Limpopo Mirror

20/11/2025

20/11/2025

A quick preview of this week's Limpopo Mirror.

20/11/2025

Has SABC Livhu’s legal team overplayed their hand? Did they play too many games and provoke the ire of a judge? Is it now personal?

Based on Livhuwani Madazhe’s comments in court last Friday, he believes it is personal. Whether his legal team will succeed in securing his release before sentencing remains to be seen.

In this week’s edition of the Limpopo Mirror, we cover a wide range of stories, from road upgrades to an abandoned lottery-funded stadium.

RAL has unveiled the names of contractors appointed to upgrade several of the region’s deteriorating roads. This is welcome news for commuters who face these hazards daily. But, as many readers will point out, we have heard such promises before. And if the biggest tender – R42 million to upgrade a 13 km stretch of the Vivo road – is awarded to a company called Kgahlodi Catering and Projects, it does little to inspire confidence.

With exams now in full swing, we take a closer look at one of the smaller and clearly neglected schools in the region – HS Philips Secondary in Shirley. This historic school is fighting for survival amid crumbling infrastructure. Despite leaking roofs and broken doors, pupils are writing exams and hoping for good results.

We also revisit a project we have reported on numerous times – the Mbulaheni Mulaudzi sports stadium in Muduluni. Years later, the stadium remains unfinished and its infrastructure vandalised. The family of the late Olympic silver medallist now believes his name should not be associated with such a failed project.

On the sports pages, we report on Black Leopards’ former coach, Joel Masutha, who has been appointed as Musina United’s head coach. His former team will also face their rivals, VFC, in a local derby at Thohoyandou Stadium on Friday afternoon.

The paper is out – enjoy the read!

14/11/2025

“This is personal,” Madadzhe muttered after Judge Tshidada left the courtroom.

Comedian Livhuwani “SABC Livhu” Madadzhe was remanded in custody on Friday, 14 November, after the High Court in Thohoyandou, sitting at the Waterval Magistrate’s Court, cancelled his bail and postponed his sentencing proceedings. This followed a request by the defence for time to obtain a pre...

13/11/2025

This week, we talk about the elephant in the room – or perhaps rather the elephant on the doorsteps of some villagers. Yes, for tourists visiting places like the Kruger, the animals are spectacular, but they’re far less adorable when they destroy crops or pose a danger to families. Residents of Khubvi had a feast this weekend, but that did not solve the bigger problem.

Staying with the topic of problems, we report on the frustrations of Musina residents with the Musina and Vhembe municipalities. For years, these municipalities have neglected to maintain basic infrastructure. Residents have given up trying to engage with them, saying it’s a complete waste of time. They have now approached the courts to compel officials and politicians to do the jobs they are paid to do.

Someone else who has stepped in to try to resolve a desperate situation is the SA Human Rights Commission. The commission will mediate in a stalemate between Great North Transport employees and the relevant departments. The workers claim they have not received their pension and provident fund benefits.

The treacherous Nandoni Dam has claimed the life of yet another fisherman. Despite repeated warnings, many people still venture onto the water in makeshift boats, with tragic results.

On the sporting front, we report on TTM’s success in the Nedbank Cup. Let’s hope they perform well in the last-32 stage. We also carry news about the resignation of Black Leopards coach Joel Masutha. “The Prophet”, as he is known, opted to step down following another lacklustre performance by Lidoda Duvha.

Your Limpopo Mirror is out on the streets and waiting to be read.

05/11/2025

We should all be proud of our heritage — our language, customs, appearance and, yes, our gender. But on occasion, when reading news reports, you can’t help feeling ashamed of those who look like you and share your gender. When news breaks — as it did this week — of yet another gender-based violence incident, you want to disassociate yourself from your gender.

Not that this is right. The problem does not lie with men as a whole. It lies with those who believe they have the right to resolve grievances through violence, taking out their anger on defenceless women. Sadly, there are far too many of them — especially in the Vhembe district.

But let’s move on to other stories in this week’s Limpopo Mirror.
At Duthuni, a “man of the cloth” was arrested on two charges of ra**ng young girls — a story we’ve heard too many times before. The so-called “bishops” and “prophets” are not to be trusted.

A shopping centre in Thohoyandou resembled a scene from a Wild West movie last week as security personnel and robbers exchanged fire. One suspected robber was killed, while several innocent bystanders were injured.

The SABC Livhu saga continues in court next week. Judge Tshidada may have recused himself from the murder case, but he will deliver a ruling on the fraud charges.

