How did Sudwala Caves get their name ?

The caves are named after Induna Sudwala (originally Sidvwaba), chief councillor and brother to Swazi prince Somquba, who served as the principal guardian of Sudwala Caves' narrow entrance during the 1860s power struggle against King Mswati II. Positioned as captain overseeing defenses, he protected Somquba's followers, cattle, and supplies stockpiled inside this natural fortress near present-day Mbombela. Sudwala maintained constant vigilance from observation posts, ensuring the constricted mouth—barely wide enough for single-file Nguni cattle—remained clear for rapid retreats amid raids and battles. When Mswati's forces lit massive fires to smoke them out (burn marks persist), Sudwala's leadership and the caves' mysterious airflow thwarted suffocation. After Somquba's death in ambush, survivors rallied under Sudwala, permanently naming the caves in his honor—his legendary spirit said to linger within these Mpumalanga chambers.