Gazankulu

Gazankulu Government Gazankulu
Bantustan
← 1971–1994 →
Coat of arms Flag Coat of arms
Anthem HOSI KATEKISA AFRIKA
Location of Gazankulu within South Africa
Capital	Giyani
Language(s)	Tsonga, English, Afrikaans
Religion	MAINLY TRADITIONAL, CHRISTIAN
Political structure	Bantustan
History
- Self-government	1971
- Re-integrated into South Africa	April 27, 1994
Currency	South African rand

Gazankulu was a bantustan in South Africa, intended by the apartheid government to be a semi-independent homeland for the Tsonga (Shangaan) people. It was carved out of the former Transvaal Province and given self-rule in 1971, with its capital at Giyani, the name Giyani is a Zulu word and it means to dance in the Zulu language. Gazankulu itself was named after a legendary Zulu King, Gaza I Nxumalo of the Ndwandwe clan in Nongoma, Northern Kwazulu Natal, who was the grandfather of Soshangane. When Apartheid was abolished in 1994, the population of Gazankulu stood at 1,5 million people. Gazankulu was re-integrated into South Africa in 1994 and now forms part of the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga respectively. Today, the population of the former Gazankulu numbers more than 2.5 million throughout South Africa.

Brief History of Vatsonga/Shangaan people

The Vatsonga/Shangaan are a hybrid or mixture of two Bantu groups, the Zulu and Tsonga. Firstly the natural home of the Vatsonga stretches from Kosibay in Northern KwaZulu Natal to Maputo, during the colonial days, the area around Kosibay was called Tsongaland and the Vatsonga were never defeated by the Zulus, who occupied the land from St Lucia bay down south. During apartheid days Kosibay was incorporated into KwaZulu homeland and today is part of KwaZulu Natal province. Maputo and the surrounding areas is the natural home of the Vatsonga people and this include the lands to the west of Maputo called Kruger National Park. The Vatsonga people did business and commerce with the Portuguese from 1500 onwards. In the early 1800s, the war broke out between King Zwide Nxumalo of the Ndwandwe clan in Nongoma, Northern KwaZulu Natal and the Zulus in the South. The Military commander of Ndwandwe clan, led by chief Soshangane Nxumalo waged a war against the Zulus, the Military commander of the Zulus was led by Shaka Zulu. The Zwide forces were defeated by the Zulus, Soshangane led the Ndwandwe warriors of about 30 000 soldiers against the Zulus, while Shaka Zulu led Zulu warriors of about 3 000 soldiers against the Ndwandwe soldiers. King Zwide was defeated during the war and the Ndwandwe Royal House disintegrated. With King Zwide defeated, Shaka Zulu took advantage and consolidated his power, subjugated the Ndwandwe and resume control of the whole Zulu nation but the stubborn and ruthless Nxumalo warrior, Soshangane refused to submit to Shaka Zulu and left Nongoma with his followers and they established the new Ndwandwe Kingdom in Maputo, mixing with the Tsonga people and the Gazankulu Kingdom was born, with its capital city in Mandlakazi (meaning the power of the woman).

