Gaza Tihosi - Gaza Kingdom

A SUBMISSION TO: PREMIER OF LIMPOPO

RE: APPEAL FOR INTERVENTION ON THE CASE OF AN INJUSTICE PERPETRATED ON A LARGE NUMBER OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS OPERATING UNDER THE BANNER OF THE GAZA KINGDOM

1.    We. the Machangana/Vatsonga traditional leaders, operating under the banner of the Gaza Kingdom, led by Bayethe Eric Mpisani Nxumalo  wa Mafemani, wa Buyisonto, wa Nghungunyani, wa Mzila wa Soshangani, hereby present to you an appeal for intervention in our long overdue cry for redress. 

2.    Long before Apartheid, our ancestors were full recognised leaders of our communities. Some of our dynasties date as far back as the seventeenth century.

3.    Our forbearers served under Gaza Empire with distinction and without any reservation. It is our ancestors who resisted colonialism under the able leadership of the Nguni dynasty of Soshangani, Mzila and Nghungunyani

4.     It is the sacrifice of our loyal ancestors that won Nghungunyani the world-renown international status  of being one of the gallant heroes who effectively resisted the colonialism and imperialism of the West.

5.    Our forefathers sacrificed their limbs and lives on the alter of the democracy that is only enjoyed by a few in this country.

6.    We, the ancestors of yesterday’s heroes, are denied our birthrights by a system that we have always believed we were part of.

7.    We and our King, have suffered all forms of humiliation under apartheid. Our status was denigrated and our culture dragged in the mud.

8.    Puppet leaders were imposed on us .

9.    We were robbed of our status and we were forced to implement their programmes.

10. Apartheid grouped and disaggregated us as it pleased.

11. We were forcefully migrated from our original  homes and dumped in the middle of nowhere, quite often in the wild amongst dangerous animals.

12. We paid tax without reaping the benefit thereof

13. We became tenants on our own soil.

14. Schools and other modern facilities were few and far between.

15. This is the state in which we were when democracy was born in this country in 1994.

16. You can imagine the relief that we anticipated.

17. To us, the advent of democracy promised a lot:

17.1.     We thought the inequities of the past will disappear

17.2.     We thought that there will be redress

17.3.     We thought our situation would improve.

17.4.     We thought all traditional communities will receive equal treatment.

17.5.     We thought that dummy leadership will not be allowed to continue to usurp  authority.

17.6.     We thought those who were disadvantaged will come back home from Babylon.

18.  Sixteen years later, we are still waiting.

19. Whilst we agree that the Government of the ruling party has taken our communities to a higher level in certain respects, a lot leaves much to be desired, particularly in terms of the issues around traditional leadership.

20. Where we come from, the traditional leadership landscape is grossly uneven:

1)    The rightful rulers have been reduced to nothing

2)    Instead, we have impostors seating on the throne

3)    Furthermore, it is friends of Apartheid who were confirmed as traditional leaders even though their neither had the required credentials or the support of history

4)    Those who were traditional leaders at the turn of the twentieth century, have been replaced and overtaken by Bantu homeland appointees. In fact, the homeland system has made a mockery of the concept of traditional leadership. During that time, most collaborators and corrupt characters incredibly, landed stout traditional leadership positions without a single drop of sweat. There were those who were voted by homeland parliaments instead of communities (and not born) to be traditional leaders.

Below follows an illustration of the facts above:

1.    The Duiwelskloof Group

·         1943:  Van Warmelo reported that the Duiwelskloof Office had 15 chiefs with equal status. Amongst them he included Nhlaneki and Ngobe .

·         1957 : Only Ngobe and Nhlaneki were recognised as such

·         47 villages were given to Ngobe

·         18 villages were given to Dzumeri who was given the rare title of a sub-chief

·         13 other villages were grouped together to constitute a new Community Authority (Xiviti)

·         This was done for inexpensive administration

·         Fact, history and diversity were not considered

·         1973 : The Xiviti Community Authority became a tribal authority named Twananani Authority(included amongst others Homu, Nkomo, Hlomela, Ndindani)

·         1990 :  Homu (5 Villages) became a Tribal Authority

·         1990:    Nkomo (5€ villages) became a tribal Authority

2.    Nhlaneki Area

·         By 1957 Hosi Shimange was classified under Mudjadji

·         The Shimange community never accepted this arrangement.

·         1968 : Shimange community was forced removed from their ancestral land and dumped in Nhlaneki’s territory.

·         The new arrivals and Nhlaneki never agreed on anything

·         1996: The Ralushai Commission recommended that Shimange must be separated from Nhlaneki for historical reasons.

·         Instead, it was the Ralushai’s Commission Report was not implemented.

