Green Farm, Limpopo

Last updated
Green Farm
South Africa Limpopo location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Green Farm
South Africa adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Green Farm
Coordinates: 22°57′29″S30°45′32″E / 22.958°S 30.759°E / -22.958; 30.759 Coordinates: 22°57′29″S30°45′32″E / 22.958°S 30.759°E / -22.958; 30.759
Country South Africa
Province Limpopo
District Vhembe
Municipality Thulamela
  Councillor(ANC)
Area
[1]
  Total5.94 km2 (2.29 sq mi)
Population
(2011) [1]
  Total3,930
  Density660/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
   Black African 99.9%
   Coloured 0.1%
First languages (2011)
[1]
   Tsonga 97.3%
   Venda 1.6%
  Other1.2%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
0982

Green Farm is a village in the province of Limpopo in South Africa. The village is situated in the north east region of Limpopo province within the newly demarcated Collins Chabane Local Municipality. It used to be part of the Thulamela local municipality, Vhembe district. The village is located

Limpopo The northernmost province of South Africa

Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The name "Limpopo" has its etymological origin in the Northern Sotho language word diphororo tša meetse, meaning "strong gushing waterfalls". The capital is Polokwane.

South Africa Republic in the southernmost part of Africa

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline of Southern Africa stretching along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini (Swaziland); and it surrounds the enclaved country of Lesotho. South Africa is the largest country in Southern Africa and the 25th-largest country in the world by land area and, with over 57 million people, is the world's 24th-most populous nation. It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the Old World or the Eastern Hemisphere. About 80 percent of South Africans are of Sub-Saharan African ancestry, divided among a variety of ethnic groups speaking different African languages, nine of which have official status. The remaining population consists of Africa's largest communities of European (White), Asian (Indian), and multiracial (Coloured) ancestry.

Contents

Green Farm was named Mahori after the initial chieftaincy, and it currently under the chieftaincy of the "Nhongani family".

The village is situated right in the middle of Malamulele, between Madonsi village, Gijamhandeni, Phugwani, Nkovani, Makhasa, Bobo and Xibangwa villages.

Languages and Sections of the village

The village is a place where the population speaks Xitsonga as a mother tongue, other languages used in the village include English as a national medium of instruction. Tshivenda, Sepedi and the nguni languages are known and used mainly by people who relocated to the village or got married there.

Tsonga language southern African Bantu language spoken by the Tsonga people

Tsonga or Xitsonga is a southern African Bantu language spoken by the Tsonga people. It is mutually intelligible with Tswa and Ronga, and the name "Tsonga" is often used as a cover term for all three, also sometimes referred to as Tswa-Ronga. The Xitsonga language has been standardized for both academic and home use, making it the base language for the Tsonga people. Like with many other languages, there are various dialects within the Tsonga language group.

The area in itself is spacious with a mountain range which runs right in the middle dividing the main village into two areas, namely Endhzaku ka ntshava (behind the mountain with reference to the face being at the main road) and a henhla (meaning on top, due to the placement on the high lying area). There are new sections being established due to growth and the need for children to get their own spaces; Hunguta poto (Reduce the size of a cooking pot) and Tshumbula doki (Where donkeys sprawls - used to be open grounds)

Seasons, climate and food

The area experiences a prolonged heat season, running from August to April. There is a wind season from July to August and the wind can be dusty because there is no moisture then and the grass is commonly dry leaving open grounds. The rain is most likely from October to January and this is the time where the residents plough their yards for maize, water melons, pumpkins, beans etc. In the period, there is also an abundance of fruits in the yards (Mangoes, Papawa/papaya) and you can enjoy tintoma, tinyiri or tinyiya, tintsengele, mapfilwa and later Mahodinga/ makajawa na makwakwa. The winter can be said to be warm and drizzling is possible

The village is in itself not green or fertile. Green Farm was named by the missionaries. The name has since been accepted and is used by all people young and old. The area is home to indigenous trees including amongst others the Marula tree(Nkanyi), Jackal-berry tree(Ntoma), Mopani tree(Nxanatsi) etc. Jackal-berry trees have edible fruits and the wood is used to make pestles for grinding maize. The marula trees provide fruits(makanyi) which are tasty and rich with Vitamin C. The fruit is used to make beer(vukanyi). The staple food is vuswa (pap, meal cooked with maize) and vuswa is served with any relish which can be found in the yards (guxe, theka, muxiji, tinhwembe, tinyawa) and meat type of food found in the forest e.g. bush meat, matomani(mopani worms), swidongodi or bought from the supermarkets

