One of the most senior traditional leaders in Limpopo, Vho Thovhele Midiyavhathu Tshivhase, has called for restraint at Thononda, one of the areas under his domain. This comes after an assault on a leading civic leader, allegedly by the son of a local headman.

The incident happened at Thononda village outside Thohoyandou recently. Mbulaheni Hendrick Mudzunga of Thononda village said he had gone to the local traditional leader’s home to seek a confirmation letter that was wanted by the municipality for the electrification project at the village. “It was on a Thursday when I went there and was told to come the following day, Friday,” he said. He said on his arrival, the headman drove away in his car without telling him anything.

He said after a while, a man attacked him with an iron rod without uttering any word. Fearing for his safety after being beaten and sustaining serious injuries, he managed to flee the scene to his home on foot, leaving his car behind. The chief’s son allegedly also torched the civic leader’s car, an Isuku KB bakkie.

The civic leader suffered serious injuries to the head and the upper body and had to be treated at the local hospital. He also suffered damage estimated at more than R120 000 after his bakkie was set on fire.

Mudzunga said the attack has strengthened him and made him more determined to work for his community. “They will never silence me and they will never stop me from serving my people. I have a mandate to carry out and I will not fail the people,” he said. He said the attack was not the first as he had received numerous threats from faceless people who were afraid of change and who wanted to block development.

The incident has placed the community against the traditional leader as they feel he is against the civic structure. They held a village meeting on Sunday last week, where they expressed their unhappiness about the way the ward councillor and the local traditional leader are running the affairs of the village. The meeting was also attended by the leadership from Sanco Vhembe region and Makhado subregion.

The meeting resolved to put forward a vote of no confidence to the local ward councillor, whom they blame for being in cahoots with the traditional leader, who is against development. They allege that the councillor has done nothing for them since she took office.

It was also resolved during the meeting that the community would call for the refusal of bail for the accused, as they feel he is a danger to the community. Sanco leader Ms Mathalise pleaded with the community to do their things in an orderly fashion and not to be led by emotions. “If there is anything that makes you dissatisfied, follow the correct channels for a march. The problems you have are ours and we will always be there for you. Conduct yourselves in an orderly manner and do not take the law into your own hands,” she said.

Vho Thovhele Kennedy Tshivhase, who was just arriving from a business trip in Kenya, condemned the incident in the strongest terms. He said the problem had been simmering for a long time and they even tried to intervene. “We are aware that there is a problem between traditional leadership and the local civic structure, but what happened is very wrong. We can differ in terms of ideology, but fighting will not take us anywhere,” he said. He said they were going to sit down with the chief and the local civic structure and find an amicable way to solve the impasse.

Tshivhase said petty squabbles would only hinder development in the community and all would suffer because of unnecessary problems. “We always preach development in our villages and whoever stands in the way of development is wrong. People are entitled to services, including those who are against it ,” he said. Silloam police spokesperson Warrant Officer Elijah Nefale confirmed the incident. He said the suspect, Thambatshira Tshivhase (42), had appeared in court and would appear again today (Friday ) for a formal bail application. The suspect is facing two charges, that of malicious damage to property and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.