Nearly 450 Vhavenda traditional leaders, especially headmen in the Vhembe region, attended a day-long workshop on the customary law of succession, after it was found that there are many disputes of succession after the headmen had passed away.

“There is an unusual practise happening in the Vhembe region nowadays, where you find that people are starting to cause conflict about who should rule when a chief has died. We all know that one is born in a clan of chieftainity to qualify for the throne of headman, senior traditional leader and being king,” said King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana.

The event took place in the Thohoyandou Indoor Sports Centre on Friday and was organised by the Department of Traditional Affairs. According to Mphephu, traditional leaders should respect the chieftainship, because the forefathers of the Vhavenda fought for it during the times of colonialism

He also advised the headmen that they must refrain from relying on the courts as a way of solving chieftaincy issues.

Mr Nchongi Ngwenya from the Department of Traditional Affairs said the kingship history had been documented in the archives of the government. “We understand that the Vhavenda Kingship started in the 1400 and its linage was documented. Gone will be the days of oral history of headmen. It must be written down, so that even future generations could know,” said Ngwenya.