Economics and demographics

Most people at Green Farm are unemployed. Most women are housewives, Children at school going ages attend to the schools which are situated in the village; There is a creche for toddlers and young children, A primary school named Tsundzukani and a high school named P.P Hlungwani. Most men are self-employed to support their families; from roofing (ku fulela tindlu), Construction, Welding, fencing, fishing and farming (Crop and Animal). A few percentage of residents work for the government departments and schools. Young people get registered annually at the various tertiary institutions across the country. Most graduates never returns home as residents because there are only few job or business opportunities available in the area.

Recreation and facilities

Shopping is done at a general dealer and several family run spaza shops around the village otherwise people can decide to go to the nearest township of Malamulele where they can at least find major national retailers like Shoprite and Pick n pay. The main sporting codes are soccer for males and netball for females. Soccer is played at a community level and the school level while netball is played mainly in a school level. The most valuable players around the community are as follow Makamu ture, Makhubele JB, and their couch Makamu Ghetto

Music and arts

Music is a major part of vatsonga people. People at Green farm enjoy playing Xitsonga music at home and at ceremonies like tikhomba (female initiation ceremony) and xiseveseve (celebration of friendship mostly for women). Legendary artist, the late Mhani Khatisa Chabalala was resident at Greenfarm. She was an inspiration to most young Vatsonga artists. there is also a famous artist known as Tinghwanghwayani, who created the group dance of Madovani yale GreenFarm. People do carving (matshuri, minkombe na swinwana), moulding (timbita and majomela) and they make the traditional clothing like tinjhovo and xibelani.

Religion, social organisation and politics

The area offers the residents a choice when it comes to religious affiliation, there are different church denominations like Zion Christian Church, Apostolic Faith Mission, Assemblies of God, Roman Catholic Church and other churches. The residents also have traditional ceremonies of African religion (muphahlo na mancomani). Politically, Green Farm Village also enjoys involvement in the political landscape of the Republic of South Africa. The people in the village are well represented in the political structures. Politics have to work in synergy with the lateral by-laws and traditional regulations. The area is under the tribal leadership of Madonsi Hlungwani royal family. Looking at history, the majority of people have traditionally associated themselves with African National Congress in the previous elections. There is a strong social movement towards development; with several active and recognized organisations focusing on health and social development and education.

Related Research Articles

<i>Sclerocarya birrea</i> species of plant

Sclerocarya birrea, commonly known as the marula, is a medium-sized dioecious tree, indigenous to the miombo woodlands of Southern Africa, the Sudano-Sahelian range of West Africa, and Madagascar.

Tsonga people ethnic group

The Tsonga people are a Bantu ethnic group native mainly to South Africa and southern Mozambique. They speak Xitsonga, a Southern Bantu language which is closely related to neighbouring Nguni, Basotho, and Vhavenda. A very small number of Tsonga people are also found in Swaziland and Zimbabwe. The Tsonga people of South Africa share a common history with the Tsonga people of southern Mozambique; however they differ culturally and linguistically from the Tonga people of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Peta Teanet was a South African disco musician of Shangaan descent.

Thohoyandou Place in Limpopo, South Africa

Thohoyandou is a town/City in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. It is the administrative centre of Vhembe District Municipality and Thulamela Local Municipality. It is also known for being the former capital of the bantustan of Venda. Thohoyandou was built at Tshiluvhi which was under Khosi vho Netshiluvhi. Construction started in 1977 with P East and P West residential area/location as R293 town, a shopping centre and Venda Government buildings. The Netshiluvhis were the first occupants of the area as far back as 1400 AD, i.e. after the collapse of Mapungubwe Kingdom. They were forcefully removed from this area between 1960 and 1970 by the apartheid government of the Venda Bantustan under khosi vho Mphephu Ramabulana. The name Tshiluvhi comes from the Venda word "luvha" which means to pay homages or respect. The former Venda president built his palace and his ministerial resident at Tshiluvhis chiefs kraal as they were already moved by the apartheid government. The following leaders and their subject under Netshiluvhi were forcefully removed from their areas. Some of the Netshiluvhi are known by different names: Malima, Khorommbi, Mathomu, Magidi, and Mudau. The name Tshiluvhi was totally stricken out and replaced by Thohoyandou as per the then government, and was left as a name of a primary school.

