Chief was role model
Traditional leader served his people with aplomb
Born: February 11 1950 Died: April 29 2017
Funeral: May 14 2017 at Mgayi, Dungeni Traditional Council in Umzumbe local municipality Burial: Dungeni, KZN
Chief Ndabingehlele Chiliza was a servant of his people and died serving them with aplomb.
The royal member of the Chiliza clan in the Ugu district in KwaZulu-Natal, succumbed to an illness that plagued him for the past two years.
He died on Saturday aged 67. Chiliza was a well-known development activist and senior traditional leader in the district.
He served as chief for 15 years, and remained committed to serving his traditional community, even as his health began to fail.
Provincial department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs said this week it was deeply saddened by the death of Chiliza.
It described him as a hardworking chief who was dedicated to his people.
“The late Inkosi Chiliza will be sorely missed by his community whose members will forever remember his passion for development and his energy in the fight against social ills, such as crime, disease and moral decay,” said traditional affairs MEC Nomusa DubeNcube.
“Our heartfelt condolences go to the grieving family and the entire community of Inkosi Chiliza, whose death has left a void in the esteemed institution of traditional leadership in KZN.”
His death came a few days after the province buried another community leader and former speaker of the Umzimkhulu municipality Khaya Thobela, who was shot dead last week.
Chiliza will be buried on May 14 at Mgayi in Dungeni, Umzumbe local municipality, at 9am.