Hlanganani , also known as Spelonken , is an amalgamation of various large villages which are situated in the north western portion of the former Tsonga homeland of Gazankulu , South Africa . Hlanganani is situated alongside the R578 road to Giyani and Elim.
70-629: The following places are named after Hlanganani: The Hlanganani Regional Court in Waterval township next to Elim Hospital (built in 1983 by the Gazankulu homeland), the Hlanganani Cost Centre at Bungeni and Nkuzana villages (the Hlanganani Cost Centre houses the Department of Water Affairs and the Department of Public Works, before 1994 it was known as Hlanganani Regional Office Department of Works ),
140-766: A clinic and the Valdezia Primary School in 1888, which laid a foundation for future Tsonga elites. The small Valdezia clinic was a forerunner of Elim Hospital, which the Swiss established in the nearby Elim Mission Station in 1899. The Swiss Missionaries were at first not aware that the Tsonga people had recently colonised the whole Eastern Transvaal as well as the Northern Transvaal itself, once they became aware, they quickly lay claim to all speakers of Xitsonga as their 'people' and established Mission Stations everywhere in
210-407: A new language, which the Swiss named Xitsonga . According to Rev Junod, Ronga, Tswa and Chopi are so similar and related to 'Xigwamba' to an extent that they cannot be regarded as independent languages but rather, a dialects of 'Xigwamba'. As a result, Berthoud and Junod established a single standard for all these east coast dialects, known today as Xitsonga. The Swiss missionaries also realised that
280-460: A sign of the Tlakula family's ownership of Elim Mall, the centre manager, Ms Basani Tlakula, is a daughter of the Tlakula family and she manages the mall on behalf of the Tlakula family. Chief Njhakanjhaka is the owner of the land where Hubyeni shopping centre is situated, during the land negotiation with Kerr Development, Chief Njhakanjhaka's rules were that 10% of shareholding should be transferred to
350-591: A total population of more than 42,000 people combined. Because of Apartheid policies of the 1960s, the land of Njhakanjhaka Traditional Authority was reduced to Waterval, Shirley, Lemana and Elim, leaving the villages of Mbhokota, Bokisi, Chavani, milaboni, Riverplaats, tzaneen and Nwaxinyamani to be governed independently by Chief Njhakanjhaka's first born son, Chief Chavani Njhakanjhaka Mukhari. These villages are collectively known as Nkhensani Tribal Authority, under Chief Njhakanjhaka's son, Hosi Chavani. Nkhensani Tribal Authority's offices are based at Chavani Village, behind
420-516: Is a chief at Elim and Njhakanjhaka village only, the contrary is true, Njhakanjhaka is in fact a Senior or a Paramount chief of all Vatsonga people in the whole Spelonken district and all Vatsonga people in the Spelenkon district accepted the authority of Njhakanjhaka. All other chiefs that exist today in Hlanganani were appointed by João Albasini, and that weakened the power of Njhakanjhaka as his chiefdom
490-553: Is a separate and stand alone farm, sharing a legal boundary with Waterval and Mbhokota village to the east. As of mid-2015 population statistics (Stats SA), it had a population of 9,000 people and is part of Njhakanjhaka Traditional Authority or Elim/Shirley Traditional Authority, with a combined population of more than 22,000 people according to mid-2015 population statistics (Stats SA). The Njhakanjhaka Traditional Authority or Elim/Shirley Traditional Authority proper includes Mbhokota, Bokisi, Chavani, Riverplaats and Nwaxinyamani and has
560-478: Is classified in one group alongside Njhakanjhaka Tribal Authority, Nkhensani Tribal Authority and Bungeni Tribal authority. The population in these three Tribal Authorities contains 80,000 people of the total population of Hlanganani and it is one of the densely populated region in the Elim district of Makhado Local Municipality. Today, Hlanganani is an example of the 'Rainbow nation', it is a proud home of both VhaVenda and
630-421: Is only 2% difference between Ronga, Tswa and Xitsonga. Valdezia has been a "Community Authority" since 1875 and does not belong to any tribal authorities in the area, it is independent from any form of despotic tribal rule. However, Chief Njhakanjhaka, a major tribal chief living at a village in front of Elim Hospital, was the only major Tsonga Chief in the whole Spelonken district that exercised authority over
