LOUIS TRICHARDT – A newly formed Tshikona Dance Group, who visited the town to avail its services to the Makhado Municipality, left the town in embarrassment, as there was no official of the Municipality to welcome the group.

In an interview with Mirror, the leader and founder of the Mauluma Tshikona Dance Group, Mr TV Netshivhale, said the main purpose of coming to Louis Trichardt was to hand over the Tshikona Dance to the Makhado Municipality. He further said that it would then be up to the municipality to adopt it. Currently the municipality does not have any Tshikona Dance group that it has adopted.

It is against this background that Netshivhale volunteered his group to serve the municipality. "We didn't visit the Municipality to raise money, even though we are in financial dire straits," he said. He added that he wanted the youth to dance whenever the municipality held functions.

According to him, his group would assist in advertising the Makhado Municipality by wearing T-shirts written the name of the municipality.

The Mauluma Tshikona Dance was formed three weeks ago and comprises of boys and girls whose years range from 6 to 12 years and volunteered adults who abide by the rules of the group.

Netshivhale indicated that the idea of initiating a Tshikona Dance Group at Mauluma was to bring the youth in the village together thereby keeping them away from criminal activities, alcohol abuse and to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancies. He claimed that all the children involved in the Tshikona Dance are Christians who do not believe in sex before marriage.

Presently, Mr Netshivhale is leading about 59 Zwikonas across Venda including the groups at Mashau, Masakona, Piet Booi, Muswodi, Tshifudi, Makwarela and Vyeboom settlements. In all the Zwikonas, Netshivhale does not have assistance. He is of the view that any form of assistance would spoil the children and affect their sense of independence.

He claimed to have started as Malogwane (leader) of the Lwamondo Tshikona Dance group in 1967. "During the past it was well known that Tshikona Dance was performed by drunk people wearing dirty, torn clothes and now I want to prove to the community that even Christians can take part in the Tshikona dance." Mirror also learnt that the Mauluma Tshikona dance group was handed over to Chief Thovhele Mphephu a fortnight ago, for him to work with the group whenever there are functions.

Netshivhale who is also a lecturer at the University of Venda, stated that apart from dancing, the youth are also taught to work at their respective homes, encouraged to do their schoolwork as well as attending church. He often checks their schoolbooks to see how they are performing at school. The youth are also taught about child abuse.

People are urged to call him at 084 779 8800 or 072 440 9139. Those staying near the University of Venda can ask for him at the Department of Music. In response to what has been described by Mr Netshivhale as a rejection by the Municipality, the PRO of the Makhado Municipality, Mr Peter Muleya said that anyone who want to hand over a petition to the Municipality must first inform the Municipality in writing and then wait for the municipality's response. In this case "they didn't inform us that they would be coming to hand over their Tshikona to us, so how can we ignore them while they are teaching our children morals and making us proud of our culture?" Mr Muleya said.

When asked as to whether the municipality would accept the group if it follows protocol, Muleya was quick to point out that he cannot preampt any future action of the municipality. He however indicated that a decision to accept or reject such a group might emerge when the group enters into discussions with the municipality over the matter.