One of the most senior traditional leaders in Venda, Gole Musiiwa Mphaphuli, is appealing to the government to give them, traditional leaders, an opportunity to look after mentally retarded people the way they did before.

In his address at Hayani, better known as Nthume, a place that accommodates mentally retarded people of all ages, two weeks ago, Mphaphuli said: “Mentally retarded people were always accommodated at the royal houses where they were fed and clothed freely.”

“According to our culture, when a person gets lost and finds him- or herself with no shelter, we as traditional leaders would accommodate them and give them food.

“Even when a person is disadvantaged, we as traditional leaders will take them in and look after them.

“The same applies to mentally retarded people. We used to accommodate them and give them everything they needed, without ill-treating or undermining them.”

“During these times, people used to mention something sensitive, like a plot to overthrow our reign before these mentally retarded people, and they would have informed us without anybody suspecting it. In other words, mentally retarded people were working as our informers who advised us against intruders and enemies,” said Mphaphuli.

Mphaphuli was saying this while he and his entourage were busy denuding the yard of Hayani as an answer to the call made by former President Nelson Mandela to devote 67 minutes of their time to community work in celebration of his 91st birthday.