The Makonde Royal Family has turned to the courts to try to ensure that a High Court ruling made last month stays in force. This follows after the Tshivhase Traditional Council and Thovhele Midiyavhathu Kennedy Tshivhase launched proceedings to appeal against the judgment.
On 18 June, the Thohoyandou High Court issued an order prohibiting Nyadzeni Peter Ravhura and the senior traditional leader in the area, Thovhele Midiyavhathu Kennedy Tshivhase, from processing or approving any applications related to land allocation, sand mining, or any other matters concerning Makonde village, unless signed by Vhamusanda Vho Tshinetise Tshedza Ravhura. The court further ordered Nyadzeni Peter Ravhura to surrender all official documents and stamps to the legally recognised traditional leader.
The Tshivhase Traditional Council and Thovhele Midiyavhathu Kennedy Tshivhase filed court papers last Monday, requesting leave to appeal against the decision. In the papers, they cite concerns about the manner in which the headmanship certificate was issued to Vhamusanda Vho Tshinetise Tshedza Ravhura.
In a brief interview with Limpopo Mirror on Tuesday morning, the chairperson of the Makonde Royal Family, Mr Fhatuwani Ravhura, said they had decided to launch an urgent application to stop the respondents from defying the court order while the appeal process was under way.
"Their application can take a long time [to be finalised] and the respondents should not be continuing to undermine the traditional leader with the headman's certificate, in favour of a regent who does not have a headman's certificate," Ravhura said.
The urgent application will be heard in the Thohoyandou High Court sitting in Waterfall next Tuesday (8 July).
Meanwhile, Makonde residents are continuing with their campaign to reclaim control over local resources. A memorandum of grievances is expected to be handed over at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 11 July as part of a united front by Makonde and 18 other villages within the Tshivhase dynasty.