Thovhele Vho- Kennedy Midiyavhathu Tshivhase seems to be following the footsteps of his ancestors of not using the age-old traditional custom of barring female royals from being installed as traditional leaders in their own right.

This follows after he installed a female traditional leader of Duthuni Village, Khosi Vho-Ndwamato Ligege, 49, during a recent event held at Duthuni Chief’s kraal.

The people who came in large numbers to witness what in their experience was a rare event, included the deputy speaker of the Limpopo Legislature, MPL Catherine Mabuza and Dingaan ‘The Rose of Soweto" Thobela.

In the recent past, it was strongly believed that, traditionally, daughters of traditional leaders did not inherit their fathers’ leadership role, regardless of their being born first. Thovhele Vho-Kennedy Midiyavhathu said that the recent installation of a female traditional leader should be understood in the wider context as it evolved from the deep history of the Tshivhase dynasty. He said that Tshivhase Royal Council has never treated female royals as perpetual minors or subjects to the authority of the male royals. Tshivhase said that to conclude that female chieftainship was a product of colonial rule was erroneous.

"The first female traditional leader (Nyatema) of the Tshivhase Royal Council was installed in 1780. Presently, we have more female traditional leaders at Vondwe, Tshilapfene, Phiphidi and Milaboni, Vondo la Thavha villages," he said.

Khosi Vho-Victor Mphatele vha-Mukula said that the fact that people came in large numbers was a clear indication that subjects are still looking up to traditional leaders for direction and leadership.

The new traditional leader is the deputy-principal of Tshiawelo Primary School at Tshitungulwane. She is the firstborn of the late Khosi-Vho Mbengeni Gilbert Ligege, who passed away in 2004. Mr Tshitondovhe Ligege was appointed as regent in August 2004.

In an exclusive interview with Mirror, Tshitondovhe Ligege said that his royal council took the right decision in putting Khosi Vho-Ndwamato on her father’s throne. "When she was born, nobody, including her late father, made remarks about being disappointed that the new baby was a girl. So, as the royal family, we agreed to install her not as a regent or as an influential royal because she is a woman, but as our traditional leader who will be pushing our agenda of poverty alleviation and wealth creation," he said.

Both Khosi-Vho-Takalani and Thovhele Vho-Kennedy Midiyavhathu confirmed that the late traditional leader played an active role of uniting the Tshivhase royal family that was divided into camps as a result of disputes of succession.

Mr Abbey Adam Ligege is ndumi, while the new khadzi is Elelwani Ligege.