·         Since the demise of the Homeland system, the relationship between Nhlaneki and Shimange has moved from bad to worse

·         This affects development negatively; e.g the Shimange community has won a land claim compensation. Planned projects can’t be implemented because of legal interdicts from the Nhlaneki Office.

·         This can’t be said to be desirable

·         Furthermore, Nhlaneki has since appointed his own headmen in Shimange’s community. This has damaged any form of possible co-existence in the area.

The Maswanganye Case

·         Up to 1957 Maswanganye was recognised as an independent chief

Equal to Nhlaneki.

·         In 1957 Maswanganye  was silently handed over to Nhlaneki as a headman without any form of consultation

·         1966 :” Hosi” Samuel Maswanganye who was regarded as “headman” by Nhlaneki died.

·         His successor to the throne was still a minor

·         Robinson Maswanganye acted as a regent

·         1981 : Robinson died

·         Albert Maswanganye, Robinson’s younger brother assumed the acting position.

·         However, due to the fact that he was working at Phalaborwa, he requested another brother, Mbhazima to stand in for him.

·         1984: Nhlaneki, without any negotiation confirmed and installed Mbhazima as his headman.

·         Mbhazima is still refusing to vacate the throne.

·         He refuses to hand over the throne to the rightful heir

·         This situation is unhealthy. It should not be allowed to continue.

    The Makuleke Case

·         By 1907 Makuleke was recognised as an independent chief

·         He had ten villages

·         Their home was at the confluence of the Limpopo and Levubu rivers

·         1969: They were forced-removed and settled within the Kruger National Park, at “Ntlhaveni” after some border adjustments

·         Makuleke was given Blocks H, I and J. The other Blocks from A to G were given to other local communities

·         1981 : According to Govt  Notice No 15 of 1981, Makuleke was handed over to Mhinga as a headman.

·         Makuleke  does not report to Mhinga

·         He has a functional Tribal Authority Office which was furnished by the Gazankulu Homeland government

·         His office was also provided with government employees for staff

·         After 1994 the staff was inexplicably redeployed to other centres

·         Makuleke also claimed and won ancestral land

·         Mhinga has no say upon it.

·         However, Mhinga still claim to be Makuleke’s senior.

COMMUNITY AUTHORITIES

1.    This is another controversial concept

2.    It was introduced in order to save cost for the Apartheid government.

3.    A group of independent traditional leaders were put together within a so-called community authority. The leadership of this group was expected to rotate amongst the different community leaders.

Nkavele-Makhuvele-Hlungwani-Bevhula Group

·         1968 : These leaders were removed with their followers from their ancestral land  in Venda by force

·         They were loaded into trucks and dumped in the wilderness of the Kruger National Park where there were not even basic facilities such as schools, supply of clean water

·         The ancestral homes of Nkavele, Hlungwani and Bevhula were in what is now Mphampuli’s area in Venda

·         Makhuvele came from the Sinthumule area, also in Venda

·         These communities did not have the slightest of affinity.

·         While in Venda, they were independent

·         They are still regarded as independent “headmen” without a chief.

·         Culturally, this is wrong.

·         These leaders are traditional leaders and their people regard them as such.

·         Their situation does not need a commission of enquiry.

·         All it needs is recognition.

THE HLANGANANI SET-UP

Gaza Tribal Authority

1957 :   Mamaila Group

·         Khamanyani

·         Duvula(Makhuvele)

·         Xigalo Muhunguti

1957: Masakona Group

·         Mudona

·         Xihimu

          1957 : Nthabalala Group

·         Ribungwana

·         Ribungwana

1957:  Mulima Group

·         Nkanyani

·         Mahuntsi

·         Mangulwane

·         Mangove

The above twelve Machangani/Vatsonga leaders refused to remain under Vavhenda traditional leaders

1966 : They were removed from their ancestral land with force`

They were settled on trust land under the Gaza Community Authority

1970 :  Gaza Community Authority split into four community authorities:

·         Vuyani (Duvula & Mahuntsi)

·         Rungulani(Khamanyani & Xigalo)

·         Tiyani (Nkanyani, Mangulwani, Mangove, Xihimu &Mudona(Mashaba)

·         Yingwani Ribungwani(Later recognised as chief and granted a tribal Office)

The Netshimbupfe Cluster

In 1958 the following were equal in status:

·         Xigamani

·         Mphambo

·         Nkuri

·         Mtititi

·         Chapu(Khosa)

·         1962 : Nkuri was given  a Tribal Authority under headman J. Nkuri              (Chapu was incorporated under Nkuri without any negotiation)

·         1985 : Nkuri was granted full Tribal Authority status by the Gazankulu Homeland govern for unknown reasons.

1968 : the others(Mtititi,Mphambo, and Xigamani) were forced removed from their ancestral land and relocated to new areas with their own Community Authority

1990 : Mtititi was given full status of a tribal authority by the Gazankulu Homeland government

The (Xigamani and Mphambo) remained independent headmen up to date. If they are headmen, who is their chief?