700-555: Is roughly 10 km east of Elim Hospital in the Hlanganani district in the former Gazankulu homeland, South Africa . It was the site of a Swiss mission station , and it was named after the Swiss canton of Vaud . Valdezia's population, according to the official census of 2011, currently stands at between 7,600 and 8,000 people. It is considered the birthplace of the written Tsonga language in South Africa. When Soshangane invaded
770-450: Is situated is in fact Njhakanjhaka. Chief Njhakanjhaka was one of Chief of Spelonken (modern day Valdezia, Elim, Nwa-Xinyamani, Bungeni , Chavani, Mbhokota, Shirley, in fact the whole of Hlanganani). As Headman of Spelenkon, Chief Njhakanjhaka exercised authority over 50,000 Tsonga people who resides at Spelonken district; the 1905 Transvaal statistics put the number of Tsonga speakers of Spelonken at 50,000 souls. However, Chief Njhakanjhaka
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#1733085544379840-457: Is situated. Chief Njhakanjhaka, on behalf of Mr Tlakula and Mr Makhubele, leased the land to the Swiss missionaries in 1897 for a period of 100 years so that Elim Hospital may be established. Therefore, Chief Njhakanjhaka, Mr Tlakula and Mr Makhubele are credited with the establishment of Elim Hospital. Prior to 1899 (the year Elim Hospital was established), the western half of Elim Hospital was owned by
910-621: The Pedi between the years 1554-1800 but they did not settled in these areas. Goods traded with the Venda and the Pedi included beads, clothes, maize , guns, soap, and shoes, which the Tsonga obtained from the Portuguese and were rewarded with both ivory and iron by the Venda in exchange for goods. The Venda were skilled locksmith, they traded iron to the Tsonga and the Tsonga sold them Maize and introduced maize to
980-544: The Transvaal where Tsonga people could be found. The most important Swiss Missions was Njhakanjhaka village, (Elim Mission Station, 1878, next to Elim Hospital), Shirley (Shirley Mission Station in 1890), next to Waterval township, Shiluvane Mission Station near Tzaneen , and Masana in Bushbuckridge , where there was a large concentration of Vatsonga people. At Valdezia, the Tsonga people were referred to as 'Magwamba' by
1050-625: The Venda people , the Venda also called the Tsonga language 'Tshigwamba', while the Pedi in the South called them 'Makoepa' and their language 'Sekoapa'. The Swiss Missionaries adopted this racial slur and also called the Tsonga people 'Magwamba' and their language 'Xigwamba'. After an ethnographic and scientific study of the 'Xigwamba language and culture' by the Swiss Missionaries, Reverend Henri Alexandra Junod and Reverend Ernest Creux, they correctly named
1120-474: The 1960s as dumping grounds by the Apartheid Government for Tsonga people who have either occupied so-called white areas as well as those that stayed in so-called Venda areas. Mbhokota Village, as one of the dumping grounds during Apartheid, was the hardest hit in terms of overcrowding. Between 1960 and 1970, Mbhokota village became overcrowded and there is no more empty land available for the expansion of
1190-631: The Blind is also situated here, the SABC presenter, Rhulani Baloyi was born here, she attended Rivoni School for the Blind. The village of Elim took its name from the historic Elim Hospital , many prominent Tsonga people also came from Elim, The former commissioner of the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa , Ms Pansy Tlakula was married here and her husband's family, the Tlakulas, are
1260-589: The Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Valdezia. Despite the intervention by the Swiss Missionaries, Valdezia remains an underdeveloped area, the only development that has happened in the last few years was the development of the Mambedi Country Lodge. A church conference centre is currently being built and the original Church has been turned into a museum. Valdezia is still owned and managed by
1330-598: The Government more than R1 million. Valdezia Valdezia is a sprawling rural settlement situated at the foothills of the Soutpansberg mountain range in Louis Trichardt , Limpopo Province , South Africa. It was formerly known as Albasini before Swiss Missionaries renamed it Valdezia in 1875. The village itself was formally established in 1820 by Tsonga refugees who were fleeing despotic rule from Soshangane . It
1400-727: The Hlanganani Police Station at Tiyani (Magoro), the Elim-Hlanganani old age home in Waterval township next to Elim Hospital, Hlanganani District Pension Office at Bungeni Village, the Hlanganani Taxi Association and the Hlanganani Community Radio. Hlanganani means Come together in Xitsonga and was meant to be a home to the Tsonga speakers during Apartheid South Africa. The idea behind Hlanganani
