The ongoing wrangle to have one of the great chiefs of the Vhavenda crowned in the kingship position could soon be resolved as the commission of inquiry heard the chiefs’ last claims.

The five great chiefs of the Vhavenda nation who submitted their claims for the kingship position before the Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims includes Tshivhase, Mphephu Ramabulana, Mphaphuli, Ravhura and the Vhangona Cultural Movement under Tshidzuwelele Nephawe.

The first arguments for the kingship position claims were heard before the Nhlapo Commission back in 2005 at the former Venda Parliamentary Chambers, whereas the last round was argued at the Oasis Lodge near Polokwane late last year.

The Commission on Traditional Leadership Claims and Disputes was appointed by former President Thabo Mbeki in 2005, to investigate and report on all leadership disputes, some of which dated back to 1927.

Former provincial and local government minister Sydney Mufamadi said during the appointment of the commission that the task of the commission would be to look at disputes emanating from the repressive system which, it is claimed, stripped certain leaders of their rights.

Some of the issues that the commission is expected to investigate would include continuing claims of entitlement by some traditional leaders to privileges and others who feel that their rightful role in society has been reduced. Traditional leaders in certain parts of the country, especially in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo, have in the past called on the government to elevate their status to that enjoyed by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini.

Mufamadi, however, warned that those making the call to have their status changed would have to provide historical evidence and other information to justify their claims.
During the latest presentation, the Tshivhase Royal Authority, represented by Dr Allan Budeli, claimed that Tshivhase was the rightful heir to the kingship position for the Tshivhase Royal Authority. He said it was unacceptable that one of the biggest nations in South Africa (the Vhavenda nation) could have one king.

According to Budeli, the traditional leadership disputes in the Vhavenda tribe started when the elder and younger brothers of Vele La Mbeu started fighting in Dzata some 200 years ago and from there Tshivhase (the younger brother) flew to the south and settled at Luaname in Mukumbani while Mphephu (the elder brother) stayed there in Dzata.
“Since then, every one from Vele La Mbeu’s children (Mphephu and Tshivhase) has regarded himself as the great chief in his area,” said Budeli.

Budeli took phrases from the Vhavenda culture which allow brothers from the same clan to fight for who should be crowned a king as the basis of the struggle for the kingship. They say (Vhavenda people) “Vhuhosi vhunaka u vhangiwa, vhusa vhangwa hu tula mutshinyalo” meaning the royal family is right to quarrel over who should be the right person to be considered king, and if they don’t quarrel, the one crowned’s reign could not last.

“We are not fighting as Vhavenda people, but the Tshivhase believe the two powerful chiefs of the Vhavenda (Mphephu Ramabulana and Tshivhase) deserve to rule. Thovhele Mphephu and Thovhele Tshivhase are said to be on good terms, despite the quarrel over who should rule Vhavenda as king,” added Budeli.

In their presentation, the Mphephu Ramabulana group, represented by Chief Munyadziwa Netshimbupfe, claimed that Mphephu Ramabulana is the undisputed paramount chief of the Vhavenda people and has a track record as great chief.

 He said every Muvenda person, when asked about it, could answer that Mphephu is a great chief of the Vhavenda, and to support the argument, he said, the late Paramount Chief Ramaano Mphephu ruled the Vhavenda as a paramount chief until his death in 1988.

Netshimbupfe said no one disputed Ramaano Mphephu’s reign as paramount chief, but the argument that misled the people started during the era of former military ruler, Gabriel Ramushwana, who appointed the Mushasha commission. Its finding recommended that the position of paramount chief be abolished. It further regarded chiefs of Vhavenda as being equal, but this was denied by the Governance and Framework Law of 2003, which recognised kingship, senior traditional leaders (formerly chiefs) and headman positions.

Netshimbupfe attempted to showcase that Mphephu Ramabulana was a paramount chief with dignity and that he commanded all former chiefs. Thovhele Midiyavhathu Tshivhase, who is currently ruling the Tshivhase dynasty, was crowned by the Mphephu Ramabulana authority.

He put on record that, in 1930, George Mmbulaheni Ramabulana put Thovhele Rasimphi Tshivhase on the throne in Mukumbani while Prince Thohoyandou and the current Thovhele Midiyavhathu Tshivhase were crowned by the late Paramount Chief Ramaano Mphephu.

Acting chairperson of the Nhlapo Commission Professor Mohlomi Moleleki said the commission had so far received about 12 claims for the kingship positions. Moleleki said some of the problems the commission identified which made them delay the release of its findings of the kingship positions was the other traditional leaders who didn’t want to accept the findings of the commission regarding the rightful heir to the throne.
The Mphaphuli and Ravhura representatives also presented their claims to the commission.

However, the Vhangona Cultural Movement’s claim was rejected during the hearing as their leader, Tshidzuwelele Nephawe, was not available to submit his written claims at the Oasis Lodge near Polokwane.