ومع ذلك، كان والده، غادلا هنري مفاكانيسوا Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa، زعيما محليا ومستشار للملك، تم تعيينه في المنصب في عام 1915، بعد أن اتهم مجلس حكام أبيض سلفه بالفساد.
His father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a local chief and councillor to the monarch; he had been appointed to the position in 1915, after his predecessor was accused of corruption by a governing white magistrate.