Limpopo Mirror

Limpopo Mirror Community newspaper distributed in the Vhembe area in the Limpopo province, South Africa.

Independent local newspaper bringing you the news, sport and more from the Northern areas of the Limpopo province, South Africa.

It’s World Cup fever and, much like the rest of the country, we are waiting in anticipation for tonight’s clash between ...
11/06/2026

It’s World Cup fever and, much like the rest of the country, we are waiting in anticipation for tonight’s clash between Bafana Bafana and Mexico. We cannot wait for Tyla to inspire the team with her rendition of our national anthem. You don’t even have to make us proud, because we already are.

But while we wait for the opening ceremony to start, what better way to pass the time than by reading this week’s edition of the Limpopo Mirror?

We start with an old theme – SABC Livhu. The long wait may be over, with the trial scheduled to resume on 26 July. The only unanswered question is: who will be the judge?

Last week we reported on the so-called “prophet” from Mutsha Khwekhwe who is accused of ra**ng minors. He is still on the run, but the local community has also burned down his church and made it clear that he is no longer welcome in the village.

On Wednesday, the country was shocked when news broke of the brutal killing of at least 12 people in Cleveland, Johannesburg. Ten gunmen entered the Jumpers informal settlement and indiscriminately opened fire on residents. Here at home, we also report on such incidents, albeit not on the same scale. Two men were gunned down at a tavern in Magau village on Sunday night by unknown assailants.

Last week, the Vhembe District Municipality announced its budget for the new financial year. We carry two articles on the budget. The first focuses on the sentiments expressed by opposition parties, while the second delves into what it means for ordinary citizens. We also have a stunning infographic explaining where the money comes from and how it is spent.

We visited Tshilogoni Secondary School this past week to witness how learners are writing exams in shacks and under trees. Hopefully, temporary classrooms will soon arrive to make the situation more tolerable for both teachers and learners.

Another school where problems persist is Rivubye High School in Valdezia, where more than R19,000 a month is being spent on a handful of temporary toilets. Once again, there are only promises that new facilities will soon be commissioned.

The turmoil in the upper echelons of UNIVEN is also continuing. The battle between the Vice-Chancellor and members of the Council is playing out in the courts. In the latest development, a local non-profit organisation has entered the fray and filed papers seeking an interdict to prevent certain Council members from participating in the process to investigate the Vice-Chancellor.

We end with three pages of sport, focusing primarily on the conclusion of the SAFA Vhembe League season. Some streams already have champions, while in others the pressure is mounting.

Enjoy the read, and don’t forget to fly the South African flag high and support our team tonight.

The news that broke yesterday of two young boys allegedly being poisoned struck a nerve. Boys aged six and nine should b...
04/06/2026

The news that broke yesterday of two young boys allegedly being poisoned struck a nerve. Boys aged six and nine should be protected, not harmed. The old adage that it takes a village to raise a child should still hold true. What went wrong here? Where did we fail?

Late yesterday afternoon, after the newspaper had already gone to press, we learned that the 27-year-old mother had been arrested. It is shocking, and deeply sad.

This week’s Limpopo Mirror is packed with stories, alongside some useful adverts. Job seekers should take note – there are four full pages of vacancy listings.

On page 2, we report on the leadership crisis at the University of Venda. Senior management and council members are at loggerheads, with allegations of corruption, nepotism and procedural irregularities. The dispute has already reached the courts on two occasions. Most concerning is the university’s silence on what is unfolding.

We also report on a senior National Prosecuting Authority official, and well-known marathon runner, who appeared in court on charges of malicious damage to property. The matter appears to stem from a family dispute that could likely have been resolved internally.

With space available this week, we are running two full pages on arts and entertainment. Local artists need support, and readers are encouraged to help grow the sector.

Another story looks at an apology by singer Makhadzi. However, not everyone agrees that she should have apologised for her comments on the treatment of Tshivenda-speaking people in parts of the country.

The long-delayed Tshivhuyuni stadium project is back on track after a further R12.9 million was allocated by Makhado Municipality. The previous contractor, however, maintains that substantial payments are still outstanding.

In sport, there is a mix of highs and lows. When the FIFA World Cup kicks off next week, Vhembe will have one of its own to support. Musina-born defender Sailor Mudau is set to represent South Africa at the global showpiece. He started his football journey in Musina and spoke with excitement about the tournament earlier this week. He carries the hopes of supporters not only in the north, but across the country.

