LIMPOPO – The community of Dzumeri village gathered on the main road leading from and to the village to protest against what they describe as Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba’s refusal to recognise their chief.

The community wants their chief, Divili Mavunda, who is currently recognised as a sub-chief, to be formally recognised as a senior chief, like other chiefs in the country who were once referred to as sub-chiefs during the colonial era.

Last month communities from 20 villages under Hosi Dzumeri gathered and selected a team that visited Polokwane to submit a memorandum to the Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, and CoGHSTA MEC Basikopo Makamu, demanding recognition of their chief.

The Premier and Makamu were given 30 days to find a solution to the matter. However, even after a follow-up about a week ago to request a response from the Premier, no response was received.

“We have now resolved to close the road in the hope that the Premier will listen to us,” said Cassius Mabunda, one of the community representatives in the area. It’s been long since our chief was recognised only as a sub-chief. As a result, nothing progresses in our area because our chief does not have full powers like other traditional leaders in the country. This is why we want the government to fully recognise him as a chief,” he said.

Mabunda expressed his frustration with the government, stating that he fully supported the ANC in the area and even campaigned for it during the elections. “I was one of the volunteers who went from door-to-door campaigning for the ANC, and it pains me to see the same government I campaigned for undermine us,” he said.

Meanwhile, when the Premier arrived at the scene, she did not listen to their concerns. Her convoy pushed through a crowd blocking the road and sped off to the venue where she was expected to deliver animal feed to farmers facing a drought in the area.

When asked if the government was considering the community’s demand for their chief to be issued a proper chieftaincy certificate, Ramathuba responded angrily, particularly because the community had earlier tried to block her way to the event.

“There are processes that the government follows to address issues,” Ramathuba said, expressing her frustration. The farmers here complained about drought and the loss of their livestock, and as you can see, the government is here to help. You can’t block the road when the Premier comes to address a disaster. I don’t agree with that kind of behaviour because my office is always open for people to come and raise their concerns,” she explained, saying if she did not intervene people would lose livestock.

“I’m not saying people shouldn’t be chiefs or shouldn’t receive certificates, but they must know the proper channels to raise their grievances. You can’t block me when I’m bringing food for cattle. Protest another day, it’s not like I came here to have a party. I’m here to address a crisis by helping struggling farmers,” she said, adding that it makes her angry to see people blocking her when she was coming to ‘save lives’.

Ramathuba emphasised that her office and her MECs are actively working on various issues and encouraged the community to follow due process.