The community of Mphaphulu outside Thohoyandou believes kingship is made in heaven. As a result, it has decided to honour its traditional leader, Gole Musiiwa Mphaphuli, by naming a school after him.

The well-known Gole Secondary School at Mangondi is now Gole Musiiwa Mphaphuli Secondary, in honour of Vho Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli, leader of the Mphaphuli dynasty.

The community has decided that the best way to honour Mphaphuli would be by naming the school after him, to ensure that his name will remain forever as a traditional leader who had a pas-sion for education. Mphaphuli, who has also become the ambassador for education for the youth in his area, was honoured during Mangondi Day Celebrations held at the village on Saturday.

Mangondi Day has become one of the important days on the calendar of the village, where the whole community gathers and looks back at the year that has passed, challenges they came across during the year, their achievements and also to chart the way forward.

Individuals who contributed in a special way in the community are identified and given awards during the event. The local traditional leader, Khosi Vho Nndavheleseni Maumela, was also honoured for having vision for his subjects.

This year’s celebration was special as it marked the first official visit by Vho Thovhele Mphaphuli, since he ascended to the throne. Vho Khotsimunene Tshifhiwa Maumela said the community felt it necessary to honour their king, as he had done exceptionally well since he had taken over from his late father.

He said traditional leaders were not accorded the status they deserved and it was time that communities took the lead in doing so. “He is our leader and we should give all the respect due to him. This will help lay a foundation for others to follow. They say charity begins at home,” he said.

He said the youthful traditional leader had already assumed a fatherly role in the Mphaphuli dynasty, managing to unite all the more than 70 chiefs under his jurisdiction - a role he played dili-gently. “He is a true embodiment of an exemplary leader with vision for his community, his people. Wherever he goes, he preaches development and education,” he said.

Community leader Joseph Yende said Mphaphuli deserved the honour. He said traditional leadership came from God. “Under his guidance and that of our local chief Maumela, we have seen a lot of development and we still think he is the best traditional leader. He has vision for the future of his people and this is what makes a true leader. He is a traditional leader who goes with the times and with his education agenda we are still going to see many young people educated and progressing in this area,” he said.

He said as a trained lawyer, Mphaphuli had proved that no matter what one’s background, one could still make it in life.

Local traditional leader Khosi Vho Nndavheleseni Maumela said he was humbled by the visit of the king and that it was long overdue. His subjects had been waiting for a long time and “this is the day we have all been waiting for; we are so excited,” he said.

Maumela said Mphaphuli epitomized the type of leadership that they all looked up to for advice and said they would continue serving and doing good for the king’s people.

In his reply, Vho Thovhele Mphaphuli said he was humbled to be honoured by his own people. He said he could not go against the wishes of his people and if they wanted the name of the school changed, he would not stand on their way.