Bungeni

Bungeni

A new village near Bungeni Big tree, Bungeni Village
Bungeni

 Bungeni shown within Limpopo

Coordinates: 23°12′22″S 30°13′26″E / 23.206°S 30.224°E / -23.206; 30.224Coordinates: 23°12′22″S 30°13′26″E / 23.206°S 30.224°E / -23.206; 30.224
Country South Africa
Province Limpopo
District Vhembe
Municipality Makhado
Area[1]
 • Total 10.94 km2 (4.22 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 10,297
 • Density 940/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 99.6%
 • Coloured 0.2%
 • Indian/Asian 0.1%
 • White 0.1%
 • Other 0.1%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Tsonga 90.3%
 • Venda 7.3%
 • Other 2.5%
Postal code (street) n/a
PO box n/a

Bungeni is a sprawling rural settlement situated at the foothills of the Soutpansberg mountain range in the former Gazankulu homeland, Limpopo Province, South Africa. It lies 35 km east of Makhado, Bungeni is in the Hlanganani district, on the R578 road (South Africa) between Makhado and Giyani. In 1994, administrative control of this western portion of Gazankulu was allocated to Makhado Local Municipality, in the Vhembe district. It consists of more than 12 large villages, presided over by 12 Headmen, known as "tindhuna"" in Xitsonga, these 'tindhuna' are Headman for Xikhulu, Headman Mabodhlongwa, Headman Makhoma, Headman Xitaci, Headman Mtsetweni, Headman Xihambanyisi, headman Nwa-Mhandzi, Headman Xivambu, headman for Nhjakanhjaka A, Headman for Nhjakanhjaka B, headman Wayeni (Malele), and Headman Mahatlani. According to the 2015 mid-year population statistics, Bungeni has a population of approximately 30,000 people. Hosi Bungeni is a Senior Chief that presides over all the 12 subordinate Headmen and their villages. The authority to dermacates residential stands, Business sites and for any other purposes rest with Chief Bungeni (Mabunda).

Geography and Geology

Geologically, Bungeni village is located on the Soutpansberg Ridge, at the 'tail end' of the Soutpansberg mountain range. When the range was formed over a billion years ago as a result of the Kaapvaal Craton, it resulted in the formation of broken ridge all over the village of Bungeni, which is a geological feature of Bungeni today. These broken ridge at Bungeni village were known as 'Spelenkon ridge' which stretches from Bandelierkop in the west. The name 'Xipilongo' was derived from the railway station situated near Bandelierkop called 'Grootspelenkon'. The village itself is just less than 6 km from Levubu Agricultural plantations and 8 km from the Soutpansberg Mountain range. The soil type is the same as those on the Soutpansberg mountain range. Rainfall at Bungeni corresponds to the climate of the Soutpansberg mountain range, with maximum temperatures during summer reaching as high as 34 °C. The total elevation of the village is 700 metres above sea level.

History

The name 'Bungeni' is the name of the first son of Nkonwana from his second wife. Phalani was Nkonwana's first son from his first wife and was the only boy from his mother. Bungeni Royal village was named after Bungeni. There is the normal practice in most black culture to name the village using the famous/warrior king/chief of the time. And the name will be adopted by the succeeding kings. This is a common practice amongst the Tsonga people, for example, the village of Mbhokota is named after the name of chief Mbhokota. Preferably, they should have used the clan name 'Mavunda'. The village of Bungeni and its Royal Family originated from Mozambique. The mavunda's found in Kwazulu-Natal are blood related to those found in Mozambique and are known as the Mazibuko Clan. They were the powerful ruling class in Pre-Colonial Natal. The Mazibuko Clan dominated and ruled villages on the slope of the Drakensberg Mountains in Northern Kwazulu-Natal for centuries. They left Natal in 1700 with their hundreds of followers, headed east and settled on the coastal plains of Mozambique, where they became senior kings/chiefs or rulers. The period of their assistance/presence in Kwazulu-Natal is not clearly documented. The Mavunda rulers were never called as chief 'Ndhuna' instead were referred to as king 'hosi'. Colonialist who wanted to take land from black rulers would use any tactics such as using other blacks to undermine those who were in power. Change their status and give it to their favorites e.g. claiming hosi 'Njhakanjhaka/Mkhari' as the king of the 'Xipilongo' where the Mavundas seek refuge. Among the regiments of 'Soshangaan' there was the remnat of 'Mazibuko/mavunda' group from the larger group who went back to Mozambique. Those are the group of 'hosi Ngove' who are blood related to 'Bungeni' clan. Hence the confusion as to when the 'Mavunda' kingdom arrived in and around Elim, Sherley, Valdazia and Mbokota. These were all the group of 'Soshangaans' whom 'Mkhari' was given headman-ship by 'Bungeni' to look after the splinter 'Shangaan' group from 'Soshangaan' regiment who settled under the kingdom of 'Bungeni' stretching from Bandelierkop, part of Louis-Trichardt, Elim and Valdezia.

