GEORGE Kubayi, the headman of N’wamatatani RDP settlement, which was established in 2000 through government RDPs, wants the name of his village changed in order to avoid the current confusion related to service delivery in the village.
Speaking on N’waxigwama Day on Saturday, Kubayi, better known as Manghamula by villagers, said they were being sent from pillar to post when they needed service delivery because their village was regarded as part of N’wamatatani village due to the name “N’wamatatani RDP.”
“They always refer us to N’wamatatani village when we need services here,” he said.
According to him, the village should be named N’waxigwama village, the nickname of Hatlani Kubayi who was the first chief in the area and died in the 1960’s.
Before 2000, the area was barren, and only became a village when the government built 500 RDP houses that were left over after 1 000 RDP houses were allocated to the neighbouring village, Ndhengeza.
However, the new village, N’wamatatani RDP, lacked leadership and direction until Manghamula, who is a blood relation to N’waxigwama, was chosen to lead the village in 2007.
South African National Civic Organisation chairperson, Oscar Nkuna, said it was through Manghamula that development in the village started taking place, and crime was reduced.
Asked whether his family supported him, it emerged that the family was divided over his leadership.
“To be a leader of the people also means that you become a leader to your family and relatives regardless of your age, and this upsets some people in my family,” he explained.
