For almost nine years, the rural village of Ha-Sidou near Mangondi and Jim Kone villages functioned without a traditional leader to rule and lead the communities. That is why, when the new traditional leader, Vhamusanda Nthuseni Sithali finally took his seat on the throne on Saturday, 18 March, he was received joyfully by the communities.
Vhamusanda Sithali succeeded his late father, Vhamusanda Nngwedzeni Sithali, who passed away in 2015. The village had since been ruled by an acting traditional leader, while the communities were constantly worried about whom they were supposed to report their challenges to.
On Saturday, the tshikona dance, which is danced when a new traditional leader is being installed, was also performed and entertained hundreds of people from the Mphaphuli villages under Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli.
Speaking during the installation ceremony, which in Tshivenda is called U dadzwa ha mathivha, Thovhele Mphaphuli said a village could not exist peacefully without someone to lead the people.
Addressing Vhamusanda Sithali, Mphaphuli said: "I urge you to be good a leader for your people and respect your communities, whether they are rich, poor, or people living with disabilities. The communities need clean water, better roads and electricity, and you have to work well with the municipalities in order to speed up service delivery to your people."
Mphaphuli pointed out that the various communities the new traditional leader will be leading are also facing other serious concerns, such as gender-based violence and femicide. He urged Sithali to meet with his people to try and find solutions to put a stop to this scourge, which had already left many women and children killed by close family members.
In turn, Mphaphuli also urged the people from Ha-Sidou village to show respect to their new leader and assist him with the smooth running of the village and initiating some new developmental projects.
The Vhembe District's commissioner of traditional affairs for the Limpopo Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGSTA), Mr Mmbulaheni Mamidza, presented the certificate of recognition that declares Vhamusanda Nthuseni Sithali the rightful person to the throne and to rule Ha-Sidou village.