MC Mining is preparing to start coal production in December north of the mountain. Environmental groups are furious, claiming the mining is illegal, with court cases still pending. For now, the dust has clearly not settled — in fact, it’s rising high above the disputed terrain.

In sport, Black Leopards have finally found some form, beating The Bees on Sunday. If they can maintain this momentum, they could move out of the danger zone — which should be their first priority. VFC, on the other hand, did not impress against Amatuks.

Congratulations to TTM for progressing to the next round of the Nedbank Cup. Let’s hope this team can make us proud.
Your favourite Vhembe paper is out there — go find it.

29/10/2025

Many of our readers will probably criticise our choice of front-page story this week. Some may say it is outdated – and rightfully so. The acting Vhavenda ruler, Vho Japan Mphephu, passed away a week ago, on Wednesday, 22 October. Still, we chose to lead with this story out of respect.

As scribes – among all the other roles we fulfil – it would have been disrespectful not to prominently report on the death of one of the most influential rulers in our region. He had to lead through a rapidly changing world, navigating a maze of often conflicting rights and expectations.

When Vho Japan was born on 3 February 1939, the world was a very different place. World War II broke out later that year when Germany invaded Poland. He may not have had to contend directly with Hitler’s ideologies, but he certainly bore the brunt of the policies shaped by Strijdom, Verwoerd, Vorster and P.W. Botha.

Closer to home, he witnessed a new constitution taking shape. When he was 51, Nelson Mandela made his first public appearance from the balcony of the Cape Town City Hall overlooking the Grand Parade after his release from prison. Mandela’s release represented far more than one man stepping into leadership – it marked the birth of a new era, one that included greater rights for women and broader freedoms for all South Africans.

For much of his later life, Vho Japan had to grapple with the realities of these newly established rights. It could not have been easy, but he managed – and for that, we honour him.

RIP Khotsimunene Vho Mavhungu David “Japan” Mphephu.

As for the rest of this week’s paper – you’ll have to buy it to experience it for yourself. As always, it is filled with stories from across the Vhembe area. Enjoy.

22/10/2025

It’s very seldom that you’ll find a political article on our front page, but we decided to break the pattern a bit this week. Perhaps it’s also a deliberate breakaway from the murders, road carnage and r**e incidents that so often plague our region.

The ANC, as expected, won the by-election in Musina’s Ward 2 last week. What is interesting, however, is the gradual swing in support. Perhaps the real winners were the small, newly established parties. Is this the start of a new political dispensation in our region — one where more eyes are watching the municipal purse and more voices are being heard? Let’s see where it goes.

The past weekend saw yet another fatal accident — this time four people died and three others were injured. Again, speeding and reckless driving appear to have been the cause. When will we realise that the saying “speed kills” is, in fact, true?

For most of us, the rain that fell last week and over the weekend was a welcome sight. At Tshikambe, however, the storm brought devastation, with houses destroyed and trees uprooted.

Talking about chaos — we also carry a report on last week’s visit by the Parliamentary Committee to the border. It was painfully clear that the task at hand is far too much for the teams deployed there. They don’t have the staff, there’s no fence, and there’s no budget to repair or purchase essential equipment.

Of course, there are dozens of stories inside the paper that we don’t mention — but we need to get to the sports section. This week our focus is on the ladies, and especially the Sinthumulekutama team taking part in the provincial play-offs. Judging by the team’s performance this past season, they deserve promotion to the top league. You go, ladies!

Your Limpopo Mirror is waiting for you at a café or supermarket near you early tomorrow. It’s worth it.

16/10/2025

Our front-page story this week is about the brutal killing of a young woman. The motive for the murder remains unknown, but by coincidence – or perhaps not – she was about to testify in the Prophet Ritha r**e case. This is deeply concerning.

Perhaps the more dramatic story, however, is on page 3. It concerns Sunday afternoon’s bus crash in the mountains on the N1. When the first reports came through, we were all horrified. It is the accident with the highest number of fatalities we’ve ever witnessed in all the decades that we have been covering news in the Soutpansberg. To call it a tragedy feels like an understatement of the pain, trauma and loss of loved ones.

But one must stop and ask why – who was at fault? Most of us know that stretch of road very well, having travelled it probably hundreds of times. Even seasoned local drivers know they have to take the utmost care. Suddenly, on a slight downhill, you encounter a hairpin bend. The history of accidents there speaks for itself.

Something should have been done a decade or so ago. SANRAL, the organisation that collects billions (not millions) in toll fees, should have addressed it long ago. But, seemingly in South Africa, you can put a price on human lives.

