The Thohoyandou High Court dismissed all the charges against the Mayor of Thulamela Municipality and traditional leader of Tshisahulu village, Khosi Thivhulawi Makumbane.

Makumbane walked away a free man after two months of legal battle against members of the Nekhwevha family who accused him of damaging 21 graves belonging to their family. The court dismissed the case and ordered the complainants to pay the all the legal costs.

Makumbane’s legal battle against the Nekhwevha’s made headlines in local and national papers two months ago.

Trouble started when members of the Nekhwevha family applied for a court interdict against Khosi Makumbane when he wanted to install Vhakoma some time ago. The matter went to the Thohoyandou High Court, which dismissed the case with all the parties responsible for the costs. The latest legal battle was when the Nekhwevha’s applied for another court interdict against Makumbane not to set foot in the graveyard, although he is the highest traditional leadership figure in the village. The complainants claimed that Makumbane had destroyed 21 graves and the matter was brought before the court until the dismissal of the case.

Despite heavy rainfall, hundreds of loyal supporters, throngs of Tshisahulu villagers and friends of Makumbane gathered at Tshisahulu village on Saturday to celebrate his legal victory. Makumbane told the huge gathering: "I chose the legal way to fight this battle because I knew that I was innocent from the start. The whole thing was only meant as character assassination by jealous people who only wanted to defame me. I did not have peaceful sleep since the legal battle started because it was affecting my health. Nothing will beat the truth and I am now happy that the truth has finally come out."

Makumbvane says it is never a good thing to resolve differences with violence. "I have never been a violent person since my youth. That is why I chose a legal and peaceful way of resolving the matter. How can I destroy graves while I know that they are sacred places where my people have rested in peace? I don’t know where these rumors come from but I am happy because the court has dismissed all the baseless accusations against me. I feel like a newly born calf now that the whole thing is over. I am only going to concentrate on my political career and traditional leadership, but I have learnt the hard way that some people are only waiting for my downfall. My name was dragged into the mud for something that I did not do. I would further more pass my gratitude to all friends who stood by my side in these trying times. Thank you very much for your support."

Makumbane criticized journalists who distorted facts for their own benefit when they reported his case. "I was crucified by the media even before the court could take its decision. What was reported in the media was totally different from the real facts of the matter. I think it is a good thing for journalists to conduct full investigations before putting pen on paper. The same journalists who crucified me during the hearing never pitched up when charges were dropped against me, a clear indication that they only wanted to destroy my good image."

Asked if he is prepared to make peace with the complainants, Makumbane quickly said: "I have already forgiven them, because I am a leader who must lead by example. They can come to me at any time and I prepared to talk peace with them."

On behalf of the Tshivhase Royal Council, traditional leader Thifhelimbilu Lambani said the royal council supports peaceful ways of resolving differences. "We are here to celebrate because Makumbane’s victory is the victory of the Tshivhase Royal Council. If there is no peace at Tshisahulu, it also means that there is no peace in the Hatshivhase area. We feel proud of the fact that Makumbane displayed maturity and leadership skills by choosing the legal route of resolving the matter, not violence."