The Ndau are an ethnic group which inhabits the Zambezi valley, in central Mozambique all the way to the coast, in central Malawi, and eastern Zimbabwe, south of Chipinge and Chimanimani. The Ndau people identify with a lion as their totem. The name "Ndau" itself means "lion" in the Ndau and Shona languages. The three largest Ndau groups are the Magova; the Mashanga; the Vatomboti, and the Madanda.

Gazankulu former bantustan in South Africa

Gazankulu was a bantustan in South Africa, intended by the apartheid government to be a semi-independent homeland for the Tsonga people. It was located in both the Northern Transvaal, now Limpopo province and Eastern Transvaal, now Mpumalanga province. It must not be confused with the Gaza kingdom which once existed in Mozambique.

Giyani Place in Limpopo, South Africa

Giyani is a north-eastern city in the Limpopo province of South Africa and a former capital of the Gazankulu bantustan. Giyani is situated at the intersection between R578 road and R81. It is located in the heart of Limpopo Bushveld, on the northern bank of the Klein (Little) Letaba River west of Kruger National Park. Situated in the northern portion of former Gazankulu, Giyani was established in the 1960s as the administrative centre for the Tsonga people. Giyani is now the administrative capital of Mopani District Municipality. Giyani lies 470 km north east of Johannesburg by road, 104 km from Tzaneen, 105 km from the Phalaborwa Gate of the Kruger National Park and 35 km from Malamulele.

<i>Diospyros mespiliformis</i> species of plant

Diospyros mespiliformis, the jackalberry, is a large dioecious evergreen tree found mostly in the savannas of Africa. Jackals are fond of the fruit, hence the common names. It is a member of the family Ebenaceae, and is related to the true ebony and edible persimmon.

Vhembe District Municipality District municipality in Limpopo, South Africa

Vhembe is one of the 5 districts of Limpopo province of South Africa. It is the northernmost district of the country and shares its northern border with Beitbridge district in Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe and on the east with Gaza Province in Mozambique. Vhembe consist of all territories that were part of the former Venda Bantustan, however, two large densely populated districts of the former Tsonga homeland of Gazankulu, in particular, Hlanganani and Malamulele were also incorporated into Vhembe, hence the ethnic diversity of the District. The seat of Vhembe is Thohoyandou, the former Capital of the former Venda Bantustan. According to 2011 census, the majority of Vhembe residents, about 800 000, speak TshiVenda as their mother language, while 400 000 speak Xitsonga as their home language. However, the Tsonga people are in majority south of Levubu River and they constitute more than 85% of the population in the south of the historic river Levubu, while the Venda are in Minority south of Levubu, at 15%. The Northern Sotho speakers stands at 27 000. The district code is DC34.

Malamulele Place in Limpopo, South Africa

Malamulele can refer to the town of Malamulele or the area of Malamulele. Both the town and area are in the Limpopo province of South Africa and predominantly occupied by Tsonga people. Malamulele town has one provincial road and one regional road; the R81 to Giyani and the R524 to Thohoyandou respectively. Malamulele is flanked by two rivers, Levubu River (Rivhubye) to the west and Letaba River to the east, meanwhile the Shingwedzi River runs from Malamulele West to Malamulele East, joining the Limpopo River in Mozambique on its way to the Indian Ocean. Malamulele is the seat of the Collins Chabane Local Municipality.

Zebediela Place in Limpopo, South Africa

Zebediela is an area that is constituted of villages which forms part of Limpopo Province and situated south-east of Polokwane. The Zebediela area has attracted many people from various African countries. The Zebediela area is known of producing a large quantity of oranges to the entire world namely Europe, United State of America and ect. Zebediela has mining activities that will eventually contribute positively to the economy (GDP) of the Republic of South Africa. The entire place of Zebediela is named after King Sello Kekana a Ndebele chief of the area. Zebediela is located in the African's eden of the Republic of South African, which is found in Limpopo Province. The Limpopo Province is one of the nine provinces that are found in the Republic of South Africa. All the villages of Zebediela have their own chiefs (Dintona), and dintona are controlled and govern by King Sello Kekana III. King Sello Kekana III is the royal leader of Zebediela.

