Residents unhappy with way Njaka Njaka Tribal Authority deals with hawkers

More than 200 residents from Elim and neighbouring villages flooded the streets on Thursday, 7 December, to voice their dissatisfaction with the Njaka Njaka Tribal Authority. The march stems from the removal of more than 50 local hawkers in October this year, during the construction of the D4 road. The residents claim that the move caused the locals to lose their livelihoods, while many foreign hawkers and spaza shops were left to continue with their trade. The residents are also accusing the Njaka Njaka Tribal Authority of the mismanagement of funds.

The marchers submitted a memorandum of grievances to Mr John Ntabeni, the senior headman of the Njaka Njaka Traditional Council, in which they demanded that all obstructions be cleared from the road, so that construction of the road can proceed according to the road plan. They also want all the remaining shacks around Elim Hospital, Elim High School, and the shopping complex to be removed as they say these stalls are being operated within the electricity danger line. Their demands include that a proper market be built for the hawkers.

The residents furthermore demand clarity on the tribal authority’s annual financial report and call for transparency on the allocation and utilisation of funds for community projects. The residents claim that, since 2019, they have been paying an annual fee of R20 per household for a fence and toilets to be erected at the graveyard as the old graveyard is full.

Speaking anonymously to Limpopo Mirror, one of the marchers questioned the purpose of the tribal authority in their community. “We believed that the money we pay for tribal levies was supposed to help in drilling boreholes and gravel roads,” said the source.

Mr. Nelson Mabobo, deputy chairperson of the Elim to Shirley Community Development and Service Delivery Forum, expressed his dissatisfaction with the tribal authority’s assistance to the community. “We need the tribal authority to stop collecting a huge sum of money from our poor mothers (hawkers) who are trying to put food on the table and the community landlords,” he said.

Also on their list of demands and complaints was a call for cooperation between the tribal authority (chief) and police officials to eradicate the high rate of drug dealing in their communities. They accused the tribal authority of nepotism and hiring close relatives on projects, which they say leads to corruption and a lack of fairness and accountability. The residents also demanded the tribal authority halt the sale of a site adjacent to the old Lemana College that was declared a heritage site.

Mr John Ntabeni responded to questions by saying: “We promise to respond to their grievances on Friday, 15 December.”

Date:16 December 2023

By: Thembi Siaga

Thembi Siaga started as an intern during 2021. He assisted with video photography and editing. He also produced numerous small documentaries, focusing on the Vhembe region and its people. Currently he works as a freelance journalist, covering stories in the Elim area.

Thembi studied at the Tshwane University of Technology, where he completed his diploma in Journalism in 2021.

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