Tshikunda residents up in arms about local traditional leader

An African proverb states that when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. This is the sad reality for residents of Tshikunda Hasengani outside Thohoyandou. The angry and fed-up residents are up in arms about their local traditional leader, Vhamusanda Vhophophi Magoda Sengani. At the centre of the feud are the sites the residents had bought from a former traditional leader, which they are now being forced to repurchase from the new traditional leader.

Aggrieved resident Mr Thendo Netshifhefhe said they had purchased the sites for R5,000 in 2020 from Vhamusanda Vhondwambi Sengani, who was the incumbent at the time. “All went well; the sites were demarcated, we built our houses and moved there. The trouble started when we wanted to join the village society and other services and were told to wait until the new traditional leader of the village was installed. The new chief was installed, and we went back to join, but that was when matters changed. We were told we were not recognised as residents, as the person we bought the sites from was not known. The new leader also informed us that we will have to start the process all over again. So, now we are expected to cough up R11,020 to qualify as residents of the village,” he said.

Netshifhefhe said they could not afford to pay for the same sites twice. “We tried to reason with the new chief, but we could not come to an agreement, so we decided to escalate our case to the higher authority at Luaname, where we thought we would find relief. It has been a year since we lodged our complaint, but we have still not been assisted. This is affecting us negatively as we cannot get water or electricity connected to our homes. This is making life very difficult for us. The new chief is adamant that we should pay all the dues and be registered as residents. What it means now is that, even if we are to get a bereavement, we will not get any support. How and where are we going to bury our loved ones if it so happens?” he said.

In response to the issue, Vhamusanda Sengani first denied knowing anything about it, but he later admitted that some people were being robbed by fake traditional leaders and now wanted services from him. “I know my subjects, and the government is paying me to take care of them. I do not know about the monies they are talking about. My subjects are getting all the services, and anyone who wants to be part of us must follow the protocols. I am also warning residents to be vigilant against fake traditional leaders who are out there seizing every available opportunity to siphon money from unsuspecting and desperate residents,” he said.

Date:20 January 2024

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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