Waterval Place in Limpopo, South Africa

Waterval is a residential township in front of Elim Hospital, it is situated in the Hlanganani district of the former Tsonga homeland of Gazankulu, alongside the R578 road to Giyani in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Waterval includes Njhakanjhaka, Lemana, Elim Hospital, Elim Mall, Hubyeni Shopping centre, Magangeni but excludes Shirley village, which is a separate and stand alone farm, sharing a legal boundary with Waterval and Mbhokota village to the east.

Namakgale Place in Limpopo, South Africa

Namakgale is a large township lying 12 km outside Phalaborwa in Mopani District in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Its nearest neighbouring townships are Lulekani, Makhushane, Maseke and Mashishimale on the R71 road to Gravelotte. It is next to the Kruger National Park on the north eastern part of the Limpopo province previously Northern Transvaal. The township enjoys the annual Marula festival during the months of February and March, when the ripe Marula fruit harvest is at its peak, and the Marula traditional beer is brewed. This is home to the Amarula liqueur is harvested, and the pulp is shipped to Cape Town for further processing. The citizens of Namakgale will enjoy the Mopani worms first harvest during March and April, and the second harvest in December. the Mopani tree and the Morula tree are very important to the residents of the Namakgale as they bring important community subsistence farming.

Bungeni Place in Limpopo, South Africa

Bungeni is a large sprawling rural settlement situated on top of one of the foothills of the Soutpansberg mountain close to Elim in the former Gazankulu homeland, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The Levubu agricultural plantation, where avocado, bananas, litch, Macadamia nuts, peaches and mangoes are grown in abundance, is just 3km away north of Bungeni village. It lies 35 km east of Makhado, with the R578 road passing through it. With more than 30 000 people, Bungeni is the largest Tsonga village in Makhado local municipality. In 1994 and in 2016, administrative control of this western portion of Gazankulu has been sub-divided in half and allocated to two Municipalities, first in 1994 to Makhado Local Municipality and in 2016, to the New Malamulele Municipality in the Vhembe district. As of April 2016, the Western portion, known as 'Bungeni West' by the locals, has remained in Makhado local municipality, while the eastern portion, known as 'Bungeni east', has been allocated to the new Malamulele Municipality. The border line between the two municipalities is at Mbogo Hill, a prominent and a beautiful hill with sweeping views over the Soutpansberg Mountains, which are situated 7 km away from Bungeni. Mbogo Hill is known to the locals as eka-Mbogo, franked by Bungeni health centre to the west of the Hill. Mbogo Hill to the east has been allocated to Malamulele, while Bungeni Health Centre to the west has remained in Makhado. Mbogo Hill was named after the Venda family, Magoro, who have occupied the Hill for generations until they were evicted in 1969 when the Tsonga and the Venda people were separated along ethnic lines.

Valdezia Place in Limpopo, South Africa

Valdezia is a sprawling rural settlement situated at the foothills of the Soutpansberg mountain range in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It was formerly known as Albasini before the Swiss Missionaries renamed it Valdezia in 1875. The village itself was formally established in 1820 by Tsonga refugees who were fleeing despotic rule from Soshangane. It is roughly 10 km east of Elim Hospital in the Hlanganani district in the former Gazankulu homeland, South Africa. It was the site of a Swiss mission station, and it was named after the Swiss canton of Vaud. Valdezia's population, according to the official census of 2011, currently stands at between 7,600 and 8,000 people. It is considered the birthplace of the written Tsonga language in South Africa.

Acornhoek Place in Mpumalanga, South Africa

Acornhoek is a township in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa.

Shangaan Electro is a dance movement and musical style born from a 21st-century reboot of local folk traditions in South African townships, Tsonga Disco and Kwaito House. The movement has been spearheaded by DJ Khwaya and the producer Nozinja in recent years, who has turned it into an iconic Afro-futurist strain of electronic dance music.. Shangaan Electro is also called "Tsonga Electro" in the Limpopo province of South Africa.

Ga-Sebotse Place in Limpopo, South Africa

Ga-Sebotse is a large village in Ga-Matlala in the Blouberg Local Municipality of the Capricorn District Municipality of the Limpopo province of South Africa. It is located 73 km northwest of Polokwane and 37 km southwest of Senwabarwana.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Green Farm". Census 2011.