Bulawayo is mourning the sudden death of Sihlangu Dlodlo, the chief executive officer of Highlanders Football Club, who was found deceased at his home in Nketa 9 on Monday. The 60-year-old former Innscor and Lobels marketing executive was discovered by friends and family after concerns were raised about his absence.
Friends, alerted to his disappearance, forced entry to his property after failing to contact him. Allan “Ripper” Mpofu, a close friend, recounted the harrowing discovery, his voice choked with emotion: “It appears he passed on over the weekend. He was alone at his place. After the alarm was raised that he had gone missing, with the help of his relatives we had to force open the gate at his place to gain entry. After peeping through a window, I couldn’t believe it. I saw the lifeless body of my close friend. This is so disheartening, it’s really sad. We discovered this around 6:45PM.”
Mpofu, visibly distraught, declined to comment further, citing respect for Dlodlo’s family.
Dlodlo’s friends said he was last seen alive on Saturday. A Facebook post he made on October 16th is now prompting speculation.
Written in Ndebele, the post reads: “A nice way to end the drama and nonsense that happens at funerals is to die alone at home and rot for a week or so until the neighbours see green flies by the windows; and the police arrive to recover your remains in a zinc coffin and open truck and take you, hopefully to Kings and Queens. That way there will be no body viewing. It’s straight to Luveve Cemetery. By the way, please don’t bring flowers sweethearts.”
While many initially dismissed the post as typical of Dlodlo’s jocular nature, its chilling prescience in light of his death has left many pondering its meaning.
His final Facebook post, shared just after 3 PM local time on Saturday, was a simpler message: “Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile ngithi kini, uNkulunkulu kadakwa shem [Verily, verily I say unto you, God is never drunk. For real].”
Dlodlo’s career spanned several prominent organisations. He held senior marketing roles at Innscor and Lobels before serving as general manager of Kings and Queens Funeral Services. He joined Highlanders as CEO in April of this year. In a September 2024 interview, reflecting on his legacy, he shared his aspirations: “I want to be remembered as a fat ugly man who tried to do the best that he could in the time that he was given. In the bulk of my life I have tried to uplift people around me; I have tried to do things that have a positive impact on my society and I hope that the Lord will give me a bit more years so that I can continue doing this because when everything is said and done, we cannot be great unless the people around us achieve the greatness.”
Those who knew him described Dlodlo as an affable and approachable individual. His wife and children reside in the United Kingdom.
Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. His body has been transported to a local hospital for a post-mortem examination. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the authorities continue their inquiries.
The sudden passing of this well-known and respected figure has left a void in the Bulawayo community and the wider football fraternity. His contributions to both business and sport will be remembered, and his unexpected death leaves many questioning the events leading up to his passing.