1470-419: The Hlanganani area are: Njhakanjhaka Tribal Authority 17,000 people, Njhakanjhaka Tribal Authority includes; (Elim, Njhakanjhaka, Magangeni, eka-Mabobo, Lemana, Waterval and Shirley). Nkhensani Tribal Authority 18,000 people, Nkhensani Tribal Authority includes; (Mbhokota, Bokisi, Nwaxinyamani, Chavani and Riverplaats). Bungeni Tribal Authority , 25,000 people, Bungeni Tribal Authority includes; Sekhunyani as
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#17330855443791540-777: The Magwamba of Spelenkon were not a homogeneous group, rather they were a collection of various tribes from the east coast, that is; the Vahlanganu, Tembe, Chopi, Hlengwe, Nkuna, Khoza, Mabunda, Maluleke, etc. but they all spoke a similar dialect of 'Xigwamba'. Once a new language was formed, the word 'Xigwamba' fell into disuse and a new language, Xitsonga replaced 'Xigwamba'. As a result, Chopi, Ronga and Tswa became extinct languages in South Africa and were swallowed or disappeared into Xitsonga. However, in Mozambique , Chopi, Ronga and Tswa continue to exist as independent languages from Xitsonga, still,
1610-590: The Mozambican Census continue to group Tswa, Chopi, Ronga and Xitsonga as one super language group. In the City of Maputo, for example, the language that is spoken there is Ronga and Tswa, not Xitsonga, many people tend to confuse or misinterpret the language that is spoken by people from Maputo and Matola as Xitsonga, that is not true. Xitsonga is not a dominant language in Maputo and Matola, in fact, Maputo and Matola are not
1680-543: The Njhakanjhaka Traditional Authority under Elim/Shirley community. Formerly a college of education, Lemana is an intellectual bastion of the Tsonga and Shangaan people. Many Vatsonga were educated here. The former FRELIMO President, Eduardo Mondlane was educated at Lemana. On top of Ribolla Mountain one finds a place dedicated to the history of the Tsonga people. It is possible to see 29 villages down
1750-517: The Spelonken district, Albasini appointed all the headman in villages in a place known today as Hlanganani . Before the arrival of the Swiss Missionaries, Valdezia was formerly known as "eka-Albasini" by the local Tsonga refugees, meaning "Albasini Village". When Albasini died in 1888, no successor was appointed to lead the Tsonga people and the Valdezia Chieftainship fell into disuse. Before
1820-581: The Swiss Missionary and Anthropologist, Dr Henri-Alexandra Junod, decided that Tswa and Ronga are not independent languages, they are just a dialect of Xitsonga and must therefore be swallowed by Xitsonga. According to Dr Junod, 98% of grammar that is found in Tswa and Ronga are also found in Xitsonga, that is why the Swiss Missionaries came to a conclusion that Xitsonga is a mother body of Tswa and Ronga, because there
1890-719: The Swiss agency known as the Evangelical Presbyterian Church . Unlike in the past where the Swiss missionaries used to run the village and the church, the current leadership of the Presbyterian Church is composed solely of Tsonga people, but the Church in Switzerland still take some of the major decisions concerning the activities of the church and the village of Valdezia. In 1876, the Swiss Missionaries, Reverend Paul Berthoud and Reverend Ernest Creux, who were based at
1960-538: The Tlakula and Lowane families are the true owners of Elim Hospital because they have title deeds of the land where Elim Hospital is situated. That is why all the hawkers who are selling in front of Elim Hospital pay rent every month to the Tlakula family. Elim Hospital is a very popular hospital in South Africa and abroad, particularly in Switzerland where many missionaries came from. The Swiss brought Christianity to
2030-546: The Tlakula family as their family property, while the eastern half of Elim Hospital was owned by Mr Job Makhubele as his family property (the Makhubele family changed their surname and they are known today as Lowane family). The Lowane family still resides today at Elim and their house can be found on the main road opposite Elim Mall, along the R578 road , while the Tlakula family resides behind Elim Mall, opposite Elim Hospital. Therefore,
2100-490: The Tsonga country, large numbers of Tsonga people fled and settled at Valdezia and Bungeni . Around the 1840s, Joao Albasini , a Portuguese adventurer, joined the Tsonga people and made himself their tribal chief. Albasini was a warmonger and he established a powerful Tsonga army, consisting of 2,000 men. After the death of Joao Albasini in 1888, the Afrikaner people took over Albasini's Tsonga army and used it to wage war against
