Giyani
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Giyani is a town situated in the north-eastern part of
Limpopo Province Limpopo () is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The term Limpopo is derived from Rivombo (Livombo/Lebombo), a group of Tsonga settlers ...
,
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
. It is the administrative capital of the
Mopani District Municipality The Mopani District Municipality (; ) is one of the 5 districts of the Limpopo province of South Africa. The seat of the district is Giyani. According to the 2016 Community Survey, it had a population of 1,159,185. The district code is DC33. Aft ...
and a former capital of the defunct
Gazankulu Gazankulu was a Bantustan in South Africa, intended by the apartheid government to be a semi-independent homeland for the Tsonga people. It was located in both the Northern Transvaal, now Limpopo province and Eastern Transvaal, now Mpumalang ...
Bantustan A Bantustan (also known as a Bantu peoples, Bantu homeland, a Black people, black homeland, a Khoisan, black state or simply known as a homeland; ) was a territory that the National Party (South Africa), National Party administration of the ...
. The city of Giyani is divided into seven sections: Section A, Section D1, Section D2, Section E, Section F, Kremetart, and Giyani CBD. Risinga View and Church View are new residential areas in Giyani, but they fall under the local traditional leaders. The Giyani CBD is nicknamed Benstore, and this name is commonly used by residents of the region. Giyani is surrounded by a number of villages with rich
Tsonga Tsonga may refer to: * Tsonga language, a Bantu language spoken in southern Africa * Tsonga people, a large group of people living mainly in southern Mozambique and South Africa. * Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (; born 17 April 1985) ...
cultural activities, administered by the
Greater Giyani Local Municipality Greater Giyani Municipality () is a local municipality within the Mopani District Municipality, in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The seat is Giyani. Main places The 2001 census divided the municipality into the following main places: ...
. Prof. Hudson Ntsanwisi, the former chief minister of Gazankulu, played a vital role in establishing the city. Giyani is situated at the intersection of R578 (South Africa) and R81. It is located in the heart of the Limpopo Bushveld, on the northern bank of the Klein Letaba River west of
Kruger National Park Kruger National Park () is a national park in South Africa covering an area of in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in the country's northeast. It extends from north to south and from east to west. The administrative headquarters are i ...
. Situated in the northern portion of the former
Gazankulu Gazankulu was a Bantustan in South Africa, intended by the apartheid government to be a semi-independent homeland for the Tsonga people. It was located in both the Northern Transvaal, now Limpopo province and Eastern Transvaal, now Mpumalang ...
, Giyani was established in the 1960s as the administrative center for the
Tsonga people The Tsonga people () are a Bantu ethnic group primarily native to Southern Mozambique and South Africa (Limpopo and Mpumalanga). They speak Xitsonga, a Southern Bantu language. A very small number of Tsonga people are also found in Zimbabwe ...
. Giyani lies 470 km north-east of
Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...
by road, 104 km from
Tzaneen Tzaneen () is a town situated in the Mopani district of the Limpopo Province in South Africa. It is situated in a high rainfall fertile region with tropical and subtropical agriculture taking place in a region. It is Limpopo's second largest to ...
, 105 km from the
Phalaborwa Phalaborwa (translated to English as ''better than the south; phala'' means ''better than and borwa'' means ''south'') is a town in the Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa. Name The place was called "Phalaborwa" by the S ...
Gate of the Kruger National Park, and 35 km from
Malamulele Malamulele can refer to the town of Malamulele or the area of Malamulele. Both the town (approximately in the center of the area) and area are in the Limpopo, Limpopo province of South Africa and predominantly occupied by Tsonga people. Malamulel ...
. In 1969, the Gazankulu government named a new ward at Elim Hospital 'Giyani Ward' in honor of the Gazankulu capital. The current mayor of Greater Giyani municipality is Thandi Zitha of ANC. With Xikukwani Village As on the Largest Village, other Large villages includes, Ngove Village and Dzumeri


History

Giyani was established during the 1960s as the capital city of Gazankulu, on land belonging to the Homu Royal Family. The Risinga Community (under headman Chabalala) originally came from the Elim district, next to the township of Waterval. The Old Parliament Buildings in Giyani, the ministerial houses, and the Palace of the chief minister of Gazankulu were built on what used to be the Chief's Kraal and headquarters of the Risinga Community. Across the main road, the Risinga Community used to drive their herds of cattle for grazing at a place known today as Giyani Golf Course. Giyani Section E, Section A, Sections D1 and D2, and the CBD of Giyani, known as Bendstore, were villages of the Risinga Community. The Risinga Community was forcefully removed from their land during the 1960s in order to make way for the new capital of Gazankulu, and they were relocated to the foothills of Man'ombe Mountain in Homu Block 14 and Makoxa Village with their chief, Hosi Homu Chabalala.