Mpheni Defenders, meanwhile, are on their way back from the Eastern Cape. Their hopes of promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship were ended on Tuesday after defeat in their opening match, with a second loss following yesterday. It was not their week.

Enjoy the weekend, and remember to pick up a copy of the paper before it sells out.

It was murder. To be precise – a double murder.Sadly, this is not a shocking statement. Even in a district with a relati...
28/05/2026

It was murder. To be precise – a double murder.

Sadly, this is not a shocking statement. Even in a district with a relatively low incidence of violent crime, murders still occur. In the first three months of this year, 32 murders were reported in Vhembe. During the last three months of 2025, 40 people were murdered.

But a brutal murder in the world-renowned Kruger National Park is almost unheard of. The discovery of the bodies of the Marais couple last Friday sent shockwaves not only through the country, but across the world. Is the Kruger still a safe place to visit?

In this week’s lead story, we look at what happened at Crooks Corner and try to make sense of the circumstances. Did the couple encounter poachers, or was it the work of a carjacking syndicate?

The conclusion is – and sorry to spoil the ending – that this appears to be an isolated incident. It is an out-of-the-ordinary crime. There is no indication of a surge in crime in the area; in fact, the opposite is true. The Pafuri area remains a very safe space. Let us hope the police can track down the criminals and that the Kruger remains the beautiful asset that all law-abiding citizens can enjoy for at least another century.

But we have to move on and discuss what else readers can find in this week’s Limpopo Mirror.

Sadly, we also report on more crime, including the discovery of the body of an 82-year-old grandmother at Mashau. Her grandson has since been arrested for the murder.

On page 4, we carry a report on the latest crime statistics, which ties in with the front-page article. No, contrary to what some people believe, crime levels have declined over the past six months.

Some more good news is that construction work has finally started on the R522 road leading to Vivo. This road has been a nightmare for travellers for several years, with little seemingly happening.

On our sports pages, we report on the upcoming boxing world title fight scheduled to take place at the Kalahari Waterfront at Nandoni on 31 July.

Next week, the eyes of local soccer lovers will be on Mpheni Defenders as they once again try to secure promotion to the Motsepe Foundation League. We will all be holding thumbs that the team returns triumphant. With Black Leopards out of the picture, we need another team to cheer for next season.

The world we live in can be quite confusing at times. Look at this week's lead story. One of the many so-called church l...
21/05/2026

The world we live in can be quite confusing at times. Look at this week's lead story. One of the many so-called church leaders is using social media to advertise his "superior" powers. These include the usual — finding lost lovers and healing demonic curses — but he can also assist in securing tenders.

Perhaps the most shocking aspect of these claims is that religion is reduced to the level of greed. People get sick, and a kind prayer can help — that's fine. One can pray for rain, because without water crops cannot grow and people cannot be fed. But tenders? In South Africa, where a culture of corrupt tenderpreneurship prevails, this can hardly be considered a necessity. It sounds more as though the religious leader — whose actions should be beyond reproach — is offering to help people engage in corruption.

As expected, it is a busy Limpopo Mirror this week. We start with crime and court cases. At Hamadodonga, a man was shot in his bedroom. At Mutale, a man apparently tried to escape by jumping from a moving vehicle, which resulted in his death.

We also visited Chavani village, where R486 million was spent on a water and reticulation system. The work is now supposedly finished, but there is still no water flowing from the taps.

In Tshikota, some residents are also waiting for basic services — water, electricity and proper roads. The low-cost housing units were completed in 2021 and handed over, but services are still lacking.

At Univen, a protest march was held last week. The Marude and Mpandani families are accusing the university of disrespecting ancestral graves, where a new development is currently under way.

We also visited Waterval High School, where children and teachers have to cope with dilapidated buildings. In a late development, the school was closed by the Education Department on Wednesday, as conditions were deemed too dangerous for teaching.

Amid all the news articles, there are the legal notices and, of course, the vacancy adverts. If you are job hunting — and two-thirds of the adult population in the province are — be sure to grab a copy of this week's paper.

On the sports front, the main news is that Mpheni Defenders are through to the national play-offs, where they will try to take Black Leopards' spot in the Motsepe Foundation League. Let us give them all the support they need.