2170-408: The Tsonga established what is called 'trading station', these stations were developed slowly into small villages. The purpose of the 'trading stations' was to prevent armed robbery since traders were often robbed their goods, so trading stations provided security against robbery since all these stations were guarded 24 hours by armed personnel and their staff. Some of the Tsonga traders never returned to
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2240-466: The Tsonga people, some Tsonga people managed to avoid being forcefully removed from Venda areas, example are the Tsonga people staying at Mashamba village, the Tsonga at Mashamba village were not removed and stayed there until the end of Apartheid. The Venda Tsonga ratio at Mashamba village is 57% Venda and 39% Tsonga, the remaining percent being other language groups. The Village of Mbhokota, Bungeni, Chavani, Magoro, Nwaxinyamani and others were used during
2310-470: The Tsonga people, the cultural and language diversity that was once a feature at Hlanganani area before the introduction of Apartheid is now back, both VhaVenda and the Tsonga people are embracing each other. Throughout Hlanganani, TshiVenda and Xitsonga are widely used in both Government and business transactions, the ideals of a democratic South Africa is a reality in the Hlanganani area because two languages and their cultures have now Come together , hence
2380-415: The Tsonga refugees that were scattered all over Spelonken hills, including Valdezia. Njhakanjhaka exercised authority over all the Tsonga refugees in the area known today as Hlanganani and was recognised as such by the scattered Tsonga refugees everywhere in the Spelonken district. But Joao Albasini , a Portuguese adventurer, also claimed authority over the Tsonga refugees in the Spelonken district. With all
2450-408: The Tsonga refugees were not new areas, they were known to the Tsonga for more than 250-years. So the Tsonga refugees flocked in their thousands and started the process of 'internal colonisation', which after the period of 80-years (1820-1900), resulted in the 'internal colonisation of the whole eastern and northern Transvaal by the Tsonga respectively. The land where Waterval is situated today was one of
2520-703: The Valdezia Mission Station, started the process of translating the Bible from French into Xitsonga. Valdezia is a birthplace of the modern written Tsonga language . During the late 1880s and early 1890s, Reverend Junod and Reverend Henry Berthoud (Younger brother to Reverend Paul Berthoud) studied 'Xigwamba' and realised that Xigwamba is a collection of various dialect of people from the east coast. According to Berthoud and Junod, 'Xigwamba' consist of dialect from Ronga , Tswa (Xitswa), Chopi and 'Xigwamba' (Tsonga). These east coast dialects were blended together to form
2590-607: The Vukeyas used to stay next to Vleifontein, which was later classified as a Venda area. Another group were removed from so-called "White areas", one such group was the "Mahlahluvani Community" and were dumped at Nwaxinyamani, the other group of Venda speakers who were removed from a "White area", not far from Mahlahluvani community, were dumped at Mashau village, north of Bungeni village. The Shimange community, which also used to live adjacent Vleifontein , were also forcefully removed and dumped at Shirley Village and Waterval township, which
2660-410: The above villages can be sub-divided into small villages, meaning that there are hundreds of villages in Hlanganani. After the 1994 General election, Hlanganani was divided into two parts, the western part was handed over to Makhado Local Municipality and the southern part was handed over to Greater Letaba Local Municipality . According to the 2011 census, the largest concentration of Tsonga people in
2730-410: The ancient 'Tsonga trading station' and was already known to the Tsonga people for centuries before the process of 'internal colonisation', however, it was not known as Waterval. Chief Njhakanjhaka and his people arrived here between 1818 and 1820 as refugees from Mozambique during the wars of Soshangane , also known as Manukosi. Chief Njhakanjhaka was one of many Tsonga leaders who rebelled against
2800-517: The authority of Soshangane and was defeated by the Nguni warriors under the command of Soshangane. Chief Njhakanjhaka had tried to defend his Tsonga people against the Nguni invaders, who not only oppressed his people but also enslaved women and children. To avoid death and execution at the hands of Soshangane, Njhakanjhaka fled with his people and settle at a place known today as Waterval. The land where Waterval
