Shakadza

Situated just few kilometers away from Venda's well known town Thohoyandou Shakadza (Location 'Latitude: S 22°37’4.2” Long': E 30°33’31.3’’) is a semi rural/ semi urban village situated in '''Limpopo''' province formerly known as Northern province prior to 1994 elections when the apartheid government was abolished in South Africa. It is situated in the rural villages of '''Vhembe''' '''District''' '''Municipality''' under the local municipality of '''Mutale'''. Shakadza make borders with neighboring villages such as Muswodi, Mukovhawabale, Tshokotshoko, Gundani and Tshamutora

Shakadza is a mixed of the 21 century lifestyle and the traditional customs which represents the past generations. The administration of the village is like a conglomerate because there's political influence and the traditional influence. Shakadza is still under the hands of the traditional administration of Chief Neshakadza whereas political figures in the village conglomerate with the chief in decision making for the development of the village. So both structures, the political and the chieftaincy plays a major role in development of this village. The chief is responsible for the whole community. He settles disputes in the community, monitors the duties and roles of headmen in the villages such as allocation of arable land to individual homesteads for settlement, grazing of livestock and ploughing, organizes ritual, social and work parties and ensures that the natural environment is well preserved. Political figures are regarded as the bridge or representatives between the villagers and the municipality. The role that political figures play is very important as the village depend on the municipality for services such as water, housing and other municipality services. Politics in Shakadza is a norm and people engage themselves in politics from young age. Some of remarkable and undisputed political icons includes, Mr. Netshisaulu who had represented this village in many occasions and with no doubt many of the developments that the villagers cherish today came prior to his commitment and determination with a goal of developing this village. Mr. Netshisaulu today holds the councilor position of the ward that comprises of few villages in which Shakadza is one of them. Other political icons includes Nndavheleseni Netshituni who is regarded as one of the best politician in Shakadza.

The population in this village ranges from hundreds to few thousands and households ranging from 3 to 10people in a family and that differs from family to family. Shakadza is well known for a congregation choir of Sabbath church that rise to fame in the 90's under the leadership of Bishop Muifha known as Shakadza na zwinoni zwidala. Even today Shakadza is still known as Shakadza na zwinoni zwidala even though the choir is longer existing.

Regardless of its remote location, Shakadza has the 21 century infrastructure and facilities within its perimeters and this includes a health centre that caters residents of this village and its neighbouring villages such as Tshivhongweni, Mukovhawabale, Tshokotshoko, Thahari and others. In terms of education, Shakadza is one of few villages in Mutale that has a primary and a high school. Shakadza primary school accept kids from Grade 0 to Grade 07 learners. The high school in this village (Malilele Secondary School) accepts learners from Grade 08 to Grade 12. The results that this school produces are quite average even though they are not that high compared to some of dominating schools in Mutale such as Matavhela and Thengwe high. This school has produced some of the renown and highly academically acclaimed pioneers such as Dr Nkhelebeni Phaswana.

Other facilities includes electricity which this village received ahead of many neighbouring villages. Shakadza received electricity in 1996 and some of its neighbouring villages do not have electricity until today. Sanitation was improved few years ago with the help of Mutale local municipality where meter taps where installed in every household. Most of the graduates from Malilele secondary school further their studies at the nearby college (Vhembe FET College) and the University of Venda for Science and technology. 1 in a 5 goes to other provinces mainly Gauteng where they enrol at different colleges and universities such as Tshwane North College, Tshwane South College, Central Johannesburg college,Vaal university, University of Pretoria, Wits University etc. With the help of the government funding and bursaries to tertiary students the tertiary enrolments seems to be increasing from youth in this village.

Approximately 50 to 60% of the residents are unemployed of which most of them are youth. Most of the people who works are the middle class which includes, nurses, police officers, teachers etc. The upper class is very rare since the village is located in rural areas. The working class residents that can be found in this village includes, bricklayers, cashiers in local shops, general workers etc. Huge percentage of working and middle class are located in the metropolitan cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria.

In terms of shopping most of the people from this village catch taxis to Thohoyandou the nearest town to throw shopping sprees for whatever they are indeed of. To those who cannot afford the taxi fares or do not wana travel they can still buy variety of goods and services at the local shop that is owned by Mr. Mapfumo. Mr. Mapfumo has been helping the community for over four decades now by selling goods to the community so that they can save money by not catching taxis to nearby towns such as Thohoyandou or Musina.

Farming still plays a major role for the most families to meet the households needs and sustain the livelihoods. Subsistence farming is very dominant where almost every family has a piece of land to plough crops. About 70% of crops are seasonal mainly summer because this is the season in which Venda receives much compared to other seasons. Crops that people grows in summer includes maize, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, water melons etc, and during winter they grow vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, cabbage, etc. Stock farming in Shakadza is not that popular and approximately 1 in 5 families is in possession of a herd of cattle. Some of the animals that people keep includes donkeys that serve as a transport to collect water from rivers with donkey carts and again donkeys are used to plough in the fields. Goats and domestic animals are also kept. Despite the dry conditions due to lack of rain Shakadza still produce indigenous mouth watering fruits such as mbuyu, nii, tsuma, mazwilu, mahuyu, mavhungo, nombelo, mahuhuma, pfuka and many more.

Sports and recreation is not a famous term in this village because when one talks about sports is talking about soccer and other than that there's nothing. As it is a rural village there are no tennis courts, basketball courts or netball courts but only a gravel soccer field where residents go on weekends to cheer up the locals against other teams. Shakadza Ocean Swallows is well know around Mutale and Venda as a whole. It is one of the oldest teams in Venda and has a good tracking history. Tenderfoot teams that groomed and produced players that featured In Ocean Swallows includes Mavhuvhuni Home Defenders, Shakadza Silver Stars, Shakadza Peace Makers, Shakadza Remix, New stands Congo. And some of the renown players that featured in Shakadza Ocean Swallows includes the likes of all time striker and potentially acclaimed Professor, Khathu who captained Zwigodini vikings in many occasions, Stanley one of the best midfielders that the ever had, Mabuza the stop nonsense and current players that is continuing with the legacy of the team such as, Tshinanne, Theshano, Sandy and Phathu ('Dute'), Ndivhuwo Muzulu etc.

There are couple of upcoming musicians who are talented and who promise future fame ahead of them. H-Town2Def is a well known hip hop group that came to the spotlight in 2011 following their first track called "the grind is on" that was well received by the locals. The group consist of four members namely, Teardrops, K-Mak, Lemax and Pablo. Feel Good Crew followed the steps of H-Town2Def under the protégée of Pablo who is a member of H-Town2Def. Feel Good Crew consists of Lil Rem, Lee Rex, Kabelo, G Force and the new member Rick Kidd. Some other artists that are well known in the village includes Cassius and Tharaga.