the Market Square, Pietermaritzburg, where they were addressed by the Governor in the presence of a large concourse of spectators, not the least interested being members of many of the Native tribes. Speaking on behalf of the Colony, and as His Majesty's representative, Sir Henry McCallum cordially thanked the troops for "the magnificent services they had rendered to the Colony and to the Empire." "For, perhaps, the first time on record," he went on, "you have been engaged principally upon the offensive, and you have carried out work which was supposed to be insurmountable. This has required the greatest fortitude on your part. Willingly have the mounted men put their horses on one side, scrambled into the bush, and got into the forefront in attacking the enemy. The conduct of the campaign throughout has been one for the greatest congratulation, not only to yourselves, but to the Colony in general." His Excellency added: "I see on parade a detachment of the Cape Mounted Rifles. I am afraid that many volunteers from the Cape Colony were disappointed at not being able to take part in this campaign, but I am extremely glad that arrangements could be made by which our sister Colony was represented. I thank those who have come to our assistance extremely, and I ask them when they go back to inform their fellow-colonists that the young Colony of Natal has equally soldiers who are ready at all times to give to her assistance, if wanted, in the same way that they have come to us."
With martial law in force, it followed that offences arising out of the Rebellion were, for the most part, dealt with under such law. Many of the Magistrates were granted authority by the Commandant to try these offences, but this was revoked by the Governor on the 17th September. Graver crimes were reserved for properly-constituted courts-martial. These courts were convened at such places as Nkandhla (Empandhleni), Mapumulo, Greytown, Dundee and Pietermaritzburg, and were presided over by the following, among other, officers: Lieutenant-Colonels J. Weighton, V.D., J.S. Wylie, H.H.C. Puntan, H.R. Bousfield, C.M.G. The sittings began at Empandhleni on the 25th June with the trial of Sigananda,[299] and lasted till the end of September. To afford the accused every facility in procuring witnesses, to obviate putting European and Native witnesses to more inconvenience than necessary, and to impress those most specially concerned with the enormity of the offences that had been committed, it was arranged to try offenders, as far as possible, in the districts within which the treason or sedition had been committed. Among the most important trials were those of Sigananda, Ndabaningi, Meseni, Ndhlovu,[300] Tilonko, Sikukuku, and some forty of those implicated in the attack on the Police at Mpanza (tried in two lots). In some of these, and in other, cases, the death sentence was passed, but, on the advice of Ministers, the Governor, in every instance, commuted it to one of imprisonment. The three Natives, including Mjongo, who were concerned in the murder of Hunt and Armstrong—too unwell to be tried by court-martial at Richmond in March—were tried in September, not by court-martial, but by the Supreme Court. The evidence adduced was similar to that given at the court-martial. The prisoners were defended by counsel other than those who appeared before the latter court. The three were convicted, the jury being unanimous in respect to two, and 7 to 2 as to the third. The sentence of death by hanging was subsequently carried out. This conviction by an ordinary tribunal only goes to confirm the Governor's contention in respect of the first trial, namely, that it was in every way fair and just.
Kula, the Chief who was removed from Umsinga in May, was not tried for the reason that no crime of a sufficiently definite nature was found to have been committed by him. As, however, his conduct as a Government officer had, for some time past, as well as during the Rebellion, been unsatisfactory, it was considered undesirable for him to resume control of his tribe. He was accordingly required to reside for a time a few miles from Pietermaritzburg, so as to be under the immediate eye of the Government.[301]
The rank and file of some 4,700 prisoners were tried by their respective Magistrates and by Judges. The great majority of sentences ran from six months to two years, with whipping added. A few were for longer periods, for life, etc. After a number had been flogged, the Government directed suspension of all further whippings during good behaviour. Special arrangements had, of course, to be made in Durban and elsewhere for accommodating the prisoners. About 2,500 were confined in a compound at Jacobs near Durban, formerly used by Chinese labourers; 400 (for the most part with sentences of two years) in a special prison at the Point, Durban; 100 at Fort Napier, Pietermaritzburg; and the rest in various gaols. The Inspector of Prisons (and Assistant Commissioner of Police), G.S. Mardall, was responsible for the carrying out of the foregoing and other connected duties. The labour on which the men were principally employed was in connection with the harbour works, Durban, as well as making and repairing roads in different parts of the Colony. Later, about 1,500 were hired by the Collieries, and others by the Railway Department.
As the Ministry were of opinion that a good effect would be created on the Native mind by such ringleaders as had been sentenced to long terms of imprisonment being sent out of the Colony to serve their sentences, arrangements were made for the removal of twenty-five to St. Helena. They were deported on the 1st June, 1907.