When Andries Hendrik Potgieter came to the Lydenburg area - it was completely deserted. He then decided to negotiate with the Chief of the Pedi's, but then discovered that during that war, the Swazi's had the upper hand and went to King Mswati. King Mswati was in agreement with Andries Hendrik Potgieter that in exchange for 100 cattle, they could have permanent land use. The spirit of negotiation runs like a golden thread through the settlement history of South Africa.