Xingwedzi Tribal Authority

1958 : created

·         Had 41 farms

·         All fell under Venda-Shangaan Tribal Authority under Stefaan Tshikonelo

·         Affected Shangaan leaders were Madonsi, Mahonisi, Penny Nghotsa

·         The Shangaan leaders were unhappy in this union

1962: Madonsi Community Authority came into being

             Had 15 farms under Headman Madonsi

1962 : Mahonisi and his farms(Jimmy Jones & Seeli) were incorporated

            Into Mavambe’s territory without mutual agreement

1974 : Madonsi was given full Tribal Authority status

            (Penny Nghotsa was subjected to Madonsi)

The Ribolla and Rosebank Cluster around Elim

1956; A meeting of Machangana and Venda chief took place in the presence of Commissioners

·         Number of  tihosi present : 17

·         The tihosi were instructed to come up with three tihosi

·         The total population of the affected area was 1907

·         Of these 1370 were Machangani

·         537 Vavhenda

·         Vavhenda were given 2 chiefs(Mashamba & Nesengani)

·         Machangani got one chief(Bungeni)

·         The remaining Machangani tihosi were reduced to independent headmen: Bokisi, Ntshuxi, Mahatlani,  Mbhokota,Xihambanyisi,Makhuvele,Mtsetweni,Wayeni Malele and Chavani. This is how Machangani ended up with forty-seven  independent headmen

1966: Khensani Community Authority under Headmen Chavani

·         Bokisi

·         Mbokota

·         N’wa-Xinyamani

·         Chavani

 1973: Khensani Community Authority became a full-fledged Tribal Authority

              under Hosi Chavani

             Bokisi, Mbhokota and N’wa-Xinyamani became Chavani’s headmen

Masiya Cluster

1957: The following tihosi were declared to fall under Hosi Masiya

·         Majozi

·         Nkuzana

·         Madobi

·         Makhasa

·         N’wamatatana

·         Hlomela

They all fell under Masiya Tribal Authority

1966: Khomanani Community Authority Ws formed (but without Hlomela)

1985: Majozi community Authority was formed

1996: This Tribal Authority became dysfunctional

             The former members became independent

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.    Since all the above mentioned challenges emanated from political platforms of one kind or another, we strongly recommend that they be solved through a determined political intervention. They are not the kind that can be solved through commissions of enquiry and negotiations. In fact we regard commissions of enquiry as delaying tactics. You are reminded of the Ralushai  and the Nhlapho Commissions

2.    The only solution to this problem is simply to recognise the de facto reality on the ground, namely that they are practising as senior traditional leaders in their own rights. Traditionally, they only pay allegiance to the Nghungunyani dynasty and the Constitution of this country through the President of the Republic of South Africa. This fact is completely irreversible. No commission can impose any other finding beyond this fact.

3.    As a ruling party and government, we know you have the capacity to realise that fact and also to make it happen. This belief is the one that has made us vote for the year in and year out.

4.    There are also precedents that attest to our belief that you can do it. It has been done in Limpopo and other provinces in our life time:

4.1.        It is common knowledge that in the year 2000 the former Premier of Limpopo, Ngwako Ramatlhodi recognised Kgoshi Sekhukhune as King;

4.2.        In 2005, the Kwazulu-Natal  government passed the Ingwenyama Trust Act which declared Zwelithini to be the king of Kwazulu-Natal;

4.3.        The Kwazulu-Natal Provincial Government under former Premier S’bu Ndebele restored iNkosi Zondi a descendant of the mighty rebellion leader Bambata.

4.4.        In the Eastern Cape former Premier Balindlela also picked up her courage and restored the Mandela dynasty whose leader was alleged to have been demoted..

4.5.        This year, 2011, it is in the air that President Jacob Zuma is in the process of putting up a traditional leadership structure of the Khoisan people. We are not asking for the creation of brand new traditional leadership structures, but we are only asking for their recognition.

5.    Other benchmarking trends taken from modern history  are as follows:

5.1.        In the former Gazankulu area,

·          Between 1957 - 1968: 15 tihosi were recognised

·         Between 1967 – 1995: 18 new tihosi were recognised

5.2.        In Venda

·         All independent headmen have been elevated to senior  traditional leaders

5.3.        In the heartland of Sekhukhune area

·         By 1960, the central Sekhukhune area had 4 Makgoshi only

·         By 1968 the heartland of Sekhukhune had 25 new traditional leaders had been  recognised

·         The Ramodike regime also created many, many more senior traditional leaders all across former Lebowa

In all these cases, we see no evidence of commission of investigation.

We appeal for consistency

We appeal for equity

We appeal for redress

We appeal for urgency

Thanks you for listening to our clarion call

Source and Author Unknown.....