Enjoy the read.

The GEPF is hosting a free pre-retirement workshop on 21 May at Makhado Showgrounds, offering members aged 54-65 guidanc...
18/05/2026

The GEPF is hosting a free pre-retirement workshop on 21 May at Makhado Showgrounds, offering members aged 54-65 guidance on retirement benefits and necessary paperwork.

The story of the dozens of families displaced by Thulamela Municipality about a month ago is still making waves. Many of...
13/05/2026

The story of the dozens of families displaced by Thulamela Municipality about a month ago is still making waves. Many of those whose homes were bulldozed are now sheltering at Makwarela Stadium.

These families may well be caught in the crossfire of a bigger battle – a fight over who controls the land. It is also a far more complex issue than it may appear. Thulamela Municipality is now taking action it arguably should have taken years ago. Traditional leaders are unlikely to welcome this, as it chips away at their authority within communities.

While this power struggle plays out, dozens of people are rebuilding their lives from the change rooms of a soccer stadium.

In this week's Limpopo Mirror, we have a wide mix of stories. On page 2, we report on a stokvel in Tshino village that was robbed. Many believe it was an inside job, which is likely to keep tensions among members running high for some time.

At Makonde village, a stray buffalo wandered too close to homes and paid the price. The animal quickly became the centre of a feeding frenzy among villagers.

Our standout story this week is about a young farming couple who chose a different path. Instead of chasing government jobs, these two graduates started farming. They began with garlic, then moved into livestock and fish farming, and are now producing Black Soldier Flies. It all comes together in an organic homestead where very little goes to waste. Do not miss this one.

We also carry the usual difficult news. How we wish we could one day publish a paper filled only with good news. Sadly, we have to reflect reality, and there are simply too many incidents of murder, r**e and domestic violence.

On the sports pages, we report what many supporters had feared – Black Leopards have been axed. What lies ahead for the club remains uncertain, though history suggests a status purchase may well be on the cards. Time will tell. At least our other two teams in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, VFC and Gomora, are safe.

With a cold front on the way, make sure you grab a copy of the Limpopo Mirror early Thursday morning. When you are done reading it, you can even wrap yourself in it to keep the cold out. You cannot do that with a cellphone or computer.

Vhembe District Municipality Executive Mayor Tsakani Fredah Nkondo faces potential removal amidst deepening ANC division...
07/05/2026

Vhembe District Municipality Executive Mayor Tsakani Fredah Nkondo faces potential removal amidst deepening ANC divisions and power struggles following recent elective outcomes.

The decline of Great North Transport over the past decade is nothing short of tragic. An essential service was run into ...
07/05/2026

The decline of Great North Transport over the past decade is nothing short of tragic. An essential service was run into the ground. The GNT depot in Makhado now resembles a graveyard of buses.

What made the Limpopo Premier's visit to the depot this week particularly notable was the reason behind it. She believes officials have been lying to her. She needed to see the problems first-hand and speak to people on the ground. That is commendable. If only more political leaders took this approach, perhaps more would be done to root out a persistent evil — incompetent and untrustworthy management in government departments.

A senior delegation should perhaps also consider making unannounced visits to the unfinished Collins Chabane municipal building, where R144 million has already been spent. Several tenants, including the Department of Home Affairs, were supposed to have moved in by now.

The most heart-breaking story of the week involves a local carpenter who allegedly shot himself at a fuel station in Thohoyandou. The reason may have been a gambling debt. Gambling is a cancer in society, devouring everything in its path. Too little is being done to confront this problem — yet it continues to be glorified as mere entertainment.

This week's Limpopo Mirror is packed. We report on developments at the Thohoyandou taxi rank, where an additional R47 million has been allocated to complete the long-overdue project. We also cover SANRAL's latest efforts to improve safety on the N1, particularly at the notorious Ingwe bend in the mountain pass.
This edition carries 46 stories — all local, all produced by working journalists.

We close, as always, with sport. Black Leopards must now prepare for life in the lower leagues. Gomora United took the point they needed in Wednesday's match against Midlands Wanderers, and that result sealed Leopards' fate. VFC showed improved form late in the season, but it is likely to leave them mid-table.

The Limpopo Mirror is on the streets now. If you are job-hunting, make sure you get a copy — there are several vacancies advertised in this week's edition.

