He succeeded his father, King Nyawuza, in June 1782 and reigned until his death in 1818.
During what was an eventful reign, the Grosvenor, East Indiaman a British vessel ran aground on the 4 August 1782 at the coast of the land of this region at a Lambasi with 123 survivors, causing consternation on King Ngqungqushe leading him to order the survivors to be slain for fear of them ravaging his people and stealing cattle.
would be assimilated into the Xhosa cultural way of life and sometimes assisted to get to their destination by the hospitable but fierce amaMpondo.
Sometime in the 1810s K intervened in a succession dispute among the AmaBomvana People who had been a Mpondo vassal state for centuries, on behalf of his son in law, Ngezana who was married to KING NGQUNGQUSHE'S daughter.
While savouring the taste of their victory AmaMpondo and their King Ngqungqushe relaxed for the night on the banks of Dangwana River on their way home enjoying the spoils of a victory well earned.