Gazankulu was named after one of the legendary leaders of the Ndwandwe clan (the Nxumalos) in Northern KwaZulu Natal, King Gaza I of the Ndwandwe clan, who was the grandfather of Soshangane. The leaders of the Pre-colonial Gaza Kingdom can be summarised as follows, Nxumalo was the first leader of the Ndwandwe clan in Nongoma, Northern KwaZulu Natal, he was succeeded by Mkhantswa, Gaza I, Langa, Mavuso, Ludonga, Xaba, Langa I and Zwide II. Soshangane was the cousin to King Zwide II and was the Military commander of the Ndwandwe and leader of the Gaza Regiment in Nongoma, Northern KwaZulu Natal. The new Gaza Kingdom was not all peaceful and the war broke out between the Portuguese and the leaders of the Gaza Kingdom, Portugal sent in an army from Portugal to come and crush the Gaza Kingdom, after the defeat by the Portuguese, the descendents of Soshangane were involved again in their 'second migration' into the Transvaal and settled in what is known as Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces. When the apartheid government gave black South Africans self-rule, Gazankulu was used in honour of former Gaza Kingdom that was destroyed by the Portuguese as well as in honour of one of the greatest ancestors of the Shangaan people, Gaza I of Nongoma, Northern Kwazulu Natal. It is therefore wrong to refer to someone as Shangaan or Tsonga, Tsonga/Shangaan is the correct reference because it incorporates both Zulu and Tsonga heritage. Surnames such as Nxumalo, Tshabalala, Miyeni, Nghonyama, Mhlongo, Zitha, Mbiza, Mkhwanazi, Mabasa, Maboko, Lubisi, Sibisi, Mlambo, Nkonyane, Mthembi, Ngwenya, Mhlanga, Vukela, Mathebula, Nkuna, Manganye (magoda), Ndhundhuma,Ngobeni(Ngobese),Maswanganye, Lowane, Ntabeni, Bvuma, Twala, Dlomo, Makwakwa, Masebenza, Nkuzana, Mabuza, Khoza, Hlongwane (Sono), Mdaka, Mhlava, Mthombeni, Mathe, Sibiya, Mageza, Mkhabela, and the list is endless are purely of Shangaan heritage and hence Zulu. While surnames such as Marivate, Tlakula, Malavi, Salani, Nkondo, Maluleke, Makhubela, chauke, Mawila, Sambo, Mhinga, Shirindza, Mabunda, Rikhotso, Shihambi, Nkatingi, Mahamu, Nukeri, Cibi, Matsimbi, Mkansi, Ndhambi, Shimange, and the list is endless are purely of Tsonga heritage.

Many Shangaan parents tends to give their children Zulu names, for an outsider this may sound strange but for these parents, it is a way of Keeping their Zulu heritage alive and to take pride in their Ndwandwe roots. Even in the post apartheid South Africa, many Shangaan parents continue to give their children Zulu names. The former capital city of Gazankulu, Giyani itself is a Zulu name and it means to dance, a living proof that Tsonga /Shangaan is a hybrid or mixture of two Bantu groups, that is Zulu and Tsonga.

King Zwide II day

Every year, thousands of Shangaans and Zulus (the Ndwandwe clan only) come together in Nongoma, Northern KwaZulu Natal to celebrate the life of their most loved leader, King Zwide Nxumalo, who was defeated by Shaka Zulu during the Zulu civil war. The descendents of the Ndwandwe come together and compete in ancient dances known as Zulu dance otherwise known in Shangaan as Muchongolo.

Bushbuckridge

After the defeat by the Portuguese, Chief Mpisane Nxumalo led his people out of Maputo, travelled west and arrive at the place known today as Bushbuckridge, he established a town called Thulamahashe (in fact, the correct word is not Thulamahashe, it is 'Thulilemahashe' in the Zulu language) as his headquarters or capital city of the now destroyed Gaza Kingdom. Hundreds of thousands of Mpisane Nxumalo's followers continued to travel beyond Thulamahashe and Bushbuckridge in general and settled in distant lands, many of Mpisane Nxumalo's followers established towns such as Elim and Valdezia, just 20 KM east of Louis Trichardt. In fact, Elim Hospital was built by Vatsonga/Shangaan people who came with Mpisane Nxumalo from Maputo but who decided not to settle at Bushbuckridge but travelled beyond. Many Shangaan surnames at Elim and Valdezia depicts a Zulu heritage, surnames such as Miyeni, Khoza, Hlongwane, Tshabalala, Ntabeni, Zitha, Ndhundhuma are very common in and around Elim. Many years of colonialism and apartheid meant that the Gaza Kingdom could not be re-established in South Africa. The Nationalist party regarded the Nxumalo Royal House in Thulamahashe as a Chief of the Vatsonga/ Shangaan people and not as a King of all Vatsonga/Shangaan people. Hoxane College of education is located in Hazyview. Bushbuckridge is the cultural centre of the Shangaan people, ancient cultural dances such as Muchongolo and Makhwaya are well and alive in Bushbuckridge.

