After lengthy squabbles by the family members of the Ha-Nduvheni clan in Ngalavhani village, near Matavhela, over who would succeed the late Vhamusanda Rembuluwani Nduvheni as ruler, Vhamusanda Muthuhathonwi II Nduvheni was finally installed as the new traditional leader on Saturday, 3 June.
Hundreds of people from all corners of the Vhembe region and as far as Gauteng came to witness the installation ceremony.
The Nduvheni clan, also called Vhambedzivha ha mutwa u tshila, had been at each other's throats since Vhamusanda Rembuluwani Nduvheni's death in 2021, which had left the clan divided until now. Some dissatisfied family members even went on to challenge the installation by interdicting the ceremony. On Friday, 2 June – a day before the installation - the legal representatives of each group argued their case before the Limpopo High Court in Thohoyandou, but in the end, the court ruled that the installation should continue. The complainant suffered a terrible defeat when he was also ordered to pay the costs for the case.
Khotsimunene Thavhayamipfa Rammbuda, who conducted the installation ceremony, urged clans, which consist of khadzis, makhotsimunene and ndumi (chief's aid), to first caucus about the heir to the throne before submitting the name of the legitimate successor.
"We find out that the Nduvheni clan was fighting over who will be the heir to the throne. It is the cultural norms of the Vhavenda chieftainship that the one who had been ruling's children qualify to succeeded him. We cannot create new cultural norms where we will be forced to return chieftainship to family members who didn't rule, but claiming a right to the throne," said Rammbuda.
Thulamela PR Councillor Azwidohwi Madume told the gathering that they were happy that a new ruler had been installed at Ngalavhani. He said that government programmes, such as gravelling of streets, installation of electricity and water projects, did not function well without a traditional leader.
Vhamusanda Muthuhathonwi II Nduvheni was urged to join the Tihosi/Mahosi Forum, which aims to strengthen the relationship between the municipality and chiefs for the development of their communities.