Celani Sikhakhane
When asked about his days at school by a reporter in May this year, Zihogo “Mgilija” Nhleko told a story which characterised the former Zulu Regiment leader’s bold approach to life.
“When my grade 2 teacher passed away, I decided to quit my primary school because there was no need to carry on,” he said gruffly.
He went on to tell the reporter that the decision never harmed his prospects in the slightest and that he was doing very well in life.
After leaving school, he developed a passion for karate, and spent many of his days practicing and racking up belts in his rural community in the Thokazi area of Nongoma.
Nurturing both a physical competency and a deeply entrenched sense of discipline, he was given a job by the KwaZulu government as a police officer.
After becoming leader of the Zulu regiment, Nhleko picked up the affectionate nickname “Mgilija”, after his role as commander. It speaks volumes about his character that the nickname stuck with him for the rest of his life.
He was an outspoken yet dutiful leader within the Zulu regiment. For a period, he was also an official for the Zululand district municipality.
He even got into politics and in 2011 he was a ward candidate for the National Freedom Party of Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi in Nongoma. Despite his interest in politics, he showed little interest in fame.
However, Mgilija shot to notoriety before King Zwelithini’s funeral. At the height of the pandemic, he said publicly that Covid-19 will never stop the king’s subjects from paying their respects.
He even joked that the virus would run away from the king’s funeral procession.
But the year in which he entered the public eye was his last, succumbing on Monday night in hospital after months of treatment for cancer.
Ever the one to divide opinion, Mgilija’s witty responses to questions that were put to him made him simultaneously one of the most adored and disliked leaders of Amabutho.
