Venda, Vhangona or Vhavhenda

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The Venda, Vhangona or Vhavenda are a native, indigenous people of Limpopo province in South Africa. They are one of 11 such peoples who lived in South Africa prior to European colonisation. They speak their own language, Venda.

For information on the former Bantustan, see Venda.

The kingdoms of Mapungubwe and Venda were united under a king, King Shiriyadenga in the 9th Century AD/CE to form Vhangona or Vhavenda.^[1]^[2] Much of the traditional authority system then set up was gradually eroded by other peoples (both indigenous and colonists) over the following centuries.

Most remaining tribal powers were taken away when the kingdom was subjected to centralized laws and government with the passing of the South Africa Act 1909, creating the Union of South Africa.

However the culture, language and traditional figures of authority still remain. This people's flag is that of the former kingdom^[3], which covered much of Limpopo, though within this state, this group form a minority.

The majority of the state made up of other peoples, predominantly from indigenous groups themselves, may oppose an autonomous Venda state, however a strong movement calling for self-determination has emerged. It is aggrieved to the severe disadvantages during the period of apartheid and resulting from the system of land administration^[4].

This movement largely has several complaints with the present administration: that the provincial government fails to respond to the concerns and demands of the Venda, who are little represented in the administration; that the name Venda has disappeared along with increased autonomy; that its sacred sites are largely unprotected and unreasonable seizures of land have resulted and do result in less favorable conditions for this indigenous people; and that the pension funds under the Venda Bantustan, which accrued during apartheid have not been paid to its former administrators and public workers.