Waterval
| Waterval Njhakanjhaka | |
|---|---|
  Waterval
| |
| Coordinates: 23°09′32″S 30°04′05″E / 23.159°S 30.068°ECoordinates: 23°09′32″S 30°04′05″E / 23.159°S 30.068°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Limpopo |
| District | Vhembe |
| Municipality | Makhado |
| Main Place | Elim |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 3.60 km2 (1.39 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 7,712 |
| • Density | 2,100/km2 (5,500/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011)[1] | |
| • Black African | 99.6% |
| • Coloured | 0.1% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.2% |
| • Other | 0.1% |
| First languages (2011)[1] | |
| • Tsonga | 80.2% |
| • Venda | 15.1% |
| • Other | 4.7% |
| Postal code (street) | 1739 |
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. As of 2011, it had a population of 7,712 and is part of Njhakanjhaka Traditional Authority or Elim/Shirley Traditional Authority.
Political governance
Waterval was proclaimed a township in 1980 by the former Gazankulu homeland, in the district of Hlanganani. Waterval also forms part of Nhjakanhjaka 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 the new Elim Mall are all situated in Waterval. Prior to the Swiss encounter, Chief Nhjakanhjaka 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.
History of Hosi Nhjakanhjaka: Headman of Spelonken
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 the authority of Soshangane and was defeated by the superior Nguni warriors under the command of Soshangane. Chief Njhakanjhaka had tried to defend his Tsonga people against the Nguni invaders, who not only oppressed the 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 is situated is in fact Nhjakanhjaka. Chief Nhjakanhjaka was a Paramount Chief of Spelonken (modern day Valdezia, Elim, Nwa-Xinyamani, Bungeni, Chavani, Mbhokota, Shirley, in fact the whole of Hlanganani). As Headman of Spelenkon, Chief Nhjakanhjaka 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 Nhjakanhjaka was undermined by Joao 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 Nhjakanhjaka was able to claim back his chieftainship from Albasini. Unfortunately, by 1888, the Swiss Missionaries have already taken Valdezia, and Chief Nhjakanhjaka 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 Nhjakanhjaka and were successful in forming independent polities. It is therefore incorrect to think that Chief Nhjakanhjaka is a chief at Elim and Nhjakanhjaka village only, the contrary is true, Nhjakanhjaka 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 Hosi Njhakanjhaka. Hosi Njhakanjhaka was a major chief for all Vatsonga people in the Spelenkon district, all other chiefs that exist today in the Present day Hlanganani were appointed by Joao Albasini, and that weakened the power of Hosi Njhakanjhaka as his chiefdom was reduced into a small village.
History of Waterval
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.[2] 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 the land where Elim Hospital is located and the whole of Nhjakanhjaka and Rivoni but excluded Shirley.
Tsonga Finger
During the 1950s until the late 1960s, the land of Waterval and Elim as well as surrounding land east up to Nwa-Nwaxinyamani 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 was imminent. The Apartheid government attempted, without success, to remove the Tsonga from Waterval and Elim. By the late 1960s, the Tsonga finger was annexed to Gazankulu, as well as Elim Hospital.
Adjacent areas
Shirley
The village of Shirley is situated above Waterval, Shirley is divided into four villages, 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.
Rivoni
This is the original home of Chief Nhjakanhjaka, Rivoni also houses the Nhjakanhjaka Traditional Authority Offices, Chief Nhjakanhjaka hold tribal meetings here (Hubyeni). The Rivoni School for the Blind is also situated here, the SABC presenter, Rhulani Baloyi was born here, she attended Rivoni school for the blind.
Elim
The village of Elim took its name from the historic Elim Hospital, many prominent Shangaan people also came from Elim, Eric Miyeni is one of the most popular resident of Elim. The Current Chief of IEC, Ms Pansy Tlakula is married here and her husband's family, the Tlakulas, are the Land owners at Elim. The new Elim Mall is situated at the land owned by the Tlakula family. When one talk of Elim, it refers to Nhjakanhjaka village, Rivoni and Lemana, but exclude Waterval and Shirley.
Elim Hospital
Chief Nhjakanhjaka leased the land to the Swiss for a period of 100 years so that Elim Hospital may be established. Chief Nhjakanhjaka played a critical role for the establishment of Elim Hospital. However, the western half of Elim Hospital is owned by the Tlakula family, while the Eastern Half of Elim Hospital is owned by the Makhubele family (the Makhubele family changed their surname and they are known today as Lowane family). So the Tlakula and Lowane families are the true owners of Elim Hospital because they are in possession of 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 the people of Nhjakanhjaka, one can still see the impact of such civilisation in the whole of Elim area.
Elim Mall
The Tlakula family is still the owner of the land where Elim Mall is situated, they derived 60% of all the profits made from the mall, while Twin City, the developer of the mall, get the 40% of the profit. Land negotiation took more than 5-years before the Tlakula family could released the land for development by Twin City. As a sign of 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.[3]
Hubyeni Shopping centre
Chief Nhjakanhjaka is the owner of the land where Hubyeni shopping centre is situated, during the land negotiation with Kerr Development, Chief Nhjakanhjaka's rules were that 10% of shareholders should be transferred to the Njhakanhjaka Traditional Authority under Elim/Shirley community.
Lemana Multi-purpose centre
Formerly a college of education, Lemana is an intellectual giant of the Tsonga Shangaan people. Many Vatsonga were educated here. The former FRELIMO President, Eduardo Mondlane was educated at Lemana.
Vatsonga Cultural Village
On top of Ribolla Mountain one finds a place dedicated to the history of the Tsonga Shangaan people. It is possible to see 29 villages down the mountain. Vatsonga Cultural Village was started by a young woman who felt that the culture of the Vatsonga Shangaan 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 Shangaan village and lifestyle. The construction of the Tsonga Shangaan cultural village costed the Government more than R1 million.
Njhakanjhaka Royal Lineage and Succession
- Xilumani (Born in Mozambique, Date not known), Died in Waterval/ Shirley
- Shinguwa (Date of birth not known), Died in Waterval/ Shirley
- Njhakanjhaka I (died in 1930 at Waterval farm, known today as Shirley Village)
- Njhakanjhaka II (1930-2007)
- Njhakanjhaka III (1974-Present)
References
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