There were many reasons why the 'Mazibukos' left or departed KwaZulu-Natal, one of the common reasons is that they had been attacked several times by the Zulu clan to the south, who were in their early stages of forming the Zulu Kingdom by invading or killing other clans. At that time, the Zulu people|Zulus] were not an ethnic group but were a clan, like the Mazibuko clan, who both spoke an ancient dialect of the Nguni language. The Mazibuko Clan were harassed again and again by the Zulu clan until they finally decided to leave KwaZulu-Natal and returned to claimed their original kingdom status for themselves in Southern Mozambique. Upon arrival in coastal Mozambique, they adopted Xitsonga language and culture and changed their clan name from Mazibuko and reclaim their clan 'Mavunda' also known in 'Tsonga' as 'Vahlavi'. However, some retain the Mazibuko surnames, while others preferred 'Mabunda' surname which is assumed to be derived from phonetics during the translation of sound the consonant "V" which is written as 'b". The Mavunda clan ruled southern Mozambique for more than 110 years and were finally scattered from Mozambique by the invading armies of Soshangane between 1820 and 1825.

Therefore, Bungeni village, as it is known today, is of relatively recent. 'Hosi Bungeni' and his subjects arrived here between 1818 and 1820 from Mozambique during the wars of Soshangane, also known as Manukosi and became the Paramount chief of Tsonga refugees in the Spelenkon (Xipilongo in Xitsonga), Hosi Bungeni exercised authority over all Tsonga refugees who were fleeing the brutal formation of the Gaza Kingdom by Soshangane in Southern Mozambique, the natural home of the Tsonga people. As Paramount Chief, Bungeni was responsible for the allocation of land to the Tsonga refugees, the provision of military protection, provision of food, as well as exercising authority over all these refugees.

Upon arrival in Spelenkon as exploror, Chief Bungeni established Bungeni village. Bungeni was a king of Spelenkon, but with the introduction of apartheid during the 1960s, Hosi Bungeni was made a Senior Tsonga Chief and ceased being a kingship, by contrast, Hosi Njhakanjhaka was made a Headman who presided over a small village of Shirley, Waterval township, Lemana, Njhakanhjaka village and Mbokoto village at a place collectively known as Elim. The authority of Hosi Njhakanhjaka was therefore weakened over Bungeni Village during Apartheid. Hosi Njhakanhjaka's paramount Chieftaincy was restored in 1995 and is now recognised as a Tsonga paramount Chief.

Chief Bungeni and his people, while in Mozambique, led a rebellious campaign against [[Nguni people|Nguni]/Soshangaan subjects] invaders, who not only oppressed the Tsonga people but also enslave Tsonga woman and children. Chief Bungeni tried to defend his people but was easily defeated by Soshangane and his soldiers. To avoid death and execution by Soshangane, Chief Bungeni and his followers fled and sought settle at a place known today as Bungeni. Another wave of Tsonga migration into Bungeni happened again between 1859-1863 during the civil war between Mzila and Mawewe, the two brother were fighting for a Kingship after the death of their father Soshangane. The last wave of Tsonga migration into Bungeni was between 1890-1895 during the Portuguese and Nghunghunyane wars. Hosi Njhakanjhaka was the headman of the Tsonga group who were running away from Chaka as a regiment of Soshangaan in the 1850s and were later called 'Shangaan" named after Soshangana from northern Kwazulu-Natal.

Hosi Nhjakanhjaka Mukhari, the headman of Spelenkon (which included Valdezia and Elim), along with Joao Albasini, was a chief of all Vatsonga people in a place known today as Hlanganani. The place where Bungeni is situated today was known as Spelenkon (Xipilongo in Xitsonga) and was one of the most important sites of the Great Spelenkon empire, under the mighty arm of Joao Albasini. Hosi Bungeni was an assistant to Joao Albasini and 'Ndhuna' Nhjakanhjaka, later, Hosi Bungeni was made a Senior traditional leader by the Apartheid government during the 1960s, a position he did not deserve to hold since he supposed to be the king of Spelonkeng. Hosi Nhjakanhjaka Mukhari, was made an 'Independent Headman' and was given a Tribal Office at Waterval township, below Elim Hospital. Bungeni village, along with Nwa-Xinyamani, Chavani, Mbhokota, Bokisi, Lemana, Njhakanhjaka (Elim), Shirley and Valdezia were collectively known as Spelenkon and became home to thousands of Tsonga refugees fleeing the murderous and oppressive Gaza Kingdom under Soshangane, a Zulu General who has conquered the homeland of Vatsonga people in and around Southern Mozambique.

