Limpopo Mirror

17/12/2025

Eric Mundalamo was sentenced to life imprisonment last week for the murder of his estranged wife, Funanani Patience Mbedzi. He shot and killed her during a church service last year. The question that remains, however, is why he did it. What drives a man to open fire on his former partner, in front of dozens of witnesses in a church?

Gender-based violence remains high on the agenda, particularly in the Vhembe region. It is hoped that the sentence will send a strong message, especially to men, that violence is not an acceptable way to resolve disputes, and that help should be sought instead.

In Thengwe Matshetshete, the controversial House of Cana Prophetic Ministry was ordered to close and vacate its premises. The church came under the spotlight after a witness in a r**e trial, Ndinainwi Innocentia Mabuke, was shot dead after attending a night service.

Several other incidents of killing and sexual violence were reported during the past week. In Magangeni village near Elim, a 28-year-old man was arrested for allegedly ra**ng his mother, a stroke survivor.

Turning to other news, still sombre but not linked to violence, veteran cleric the Rev Ephraim Muneri Madzivhandila was laid to rest last week at the age of 91. Madzivhandila was among the first pastors to serve as a resident preacher on Radio Venda, where his sermons reached audiences across the region. He also played a key role in language development, serving on the team that revised the 1936 Tshivenda Bible.

Vhembe cattle farmers were devastated after reports confirmed several incidents of foot-and-mouth disease in the region. This points to a bleak festive season for cattle farmers and potentially higher meat prices for consumers.

Makhuvha and Rabali stadiums are set to host Makhadzi’s One Woman Show this weekend. The build-up to the event began a few weeks ago with a soccer tournament won by Basel FC. The show promises to be a highlight on the local events calendar.

Finally, tomorrow’s newspaper will be our last edition for 2025. Our next edition will appear on 15 January next year.

We wish all our readers a blessed and peaceful festive season. Enjoy time with friends and family, and travel safely. We value our readers and look forward to welcoming you back in the new year.

11/12/2025

The learned colleagues have had their say, and it is now up to three High Court judges to reach consensus and decide the Vhavenda kingship case. The last king, Dimbanyika, died almost 29 years ago, on 25 December 1996. Since then, the royal family has been in turmoil. In 2019, the Supreme Court of Appeal dealt them another blow by setting aside their attempt to install Toni Mphephu as king.
The saga is back in the High Court, and closing arguments were delivered this past week. Amid the accusations and counter-accusations, a fascinating tale began to unfold. Ordinary citizens were given a rare opportunity to learn more about the age-old customs of the Vhavenda. During the case, we heard what a dzekiso house is, what roles the ndumi and makhadzi play, and how the royal family has not always practised what it preaches.

Above all, we were confronted with the reality that customary law must adapt. It has always adapted and must do so again – this time to include women in traditional leadership positions. The judges may yet surprise us, but don’t hold your breath.

Unfortunately, this week’s paper carries a heavy load of crime stories. The latest crime statistics present a mixed picture. Limpopo remains one of the safest places in the country to live, with a murder rate of 3.2 per 100,000 people. The Vhembe region, however, tops the provincial list when it comes to gender-based violence. Thohoyandou can still be described as the “r**e capital” of the country.

A glance through this week’s pages shows why. The Univen student who allegedly stabbed his girlfriend to death claims he acted in self-defence. In Hamanenzhe, a jilted lover shot his ex-girlfriend before taking his own life. Near Madombidzha, a young man was shot dead in the early morning hours while walking home.

A particularly tragic incident occurred in Muduluni, where two six-year-old boys apparently decided to play inside an old fridge. They became trapped and suffocated. It is a terrible thing to happen, especially in a season that is supposed to be festive.

This week’s Limpopo Mirror carries no fewer than 44 articles, ranging from deep dives such as the kingship discussion to short notices of sports tournaments. We believe there is something for everyone. And unlike social media platforms, you are welcome to share it with under-16s.

The paper is already available at cafés and supermarkets throughout the Vhembe region. Pick up a copy and enjoy.

04/12/2025

Residents living along the river, including farmers, fishermen and herders, have been urged to exercise extreme caution and to keep a safe distance from the riverbanks.

The Makhado Municipality has issued an urgent warning to residents that the Department of Water and Sanitation will be opening some of the floodgates at the Albasini Dam on Thursday, 4 December 2025, from 17:00.

03/12/2025

Oh boy – we have an exciting bouquet of stories for you this week. This is not an edition to miss.

We start with the tale of what seems to be a cursed house. This unfinished mansion on the banks of the Nandoni Dam has already had three owners. At least two of them are these days very camera-shy. Much has been said and written about the infamous “prof” who built the house. It seems he is not the only one attracting negative publicity.

On page 3, we feature two far less controversial people. We would rather call them young heroes. The two young men are Univen students, and they have built a smart crop sprayer. This little robot can spot weeds and kill them with a quick spurt of whatever poison is applicable. Their invention is intended for small-scale and even subsistence farmers.

On page 5, we tackle a gigantic issue. Yes – we’re discussing the social media mammoth, Facebook. We did some digging and found that the tech giant is effectively paying the people who spread fake news and produce clickbait. The reason is quite simple: Facebook does not understand Tshivenda or Xitsonga. As a result, none of its safeguards work, and local content providers are exploiting this. It’s a deep dive, but it is worth the read.

Still on a serious note, we carry an interview with a local social worker. She encourages people not to keep quiet about child abuse. Speak up and expose the abusers, because that is the only way the victims can heal.

As far as sport is concerned, we should probably say very little. Leopards have lost two in a row, and VFC could not continue their winning streak. Let us hope things improve. We can only hope.
Don’t forget to grab your copy of the paper – and enjoy the read.

28/11/2025

What you can expect in the 28 November 2025 edition of the Limpopo Mirror.

26/11/2025

So – how good are our readers at connecting the dots, or perhaps jumping to conclusions? As always, the more dots you have, the clearer the picture becomes. In the murder of Ndinainwi Mabuke (26), a primary school teacher from Tswinga, there are plenty of clues. Do they lead back to Prophet Muritho, the man she accused of r**e? Read the article and decide for yourself.

In this week’s Limpopo Mirror, we sadly carry several more reports involving r**e cases. Mukhethwa Masindi, formerly of Nzhelele, will spend a very long time behind bars after being convicted of ra**ng a 13-year-old girl. A local pastor from Matangari Tshiawelo, accused of ra**ng an 11-year-old girl, is currently out on bail.

We also spent time in the Elim area, visiting several villages where many residents say they have lost hope of ever seeing water flow from their taps again. The most heartbreaking conversations are with pensioners, who explain how they are forced to use their SASSA grants to buy water.

There isn’t enough space here to unpack all the articles in this week’s Limpopo Mirror. The planning list counts 44. Each story reflects, in its own way, on the Vhembe region and its remarkable people.

As for sport – VFC won and Black Leopards lost. Some coaches are thrilled, others remain “optimistic”, and in a few weeks’ time a couple of them may well be fired. That’s just how it goes in our region.

Our star of the week is veteran marathon runner Jane Mudau. She sets off from Musina on Thursday (27th) to run to Thohoyandou and is expected to arrive at Thavhani Mall on Saturday morning. Please support her. She is running to highlight the growing problem of elder abuse in our region.

Enjoy the read.

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.