Discontent with the levies charged by the Tshivhase Traditional Council and the secrecy surrounding failed development projects were cited as reasons for a protest march held in Mukumbani last Friday. Much of the anger was directed at one of the region's most senior traditional leaders, Thovhele Midiyavhathu Kennedy Tshivhase.
The protesters marched to the Mukumbani Royal Palace, where a memorandum of grievances was handed over. The protest was spearheaded by the Make It Happen Foundation (MIHAFO) in conjunction with other stakeholders and concerned members of the Tshivhase traditional community.
MIHAFO spokesperson Tshamunwe Henry Masindi said the purpose of the march was to raise awareness and demand accountability on several issues. In the memorandum, the marchers accuse Thovhele Tshivhase of mismanagement and the blatant plundering of resources.
Two projects in Khubvi and Makonde villages were highlighted as alleged examples of community members losing out on job opportunities.
"At Makonde, a fully equipped and fully operational Makonde Agricultural Project for the production of export flowers, other agricultural products, and piggery was handed back to the community for their benefit," said Masindi. The memorandum alleges that Thovhele Tshivhase attempted to hijack this project. "The project was subsequently plundered during the skirmish between the Makonde community and [Thovhele] Tshivhase when the Makonde community insisted they should also benefit from the project, but [Thovhele] Tshivhase declared himself the sole owner and beneficiary," said Masindi.
The memorandum also addresses the Damani Banana Project, situated in Khubvi village. It claims that while the community was supposed to benefit from this project, it is instead being used for Thovhele Tshivhase's personal benefit.
One of the concerns raised was that the land-restitution process is allegedly being controlled by Tshivhase. "Thovhele [Tshivhase], in defiance of the Constitution and the Restitution of Land Rights Act, presents himself as the owner and beneficiary of the restituted land. Therefore, he claims to be the only person who can decide on and benefit from the land," the memorandum states.
It is further alleged that the Tshivhase Development Trust is effectively bankrupt. "There is no accountability whatsoever for money received from the public," said Masindi.
The protesters also highlight what they describe as exorbitant levies charged by the Tshivhase dynasty. A list is included, indicating what residents and potential developers are being charged. This is allegedly in defiance of a High Court ruling, confirmed by the Constitutional Court in December last year, which deems such levies illegal.
"The Limpopo Government, especially the Office of the Premier, COGHSTA, and the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders, is aware of Thovhele MPK Tshivhase's autocratic and despotic tendencies, running the Tshivhase tribal area as his own fiefdom, where he disregards all legal frameworks and his whim is the only law," Masindi said.
The spokesperson for the Tshivhase Royal Council, Vhamusanda Vho Muelekanyi Tshivhase, was unavailable for comment at the time of our going to print as he had reportedly left overseas on Monday morning. However, the secretary of the Tshivhase Royal Council, Vho Khotsimunene Vho Avhakholwi Tshivhase, confirmed they had received the memorandum on Friday. "We are still reviewing it and will respond in due course," he said.