Soshangane oppressed and terrorised the Tsonga people to such an extent that a wave of immigration into the Transvaal took place, thousands of Vatsonga fled their homes (ku Baleka) and settled at Spelenkon. Lengthwise, Bungeni shares a border with Nwa-Xinyamani and Ha-Mashamba (Venda settlement) until Ka-Nkuzana, which is 10 km (6.2 mi) long, across, it shares a border with Ha-Mashau (a Venda settlement) up to Bellevue (Ka-Wayeni), which is also 10 km (6.2 mi) long, making Bungeni one of the biggest Traditional Authorities in the Makhado Local Municipality. In 2019, Bungeni village will be 200 years old.

Education

Bungeni has 5 secondary schools, which are Russel Bungeni High School, Hluvuka High School, Marholeni Secondary School, Bellevue Secondary School and Mahatlani Secondary School. There are 12 primary schools at Bungeni. These are: Nhjakanhjaka Primary, Muhluri Primary, Mkhono Higher Primary, Bungeni Primary, Xitaci Primary, Mtsetweni Primary, Xihambanyisi Primary, Ndlavheya Primary, Nwa-Mhandzi Primary, Wayeni Primary, Mahatlani Primary and Masungi Primary.

Health

Healthcare is extremely poor, there are 2 community clinics, which are Bungeni Health Centre and Wayeni Health Centre, both are attached to Elim Hospital. HIV and Aids have been a leading cause of death amongst young people but with the availability of ARV treatment, the death toll has been reduced substantially. There is a private medical centre at the Diza complex. A number of traditional healers (witch doctors) still ply their craft in the villages.

There are no specific numbers for the claim that HIV/Aids is the major cause of death among young people. Bungeni remains one of the communities with a domination of elderly people, it might be because of the traditional food such as Tihove, Xiendlahivomu, Ximbhundhwa, Xigugu, Xirhidza, etc. and the lifestyle in general.

Development

Bungeni is one of the more developed villages in the Makhado Local Municipality. Amongst the most developed section of Bungeni is Nhjakanhjaka A village, a small suburb called Mandela, and Tana na Pulani that boast houses and mansions that can compete with Makhado Town. The Bungeni Post Office is situated at Bungeni Xikhulu area.

Bungeni, along with other villages situated in the area, is currently experiencing strong economic growth in the property market. A number of major retail hardware stores operate in the area, also supplying building material. This has led to the once rural villages of the area becoming semi-urban areas.

Nhjakanhjaka A has a fully fledge filling station, Pharmacy, Fresh Loaf Bakery, Shoprite U Save complex, Pep Store and Fish & Chips which opened on 27 October 2014 and a community radio, known as Hlanganani Community Radio. The village has seven famous soccer teams: Bungeni Young Tigers, Basani Arrow Chiefs, Njhakanjhaka Mighty Chiefs, Nwa-Mhandzi All Dangerous, Bungeni Junior Birds, Mahatlani All Stars & Bungeni New Born.

Notable People

Well-known people from Bungeni include David Mathebula and Lebo Manyama from Njhakanjhaka (Xavunyami), footballers in the South African Professional Soccer League. Jacob Tshisevhe, a former Kaizer Chiefs defender, was born in Njhakanjhaka Village (The Tshisevhe family still resides in the village). Other notable individuals are Falaza Mdaka, who is the Chief Whip of the African National Congress in the Limpopo Legislature; Robert Nkuna who is a former Advisor to the Minister of Transport; Tiyani Rikhotso who is a spokesperson in the Department of Transport; Chicco Twala (his parents were born at Mabodlongwa village, the Twala family still reside in the village), Judge George Maluleke, North Gauteng High Court (he was born at Mtsetweni village in 1945); Dr Risimati Dazmen Mavunda, son of Jack, son of Vuromo (Abraham), son of Phalani the sibling of Bungeni. Dazmen was the first black person to qualify in Nuclear Medicine in South Africa. He is now practicing as a chief Physicist at the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA) and is lecturing at University of Johannesburg, Tshwane University of Technology and Venda University. He obtained his primary education at Rivoningo Primary and his parents' home is still at Ribungwani.

Bungeni Royal lineage and succession

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Bungeni". Census 2011.
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