"Those thieves are driving expensive cars and living in big mansions, while we are swimming in abject poverty. I don't believe they have spent all the millions as we still see them driving around happily. Sell the proceeds of crime and give us back our lifelong investments," said the former chairperson of the defunct VBS Mutual Bank, Mr Madambi Muvhulawa.

Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina and Deputy President Paul Mashatile led a delegation to visit the Giyani Water Project last Friday (6 September).

A 71-year-old former teacher is one of several people in Limpopo who lost money after putting their savings into what they thought were investment accounts at Thebe Investment Corporation.

The Mashau family of Gogobole remain heartbroken after the tragic murder of their beloved family member, Mr Ambani Mashau (33), on Sunday, 8 September, by unknown assailants.

The peaceful village of Midoroni in the Kutama area is in shock, following the tragic murder of a local resident, Mr Mishumo Mabitsela (24), early Sunday morning.

There has been some relief for the crime-ridden villages in the Niani area, following the arrest of two alleged armed robbers. The suspects are believed to be key figures in the car-hijacking and kidnapping syndicates operating in the Vhembe region.

Great confusion and wild speculation about the future of several senior members of the Thulamela Local Municipality reigned on Monday afternoon after members of the Hawks were seen entering the municipality’s offices. It turned out they were merely returning some of the equipment confiscated last Tuesday (3 September).

An enraged learner at Thohoyandou Technical High School went on the rampage, damaging a teacher's car and attacking its owner.

The National Heritage Council of South Africa (NHC) honoured three exceptional women who have made immeasurable contributions to preserving the region's culture during a special function held at the George Phadagi Town Hall in Thohoyandou on Friday, 23 August.

One of the oldest living Tshivenda authors, Ms Ndivhudzannyi Emelinah Sigogo, is encouraging young people to start writing books in their own language and has urged them to learn from older and more experienced writers while the latter are still alive.

On Thursday, 29 August, as Women’s Month came to an end, a living monument to what women entrepreneurs can achieve opened its doors in Thohoyandou. The new Premier Hotel Thohoyandou, built at a cost of almost R200 million, promises to set a new benchmark for the tourism industry in Vhembe.

Seven years after construction started, the sports stadium at Waterval has still not been completed, though at least R28 million has been spent on the project. Residents are now fed up with the Makhado Municipality’s promises and excuses.

The Vhembe District may not have the worst municipalities in the country, but they fall short of expectations, especially considering the millions spent on consultants and special initiatives aimed at improving financial accounting standards. Last year, the amounts spent by local municipalities on unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure reached nearly R800 million, with seemingly no consequences for the officials and politicians involved.

Ndivhuwo Matshaya, better known as Prophet Matshaya of the Power of Light Divine Ministries in Hamakuya-Domboni village, was tragically shot dead at Thengwe-Mutangula on Wednesday, 28 August.

Drama unfolded at the Sibasa Regional Court when the mother of Murendeni Ralinala, a 21-year-old man brutally killed in Dopeni two years ago, stood up and walked out crying during the court proceedings.

The early-morning raid on the offices of the Thulamela Municipality on Tuesday must have sent shivers down the spines of many officials at municipalities in Vhembe, and perhaps even some politicians.

The distinguished scholar and public-administration expert, Professor Dovhani Thakhathi, passed away on Friday, 30 August. At the time of his death, he was residing in Pretoria, having previously lived in Haraliphaswa, Nzhelele.

After trying to avoid dealing with the issue for almost two months, the Musina Municipality’s council eventually convened on Friday, 30 August, for a meeting to discuss the overpayment of senior officials.

By Wednesday this week, many residents in Louis Trichardt and Tshikota were still left to their own devices in a constant battle for clean drinking water as the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) has seemingly all but lost complete control over the ongoing water-supply crisis in the district.