The Royal House of Mzongwana
A Legacy Carved in Time
Nestled near the Drakensberg and the Lesotho border, the Royal House of Mzongwana carries the story of a proud people — once displaced, never defeated — now rising to reclaim their heritage and future.
Who Are We?
Who Are We?
Mzongwana is an administrative area and the branch of Nhlangwini Nation situated on the outskirts of Matatiele at the foothills of majestic Drakensberg Mountains, under the Alfred Nzo district municipality in the Eastern Cape province. It borders Lesotho on the north and South Africa as well as KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape in the east.
Mzongwana is a peaceful community with diverse cultures and traditions which was founded in 8 December 1883 as a reward for military services rendered by all branches of Nhlangwini nation to the East Griqualand government during the Transkei rebellion.
Mzongwana is an administrative area and the branch of Nhlangwini Nation situated on the outskirts of Matatiele at the foothills of majestic Drakensberg Mountains, under the Alfred Nzo district municipality in the Eastern Cape province. It borders Lesotho on the north and South Africa as well as KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape in the east.
Mzongwana is a peaceful community with diverse cultures and traditions which was founded in 8 December 1883 as a reward for military services rendered by all branches of Nhlangwini nation to the East Griqualand government during the Transkei rebellion.
Where We Come From?
The Nhlangwins are a proud, powerful Nation, with history steeped in acts of courage, bravery and high intellect. The Nhlangwini Mation is traced as the Nguni nation that branched from East Africa, a coastline on the Indian Ocean of Kenya, in south eastern Mombasa.
The patriarch, Dlamini I, moved southwards with a number of clans under his rule, through Tanzania, Malawi and settled in Mozambique. The generation of Dlamini I continued even further southwards as far as Limpopo River. On crossing the river, they settled at a place known today as Mbabane, but some continued down to what was known as Natal.
Under the leadership of two formidable chiefs — Sidoyi ka Baleni and Fodo ka Nombewu —
Under the leadership of two formidable chiefs — Sidoyi ka Baleni and Fodo ka Nombewu —
approximately 700 families were forcefully relocated from their ancestral homeland in uMzimkhulu. This resettlement gave birth to the Mzongwana we know today: thirteen villages, home to nearly 12000 people, bound together by shared memory, heritage, and the pursuit of dignity.
While we honour our past, we also carry the burden of a continued struggle. Mzongwana remains one of the most marginalised rural areas in the Eastern Cape, lacking critical infrastructure and access to basic services. Yet, it is from this soil that a people of unshakable resilience rise, determined to reclaim their story and shape a future that honours the sacrifice of their ancestors.
approximately 700 families were forcefully relocated from their ancestral homeland in uMzimkhulu. This resettlement gave birth to the Mzongwana we know today: thirteen villages, home to nearly 12000 people, bound together by shared memory, heritage, and the pursuit of dignity.
While we honour our past, we also carry the burden of a continued struggle. Mzongwana remains one of the most marginalised rural areas in the Eastern Cape, lacking critical infrastructure and access to basic services. Yet, it is from this soil that a people of unshakable resilience rise, determined to reclaim their story and shape a future that honours the sacrifice of their ancestors.
Learn More about the history
Learn More About Our History
Basotho Rebellion
The Challenges We Face
No nearby police station.
Residents travel 20km on foot just to report a case or certify a document.
The Challenges We Face
Medical help is out of reach. Lives are lost waiting for help, with some mothers giving birth on the roadside en route to a clinic.
Road conditions are dire.
A 50km trip to the nearest hospital takes two hours on neglected, dusty farm roads.
One hospital for 225,000 people.
Matatiele’s single hospital serves over 200 communities, stretching its capacity beyond limits.
How You Can Help Us
How You Can Help Us
Royal House of Mzongwana
A Legacy carved in Time
Nestled near the Drakensberg and the Lesotho border, the Royal House of Mzongwana carries the story of a proud people — once displaced, never defeated — now rising to reclaim their heritage and future.
The Nhlangwins are a proud, powerful tribe, with history steeped in acts of courage, bravery and high intellect. The Nhlangwini tribe is traced as the Nguni nation that branched from East Africa, a coastline on the Indian Ocean of Kenya, in south eastern Mombasa.
The patriarch, Dlamini I, moved southwards with a number of clans under his rule, through Tanzania, Malawi and settled in Mozambique. The generation of Dlamini I continued even further southwards as far as Limpopo River. On crossing the river, they settled at a place known today as Mbabane, but some continued down to what was known as Natal.
