The Vhangona Cultural Movement strongly objected last week to media reports stating that their claim for kingship status had been rejected by the Nhlapo Commission. The fact that Vho Thovhele Tshidziwelele Nephawe could not make it to the hearings in the matter held at Bolivia Lodge in Polokwane does not automatically rule them out of contention for the throne, they said.

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 include 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.

The Vhangona Cultural Movement is especially upset about an article that appeared in the Mirror of January 23, 2009, stating that Vho Thovhele Tshidziwelele Nephawe never attended the hearings and that their claim had thus been rejected. Following the publication of the article, the paper was inundated with calls from concerned individuals who felt that the paper was taking sides in favour of other groups also vying for the throne. “The article also demeaned the stature of the king of the Vhangona by not according him his full title as Vho Thovhele, while addressing others as Vho Thovhele,” some of the readers complained. Vho Thovhele Tshidziwelele Nephawe himself phoned to complain about the article, insisting that the facts be corrected.

Mr Robert Rakhadani, President of the Vhangona Cultural Movement, said they were shocked to read the newspaper and find out that their claim to kingship had been rejected. “The fact that our king, Vho Thovhele Tshidziwelele Nephawe, could not make it to the presentations at Bolivia Lodge in Polokwane does not automatically rule us out of contention for the throne,” he said. Rakhadani said they had already made written submissions to the commission on the 12th of January 2009. “We are just waiting for an appointment with the commission to make our oral submission. Following this, we will wait for the commission to adjudicate and make its findings. Who knows, it might be in our favour, or the other way around,” added Rakhadani.

According to Mr Rakhadani, they were the first group to make a presentation in 2005, at which stage none of the other royal houses had questioned or opposed their presentation.

Mr Rakhadani was not impressed with the way the media treated them, compared to how the other royal houses were treated. “The media tend to ignore us. Whenever we have activities, they do not come or they report negatively about us, but we have decided not to make a noise about it. We know who we are and we will continue to fight for what we stand for,” he said

The Vhangona are the indigenous (Vho Ngwaniwapo) people of Venda. They have six or seven names - Vhangona, Vhabikwa na Ive, Vho Tshidzatshapo, Vho Ntingiwakugala, Vho Ngwaniwapo and Zwisike. The Vhangona can be identified by their totems – namely Ndou, Mudau, Kwinda, Mukwevho, Mbedzi, Munyai, Mutwanamba, Muleya, Muluvhu, Mudzanani, Mufamadi, Muronga, Mutavhatsindi and Murundwa.

Meanwhile, the acting chairperson of the Nhlapo Commission, Professor Mohlomi Moleleki, confirmed that the Vhangona would be afforded an opportunity to present their case before the commission. He said the commission was busy with other issues, but their complete findings on the kingship issue could be expected before the end of the first half of the year.