Elim

The town of Elim, located 15 KM outside Louis Trichardt, is the oldest town in the former Gazankulu territory, founded by the Swiss and the Tsonga /Shangaan people in the 1880s as a mission station, it was one of Gazankulu's most important intellectual centres. The majority of Shangaan intellectuals were educated at Elim and Valdezia respectively. Elim was the centre of enlightenment for Shangaans in South Africa. Elim hospital owes its existence to the Swiss doctors. The original Swiss mission station was located in Valdezia, just 10 KM north east of Elim, Elim Hospital was actually the first hospital North of Pretoria, it was famous for its eye care institute and many people travelled to Elim Hospital for medical attention. Elim has more emotional connection in the Psychology of Shangaans than any other towns in the former Gazankulu territory. The first Shangaan Christians were converted here at Elim and Valdezia respectively, the first primary school, located in Valdezia was established in 1885. When the Swiss moved the Mission station from Valdezia to Elim, Lemana primary and High schools were started, in 1905. Currently the town of Elim boast a modern shopping centre and a township, known as Watervaal. The Hlanganani magistrate court is also located at Elim. Elim has played a very important role in the literacy of early Shangaan intellectuals. The first Shangaan to write a novel and publish it in 1936 was actually educated at Elim and Valdezia respectively, this is Dr DC Marivate. During the apartheid era, the white government attempted several times to remove Shangaans from Elim and Valdezia respectively but without success, thanks to the Church of Switzerland. The farm Watervaal at Elim and the farm Klipfontein in Valdezia were purchased in 1875 by two Swiss theology students, when the apartheid government tried to evict Shangaan in these settlements, the Church in Switzerland objected, even today, the Church of Switzerland hold considerable power in both Elim and Valdezia.

Valdezia

Valdezia is the first Shangaan settlement in South Africa, it is located 25KM east of Louis Trichardt and 10KM north east of Elim hospital. Shangaans occupied and colonised the area in the early 1800s. Shangaans are Nguni people coming from Nongoma in Northern KwaZulu Natal. Their original leader was King Zwide of the Nxumalo clan in northern KwaZulu Natal, when King Zwide went into war with the Zulus, King Zwide was defeated by the Zulus, led by Shaka Zulu. After the defeat of King Zwide by the Zulus, the Nxumalo clan disintegrated and the once powerful military commander of the Zwide forces, Soshangane refused to submit to the authority of the Zulu, fearing Shaka's brutal leadership, Soshangane left Nongoma with his followers to establish a new Kingdom else where, he named the new Kingdom Gazankulu in honour of one of the Zwide Kings, King Gaza, his grandfather. Life was not peacefully in the new Kingdom and Gazankulu came under attack by the Portuguese settlers in Lourenco Marques, now Maputo. The second migration of the descendents of Soshangane took place again and the Shangaans moved into the Transvaal, Valdezia became their first settlement in the Transvaal. While in Valdezia, the Shangaans were joined by a Portuguese settler named Joao Albasini, though his full names were Dos Santos Joao Albasini. Albasini spoke fluent Tsonga/Shangaan and the Shangaan felt at home with Dos Santos Joa Albasini, Dos Santos Joao Albasini was to later become their tribal leader and up until today, Shangaans gather annually at Albasini Dam to pay their last respect to the man they considered their leader. The Shangaan Settlement at Valdezia was not all peaceful, the Boers arrived and competition for land begin. Whites established farms next to Valdezia, the Farm Klipfontein where Valdezia currently is co-existed peacefully with a Shangaan settlement nearby.In 1875, two Swiss theology students, Ernst Creux and Henri Bertroud purchased the farm Klipfontein from Mr. Scot J. Watt in order to build a Mission station and settle Shangaans there. They name the station Valdezia, in honour of their native homeland in Switzerland, Vaud. The entire Mission Station area included Old Valdezia School, Elim Mission Church, Elim Hospital, Lemana College, Elim Mill, the dam and other historical structures. Valdezia Mission Station, its gardens and everyday functioning was cared for by Alexis Thomas, a missionary and artisan. This is the first town where the first Shangaan were converted to Christianity, also in 1875.

Giyani

This was the biggest and the most developed town in the former Gazankulu territory, it was the capital city established during the 1960s by the Apartheid government.

Letaba

The township of Nkowankowa, outside Tzaneen was one of Gazankulu's important centre, regional offices of the then Gazankulu territory were located there.

Malamulele

Malamulele was the most northern town of the former Gazankulu homeland, it is bordered in the west by the former Venda homeland.