ADVERTISEMENT:
News - Date: 01 July 2013
The Tshivhase royal family, which has been rocked by divisions, has once again shown that the war between the two factions in the family is far from over.
For some time now, there have been accusations and counter-accusations from the factions in the family. This week, a group purporting to be the Tshivhase royal family dropped a bombshell by denouncing the leadership of Thovhele Kennedy Tshivhase and also relieving him of his royal duties.
As if that was not enough, the group also shocked the nation when they alleged that Thovhele Kennedy Tshivhase is not the rightful royal heir as he was already born when his mother was married into the Tshivhase family.
In a letter in Limpopo Mirror's possession, the group, led by Lesley Tshivhase, who is the "Tshivhase Royal Family" spokesperson, individuals purporting to be the inner circle of the Tshivhase royal family, including the khadzi, headmen and khotsimunenes, have signed a letter relieving Kennedy Tshivhase of his royal duties with immediate effect.
The Tshivhase royal family is the custodian of the Tshivhase traditional leadership, a body with powers to determine who becomes a chief and other royal matters. The termination implies that Kennedy's mother also ceases to act as deputy senior traditional leader of the Tshivhase community.
The Tshivhase royal family has also simultaneously requested the Limpopo government to withdraw its recognition of Thovhele Kennedy Tshivhase as senior traditional leader of the Tshivhase community with immediate effect and also to cut the remuneration attached to the position
Among the reasons cited in the letter is the “disgraceful conduct” by Kennedy, which is said to have brought the Tshivhase royal family and traditional leadership as a whole into disrepute.
The letter states that Kennedy has undermined the royal family by taking unilateral decisions like announcing that he has dissolved the royal council. He is also alleged to have appointed his mother as deputy senior traditional leader without consulting the royal family.
It also cites his refusal to listen to good advice from family and the government, more especially on issues of installations of traditional leaders and his appointment as senior traditional leader, which is said not to be in accordance with custom and tradition.
According to the letter, Thovhele Kennedy Tshivhase was born in 1962, when Prince Tshivhase was not yet married to his mother.
Lesley said that according to Venda custom, Kennedy's mother could not bear an heir, as she already had a child when she got married to Prince Tshivhase. He said the family did not welcome her to the Tshivhase family and that was the reason lobola was not paid for her while Prince was still alive.
“She got married under mysterious circumstances after Prince's death and the installation of Kennedy did not get the blessings of Makhadzi Vho Londolani as it was not according to custom,” said Lesley. He said Kennedy was well aware that he did not belong to the Tshivhase family and it was not surprising that he was destabilising the royal family and causing division among traditional leaders by installing others in places where chiefs were already in place.
Lesley accuses Kennedy of moving the seat of the Tshivhase royalty to Khubvi. "He has also moved from the royal palace and deserted his own people at Mukumbani; he is now residing at Sibasa with a concubine and is now a subject of the Mphaphuli. This is very embarrassing to us as a family," said Lesley.
Insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity confirm that all is not well in the royal family, with the family being torn apart daily.
Asked for comment, Tshivhase royal spokesperson Chief Avhatakali Tshivhase said the family had no further comment. "We are still upholding the view that Tshivhase family matters should not be discussed in newspapers. We have a way of dealing with challenges and we will be meeting on 29 June. We have extended invitations to all concerned and Lesley is also welcome to attend,” said Avhatakali Tshivhase.
Also Read:
13 May 2013 - Who speaks on behalf of Tshivhase family?
06 May 2013 - Court stops Tshivhase from appointing leaders
11 March 2013 - Division in Tshivhase royal family?
17 December 2012 - Kennedy Tshivhase criticizes leaders with “double loyalty”
12 October 2012 - “There is no one above me, except God” - Tshivhase
Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019. He currently writes on a freelance basis, covering human rights issues, court news and entertainment.
Search for a story:
ADVERTISEMENT
The economic conditions in Zimbabwe forced Tanaka Moyo (40) to legally seek greener pastures in Musina. He opted for a unique business plan, selling the wild jujube fruit to make a living. The fruit, called masau in Shona, is better known as mazwilu in Tshivenda.
As the unemployment rate in South Africa continued to rise, a group of women from Makonde village decided to start a community-based project to create job opportunities for themselves. However, it is very difficult to continue with the project without support from the government or the private sector.
At the age of 104, William Masindi Sadiki still has many stories to tell. Some of these are about his experiences during World War II, when he was part of the North Africa campaign. He is one of the few black soldiers from that era still alive, and he proudly pins his war medals on his chest on formal occasions.
The Rivoni School for the Blind in in Njakanjaka village in the Vhembe District has 167 learners from Grade R to Grade 12. The school was started in 2016 by the Rivoni Society for the Blind, founded in June 1975 at Elim Hospital by late Swiss doctor Erwin Sutter. The society later transferred responsibility for the school to the Department of Education.