2870-610: The bank of the Middle Letaba Dam , the Magoro community was forcefully removed from Magoro village during the 1960s because that area was declared a Tsonga area in terms of the Apartheid planning, the uprooted VhaVenda were dumped at so-called "Venda areas", such as Tshino. Despite the forced removal, some VhaVenda people, especially the ones staying at Bungeni village, managed to avoid being forcefully removed to Venda areas. Same applied to
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2940-542: The death of Joao Albasini, the Swiss Missionaries used the policy of "Indirect Rule" to control the Tsonga people since Joao Albasini was still a powerful tribal chief for Valdezia. Currently, Valdezia does not have a tribal chief, instead, a church council, appointed from the Swiss Mission Church, to rule the village. A dispute for chieftainship cannot be resolved easily until the Albasini family intervene because they are
3010-430: The early 1970s, thousands of VhaVenda people were forcefully removed from Hlanganani villages and were moved to so-called "Venda areas", while thousands of Tsonga people were also forcefully removed from so-called "Venda areas" and were moved to Hlanganani villages. One such group to be moved to Hlanganani villages were the Vukeyas, who were moved to Mbhokota village and Shirley Village, just outside Elim Hospital, previously
3080-428: The east coast and were given responsibility of taking care of these trading stations. Some Tsonga traders stayed permanently in the Venda and Pedi villages, never returning to the east coast. For more than 250-years, the Tsonga people had no interest in colonising the eastern and northern Transvaal, since they treated both the eastern and northern Transvaal as trading areas only. Full scale 'internal colonisation' of both
3150-407: The eastern Transvaal and northern Transvaal only begin from 1820 onwards, this was a period when Soshangane invaded the Tsonga homeland and a mass exodus of Tsonga refugees left the east coast in their thousands into both the eastern and northern Transvaal. This is known as 'forced colonisation' since the Tsonga were forced to vacate their homeland due to war. These new 'colonies' that were invaded by
3220-433: The first proclaimed village which was known as Mkhathini, Njhakanjhaka A and Njhakanjhaka B, Nwa-Mhandzi, Mahatlani, wayeni, Mtsetweni, Xihambanyisi, Shivambu, Xitaci, Manyunyu, Mobodlongwa, Makhoma, Xikhulu and Nghonyama. Finally Valdezia Community Authority , 8,000 people, Valdezia has been a Community Authority since 1875 and does not belong to any Tribal Authorities in the area, but for cultural and linguistical reasons, it
3290-495: The graves of missionaries and their families, the graves are in bad conditions as there are no Swiss community to take care of the graves. The graves were restored during the 140 year celebrations of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church(Swiss Mission) held in valdezia on 8-12 July 2015. The grave of Mrs Berthoud was turned into a monument alongside the grave of Mrs Shihlomulo who was the first convert to
3360-546: The homelands of Vatsonga. Rather, Xitsonga is a dominant language in the Homeland of Vatsonga, which are Xai-Xai , Bilene and the Gaza Province . The Tsonga people who reside in Maputo and Matola are recent arrivals and did not originate in the area, where traditionally the Tswa and Ronga people were found. Nonetheless, Tswa, Chopi and Ronga are grammatically very similar and related to Xitsonga to an extent that in South Africa,
3430-482: The land of the Tsonga and named it "Terra da Boa Gente" (Land of the friendly people), before departing to India on a sea voyage. Vasco Da Gama or the Portuguese have obtained maize from South America where they were in their early stages of massive colonisation of their colony called Portuguese Brazil or modern day Brazil , Maize is indigenous to South America. However, as trade with the interior developed over time,
3500-411: The land owners of Elim. The new Elim Mall is situated on land owned by the Tlakula family. Elim refers to Njhakanjhaka village, Rivoni and Lemana, but exclude Waterval and Shirley. Chief Njhakanjhaka, Hakamela Tlakula's grandfather and Mr Job Makhubele played a vital role during the establishment of Elim Hospital. Hakamela Tlakula's grandfather and Mr Job Makhubele owned pieces of land where Elim Hospital