Finally, this is another 43 lives on the conscience of the traffic officials who so readily accept bribes and allow overloaded taxis and buses to continue on their way. It is also on the conscience of every single road user who has ever handed over a “coke” to avoid a ticket. You helped to kill 43 more people.

In other news in this week’s Limpopo Mirror, we report on the installation of a new Thovhele at Mutele – a historic occasion, as the new traditional leader is a woman.

We also visited Davhana Stadium to find out why the project, which has already cost an estimated R40 million, remains unfinished. Perhaps the most shocking part of this article is the response from the Collin Chabane Municipality’s spokesperson: “Why are you investigating our stadium?”
A dispute in Tshandama over land makes for interesting reading. The local traditional leader demolished a house, claiming it had been built illegally. It begs the question – can you really be certain that you own the land your house stands on?

Our star of the week is the Mbilwi learner who won an Eskom Science Fair award for developing an app that assists his fellow students.

As for sport, we look at the prospects of our top teams in this weekend’s matches. The action also continues in the Nedbank Cup, with Vondwe XI Bullets hoping to extend their winning streak.

Your Limpopo Mirror is already waiting for you – on the shelf at your local café or supermarket. Grab a copy and support local journalism.

08/10/2025

This week we feature an elephant – a white elephant. That’s how the Thohoyandou taxi rank, or the Intermodal Transport Facility as it’s officially called, is often described. Earlier this week, the Premier announced that another R50 million will be poured into the project — on top of the roughly R300 million already spent. The Premier says it will be completed within six months. We’re not holding our breath.

What is deeply worrying are the reports of suicides over the past week. October is Mental Health Awareness Month, a reminder that we should all look out for symptoms such as depression and isolation. We report on two suspected suicides this week, but the problem runs far deeper.

The case involving the Radzuma brothers is fast turning into a circus. Percy Radzuma has fired his legal representative, accusing him of caring more about his social media profile than his client. The advocate, in turn, claims his former client is a liar.

For history enthusiasts, we have a treat this week. We cover the 160th commemoration of the Magoro Hills massacre — a fascinating chapter of our local history that is often overlooked, and at times distorted to suit certain agendas.

In sport, Black Leopards are back to full strength after the FIFA transfer ban was lifted. That, however, didn’t help much in their clash against Highbury. Leopards chairman Tshifhiwa Thidiela says there’s no need to panic — there are still 25 matches left to climb the table.

This week’s Limpopo Mirror carries no fewer than 45 local stories. We’re confident there’s something for everyone inside. Get your copy and judge for yourself.

03/10/2025

Now the ban has been lifted, the focus shifts to how quickly Leopards can rebuild. Their survival — and any faint hopes of promotion — depend on how fast they can bring in new talent and stabilise a season already on the edge.

Black Leopards are finally free to reinforce their squad. After months of frustration, the club has been cleared to register new players for the 2025/26 season — a dramatic twist in a saga that saw them banned by FIFA and left scrambling to put a team on the pitch.

01/10/2025

Will we, by the end of the year, witness the announcement of a new king or queen of the Vhavenda? The 13-year-long legal battle is reaching another milestone. Whether this will simply be the conclusion of another battle or the end of the war, we do not know.

Amid the controversy, the dirty tricks, and perhaps blatant lies, something remarkable has already happened. When the case started, Masindi Mphephu was a young, perhaps even naïve, woman. This brave lady has since broken down many barriers that stifle women, caused the country to rethink traditional law, and become an inspiration to many who are suppressed by one-sided and often selfish interpretations of customs.

Whether she will eventually become the first female leader of the Vhavenda is uncertain. Much will depend on how the three judges choose to interpret oral evidence regarding customary law.

In this week’s edition, we address other very important issues. Regular readers will remember our report on SASSA deductions a few weeks ago. We came under a lot of fire because of the article, but we are not backing off. This week we publish a follow-up article after revisiting the pensioners. On the positive side, it seems that almost all of them were refunded by the insurance companies. The worrying part remains why such funeral policies, which seemingly are not necessities, can be deducted from the grants of poor pensioners.

It is simply not possible to summarise all the stories we carry in this week’s Limpopo Mirror. There are 47 articles, ranging from crime reports to a follow-up story on the Rivoni Society for the Blind project – where the cost has now escalated to almost R200 million.

Our sporting heroes this week are all women. (Our top male soccer teams performed rather poorly.) Best of luck to Sinthumulekutama Ladies, who are in the play-offs for the SAFA National League. The big hero, however, is Sheryl James, who won a bronze medal at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, India. At 39, this local lady is simply amazing.

Your Limpopo Mirror is distributed very early on Thursday mornings and should be available at cafés and supermarkets throughout the Vhembe region.