Mgudlwa led his people to settle at Qhumanco, in agreement with the Qwathi Chief Dalasile of the royal Gcaleka house of Hintsa in 1860.
Chief Mgudlwa, who was instrumental in bringing a new formal schooling system to his region of Thembuland, fought and died in the rebellion of 1880–81, against the British and the Sprigg Government of the Cape.
[5][6] Kaiser Matanzima spent a portion of his childhood in the household of Chief Mgudlwa {esitya amasi enkomo zendlu kaMgudlwa}.
The later Thembu Council writer described him as having unusually dark complexion, a birth mark and extraordinary physical strength.
His own children included Matsolo, Harold Guleni, Colenzo, Attwell, Isaac, Cecil, Stormont, and Buller.