3570-486: The land where Elim Hospital is located and the whole of Njhakanjhaka and Rivoni but excluded Shirley. During the 1950s until the late 1960s, the land of Waterval, Elim, Shirley, Chavani, Mbhokota, Riverplaats, Nwaxinyamani, Bokisi, Bungeni , Valdezia and Nkuzana was dubbed the 'Tsonga finger'. It was located in what the Apartheid government considered a White area in the nearby town of Louis Trichardt and forced removal
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#17330855443793640-428: The language 'Xitsonga' and the speakers Vatsonga or just Tsonga. Junod and Creux are credited by Tsonga intellectuals and Academic as the first people to create a sense of 'nationalism' amongst the Tsonga in South Africa. The Swiss Mission Church further build Tsonga pride when they changed the name of the church to Tsonga Presbyterian Church in 1960. The 'Valdezia Ward' at Elim Hospital was named after Valdezia. The Ward
3710-516: The military abilities, Njhakanjhaka was undermined by Albasini, who declared himself a paramount chief for all Vatsonga of Spelenkon and the Tsonga also recognised Albasini as their Chief as well. The result was that the authority of chief Njhakanjhaka was reduced to five small villages, which are: Elim, Shirley, Lemana, Waterval and Njhakanjhaka only. Valdezia was a stronghold and a power base for Joao Albasini's rule and he ruled Valdezia until he died in 1888. As paramount chief for all Tsonga refugees in
3780-541: The mountain. The Vatsonga Cultural Village was started by a young woman who felt that the culture of the Vatsonga was under attack by some European influences. A visit to the Vatsonga Cultural Village will leave one proud to be a Tsonga speaker. The architecture of houses at Vastonga Cultural Village is a true reflection of the traditional Tsonga village and lifestyle. The construction of the cultural village costed
3850-467: The name Hlanganani. Waterval Waterval is a residential township in front of Elim Hospital, it is situated in the Hlanganani district of the former Tsonga homeland of Gazankulu , alongside the R578 road to Giyani in the Limpopo province of South Africa . Waterval includes Njhakanjhaka, Lemana, Elim Hospital, Elim Mall, Hubyeni Shopping centre, Magangeni but excludes Shirley village, which
3920-514: The new Elim Mall are all situated in Waterval. Prior to the Swiss encounter, Chief Njhakanjhaka exercised authority in the area. This western portion of Gazankulu was known as the Tsonga "finger" during the 1950s until the late 1960s by the Apartheid officials of the Department of Bantu Affairs and Development. When Apartheid ended in 1994, the area was shifted to Makhado Local Municipality and now forms part of Vhembe District Municipality . From
3990-486: The one above Waterval, the one on top of the mountain, the one below the mountain and Akanani, which is the newest of these villages. Shirley is also home to Vonani Bila , a poet, writer and entertainer. This is the original home of Chief Njhakanjhaka, Rivoni also houses the Njhakanjhaka Traditional Authority Offices, Chief Njhakanjhaka hold tribal meetings here (Hubyeni). The Rivoni School for
4060-430: The people of Njhakanjhaka, one can still see the impact of such civilisation in the whole of Elim area. The Tlakula family is still the owners of the land where Elim Mall is situated, they claim 60% of the profit made from the mall, while Twin City, the developer of the mall, get 40% of the profit. Land negotiations took more than five years before the Tlakula family could release the land for development to Twin City. As
4130-458: The township of Waterval. Waterval was proclaimed a township in 1980 by the former Gazankulu homeland , in the district of Hlanganani . Waterval also forms part of Njhakanjhaka Traditional Authority. The Hlanganani Regional Court for the District of Hlanganani (wrongly called "Waterval Magistrate Courts"), the historic Elim Hospital, Waterval Post Office, Police Station, Hubyeni Shopping Centre, and
4200-406: The unconquered Venda alongside the Soutpansberg mountain range. In 1875, the Swiss Missionaries were given a friendly reception by Joao Albasini and they established a Mission Station amongst the Tsonga people. In the same year, the Swiss Missionaries renamed the place from Klipfontein to Valdezia, the name derived from the Swiss canton of Vaud, where the missionaries came from. The Swiss erected
