Pretoria - Limpopo Premier Stanley Mathabatha has congratulated Thovhele Kennedy Tshivhase for his bravery by announcing that he had decided to end his protracted battle for the Kingship with Vhavenda King Khosikhulu Toni Mphephu Ramabulana.
Thovhele Tshivhase has been opposing and challenging the Kingdom of Ramabulana through the court of law before and after President Jacob Zuma in 2010 announced Khosikhulu Mphephu Ramabulana as the rightful King of Vhavenda.
In a move to promote unity, on Friday, Tshivhase announced that he and his kingdom will support and respect His Majesty Ramabulana as the King of Vhavenda.
Premier Mathabatha said the move should be commended as it shows that even when people differ on a few issues, as brothers they must find each other at the end.
"The issues of mahosi (traditional leaders) should be resolved by mahosi themselves not through the courts. Their issues are known by and understood by headmen and other senior members of the royal council."
Thovhele Tshivhase is the ruler of the well-known Tshivhase dynasty where the famous Tshivhase Tea Estate is found.
Recently there have been several disputes relating to chieftainship and kingships in the province although most disputes have been resolved through commissions, several new ones were surfacing.
Premier Mathabatha said the consolidation of the Vhavenda Kingdom under King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana will now make it one of the most peaceful ones.
The first to reconcile was the Mphaphuli dynasty, under Thovhele Gole Musiiwa Mphaphuli, who decided after lengthy court cases that they will no longer contest Ramabulana's Kingship.
King Toni Mphephu now rules over 28 Thovhele’s around Venda, all these preside over 200 mahosi.
Several meetings have been held between the Mphephu Kingdom and the Premier, with the focus of helping them with office and other relevant resources.
King Mphephu Ramabulana, 42, is the son of the late president of the former Venda homeland, Chief Patrick Mphephu. - SAnews.gov.za