Thulamela Municipality has landed itself in a difficult position. Two weeks ago, it sent in bulldozers to demolish house...
29/04/2026

Thulamela Municipality has landed itself in a difficult position. Two weeks ago, it sent in bulldozers to demolish houses built on municipal land, acting on a court order issued several years earlier. Now the High Court has ordered it to provide accommodation for those it displaced.

There are many sides to this story, and it is not easy to single out villains. But one fact is clear: with winter approaching, dozens of families have been left without shelter. The question now is not what happened, but what the municipality will do next — and how quickly.

This week’s edition offers a wide spread of stories. Consider this: the Vhembe District is home to more than 1,200 centenarians — people who have lived beyond 100 years. Yet the structures meant to support them are under strain. Longevity is something to celebrate, but it also demands care and planning.

In what is fast becoming a familiar theme, we again report on a leadership dispute — this time between the Mudimeli and Nekuvule royal councils. The inauguration of a new leader at Mudimeli over the weekend was marked not by unity, but by road blockades and protest action.

We also take a closer look at va**ng among schoolchildren — a trend that is spreading at an alarming pace. The misconception that va**ng is a safer alternative to ci******es persists, despite growing evidence to the contrary. At Mathede Secondary, pupils even filmed themselves va**ng in class — a sign of how normalised the behaviour has become.

Transparency in local government remains another concern. According to the Information Regulator, only 7% of municipalities comply with requirements such as appointing information officers and submitting annual reports. Municipalities in Vhembe are no exception. Many do not even publish PAIA manuals on their websites, as required by law.

On the sports front, Black Leopards are running out of time. With three matches left, their survival hopes depend on winning all their games — and on other results going their way. It is a tall order. VFC, at least, have created some breathing room between themselves and the drop zone.

Your Limpopo Mirror will be on the shelves early tomorrow morning. You can “read it and weep”, but we would rather you read it and engage with the more than 40 stories we have selected to inform, challenge, and reflect the realities of our communities.

“You have to include a wet wipe in every copy of this week’s edition,” someone remarked while paging through the Limpopo...
22/04/2026

“You have to include a wet wipe in every copy of this week’s edition,” someone remarked while paging through the Limpopo Mirror. It is so bloody that you feel like wiping your hands afterwards.

One can joke about it (because that is often what South Africans do), but the reality is that the violence is simply getting out of hand. Why would a man shoot his former girlfriend and then continue to open fire on innocent bystanders, killing two more and injuring four?

In this week’s edition, sadly, this is not the only report of gruesome killings. In many cases, they were triggered by domestic disputes. In almost all cases, women were among the victims.

We start the edition with a report on the demolition of houses built on pieces of land in Muledane and Shayandima. One must assume that due processes were followed and that the houses were built without the necessary authority. Still, it is very sad. In the dispute between Thulamela Municipality and the Tshivhase Royal Council, ordinary people suffer.

The past weekend saw a very interesting development in Louis Trichardt. Hundreds of residents, fed up with the poor state of the town’s roads and parks, took to the streets to clean up rubble, fix potholes, repair broken lights and even prune trees. The municipality, and even the premier, chose not to oppose the initiative, but to join hands. As Bob Dylan once said: “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”

In every week’s edition of the Limpopo Mirror, we try to publish an article that is a bit different. We cover stories that you will not find on social media or, for that matter, in other media. Last week, we carried a lengthy piece explaining the Begwa people’s fight for land. This week, we report on the Mkhari chieftaincy dispute. This has been ongoing for several years, with regular appearances in the High Court. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is interesting.

As far as sport is concerned, we focus on the Motsepe Foundation Championship, which is nearing its conclusion. Leopards and VFC cannot afford any slip-ups, as that could send them down the relegation trapdoor.

Be sure to get a copy of the paper early tomorrow morning. It is much more than just a collection of newsprint. Every edition is a reflection of the week that was in the Vhembe district. Do not take it for granted.

Address

Louis Trichardt

Opening Hours

Monday 07:30 - 16:30
Tuesday 07:30 - 16:30
Wednesday 07:30 - 16:30
Thursday 07:30 - 16:30
Friday 07:30 - 13:00

Telephone

+27155164996

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Limpopo Mirror posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Limpopo Mirror:

Shortcuts

Share

Category