4270-700: The village, the only one way of expanding the already overcrowded village is to demarcate residential sites on the slopes of the mountain. Overcrowding at Mbhokota village happened because of apartheid, before 1948, the village of Mbhokota was bigger and included flat land that is today part of Mashamba and Tshivhuyuni villages. Hlanganani is made up of the following villages, Bungeni, Chavani, Nwaxinyamani, Bokisi, Mbhokota, Riverplaats, Shirley, Waterval, Njhakanjhaka, Elim, Lemana, Valdezia and Mambedi, Wayeni, Mahatlani, Nkuzana, Majosi, Kurhuleni, Madobi, Makhasa, Nwa-Matatana (Caledon), Ntshuxi, Tiyani (Magoro), Ribungwani, Olifantshoek, Rivala, Blinkwater and Rotterdam. Each of
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#17330855443794340-459: The whole of Venda. Prior to trade between the Tsonga and the Venda, the Venda used to eat sorghum as stample food, but with the arrival of the Tsonga, the Venda ceased to eat sorghum as staple food and started eating maize meal, which the Tsonga introduced to Venda. Both the Tsonga and the Venda named the new staple food Vuswa (Tsonga), Vhuswa (Venda). Maize was introduced to the Tsonga people by Vasco Da Gama in 1497, Vasco Da Gama stayed briefly on
4410-404: The year 1554 when Lourenco Marques , a Portuguese trader settled on the land of the Tsonga and began to trade between Portugal and Africa . Between 1554-1800, the Tsonga people started to leave the east coast and began trading with the interior. They established 'trade routes' that included the whole eastern Transvaal and the northern Transvaal. The Tsonga traded goods with both the Venda and
4480-564: Was declared a Tsonga area in terms of the Bantu authorities Act, 1951. The removal of VhaVenda people from Hlanganani area were also carried out, by the South African police and the South African Army, VhaVenda people were also forcefully removed from villages such as Mbhokota, Shirley, Lemana, Njhakanjhaka, Chavani, Nwaxinyamani and Tiyani or Magoro, Magoro was a popular Venda settlement at
4550-428: Was imminent. The Apartheid government attempted, without success, to remove the Tsonga from Waterval and the surrounding lands. By the late 1960s, as a results of negotiations between the South African government and professor Hudson William Edison Ntsanwisi , the Tsonga finger was annexed to Gazankulu , as well as Elim Hospital. The village of Shirley is situated above Waterval, Shirley is divided into four villages,
4620-533: Was officially opened in 1975, the 100 year anniversary of the founding of the Swiss Mission Station, by the Gazankulu Government. The Swiss missionaries who started Valdezia Mission Station are the same Missionaries who started Elim Hospital in 1899. Swiss missionaries withdrew from Valdezia and Elim in 1994 when the dawn of democracy came to South Africa. The only thing that is left at Valdezia are
4690-608: Was reduced into a small village. Hosi Njhakanjhaka had 33 wives and more than 100 children. The history of Waterval goes back to the founding of the Swiss Mission Station in Elim in 1878 and the founding of Elim Hospital in 1899. Prior to this, the Swiss Mission Station was located in Valdezia , 10 km east of Elim. The missionaries moved from Valdezia to Waterval because many of them contracted malaria . The Farm Waterval included
4760-570: Was to unite both the Tsonga and Venda speakers who were separated by the apartheid ideology in 1948 and was used as a resistance against Apartheid rule. Before the introduction of apartheid in 1948, both the Tsonga and the Venda people lived together peacefully. That peace was disturbed when apartheid was introduced by the National Party after 1948. Apartheid ideology meant that both the Venda and Tsonga speakers had to be permanently separated from each other. When homelands were introduced during
4830-440: Was unable to become a chief at Valdezia, a position he held before the Swiss Missionaries converted the Vatsonga people to Christianity. In addition, the Vatsonga headmen all over Spelonken, known today as Bungeni, Nwaxinyamani, Chavani and other Tsonga settlements started to declare their independence from Chief Njhakanjhaka and were successful in forming independent polities. It is therefore incorrect to think that Chief Njhakanjhaka
4900-447: Was undermined by João Albasini , who made himself paramount chief of all Vatsonga in modern Hlanganani district. Albasini was indeed a paramount chief of all Vatsonga in the Spelonken district (modern day Hlanganani district), it was only after the death of Joao Albasini in 1888 that Chief Njhakanjhaka was able to claim back his chieftainship from Albasini. By 1888, the Swiss Missionaries have already taken Valdezia, and Chief Njhakanjhaka
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