Land claims

The Risinga Community, under Hosi Homu Chabalala, successfully claimed back their land, which includes Giyani Section E, Section A, Sections D1 and D2, and some parts of Section F. The whole of Man'ombe Mountain Nature Reserve and the entire Giyani CBD were given back to Hosi Homu Chabalala under the settlements scheme with the government. While the other Chabalala headman, Hosi Siyandhanim, successfully claimed some parts of Giyani Section E and Section F and the western portion of Giyani CBD, Mapuve, Jim Nghalalume, and Siyandhani as host villages, Hosi Maswanganyi (Mavhusa) also successfully claimed back their land, which includes: Gandlanani, Basani, N'wamankena, Dingamadzi, Sikhunyani, Kremetart, Dzingidzingi A, B, and C, Bode A and B, Mencisi, and Maswanganyi Village. Hosi Khakhala also successfully claimed back their land, which includes: Muyexe Block 01, Mninginisi Block 02, Mninginisi Block 03, N'wadzekudzeku Block 04, Shivulani Block 05A, Mbatlo Block 05B, Mavalani Block 06, Thomo Block 07, Khakhala Block 08A, Mhlava Block 08B, and Gawula Block 09 Village.


Culture

Most residents of Giyani speak Xitsonga as their first language. The Tsonga women perform the '' xibelani dance''and called the dance Xigaza, while the men enjoy'' mpuluto ''and'' makhwaya''. The Tsonga people also engage in a custom dance called'' mchongolo''. Xibelani is an African skirt designed to make the wearer's hips look bigger so that the hip movement during the xibelani dance can be more apparent. The Tsonga people have their own distinct music when the xibelani dance is performed.'' The staple diet in Giyani is maize porridge (vuswa or pap in Afrikaans) and rice, often eaten with meat, chicken, and vegetables (matsavu). "Giyani" is one of the tracks on the album ''Third World Child'' by
Johnny Clegg Jonathan Paul Clegg, (7 June 195316 July 2019) was a South African musician, singer-songwriter, dancer, anthropologist and Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist. He first performed as part of a duo - ''Johnny & Sipho'' - ...
and his band
Savuka Savuka, occasionally referred to as Johnny Clegg & Savuka, was a multi-racial South African band formed in 1986 by Johnny Clegg after the disbanding of Juluka. Savuka's music blended traditional Zulu music, Zulu musical influences with Celtic m ...
, written about leaving the stress of Johannesburg to get some peace and quiet in Giyani.


Climate

Giyani is situated within the sub-tropical zone. It can be very hot in the summer, reaching a maximum temperature of 41 °C in the summer and 25 °C during the winter. Winters are mild during the day and cold during the night. The rainy season is between September and March, while the winter season is from April to August.


Economy

Giyani's economy is predominately rural-based. Cattle ranching and the production of maize, peanuts, tomatoes, potatoes, mangoes, and bananas form the backbone of agriculture. With the economic boom, Giyani has now become a major retail and entertainment center for the local population. Modern shopping centers, with all the well-known chain stores presented, have vastly uplifted the local trade.


Residential areas

Residential areas in the area surrounding Giyani CBD include Giyani Sections A, E, and F, D1, D2, and one suburb, Kremetart Two more residential areas, Risinga View and Church View, aka Homu Block 15, have recently been established. These two fall under local traditional leaders. Other communities under Traditional Leaders (Tihosi) include Siyandhani, Dzingi-dzingi, Ka-Ndhambi, Mageva, Bambeni, Daniel (Makhwivirini), Maphata, Munghonghoma, Ngove, Khaxani, Mphagani, Xitlakati, Mayephu, N'wa-Marhanga, Xamfana, Nkomo A, Kheyi, Loloka, Maswanganyi, Mbhedle, Mushiane, Mayephu, Dzumeri Township, Hluvukani, Khaxani(Mhintlwa), Makhuva, Xawela Bloc 23, Xikhumba, Mbawula, Phalaubeni, Hlomela, Ndindani, Vuhehli, Nkomo B, Nkomo C, N'wa-Khuwani, Bambeni, Mzilela, Matsotsosela, Dzumeri RDP, Homu, Sikhunyani, Mninginisi, Xikukwani,Mavalani, Nkurhi, Tomu, Basani.


Education

Some of the independent schools in Giyani include Khanyisa Education Centre, Risinga Secondary School, Nkwangulatilo Education Centre, Nyukani Education Centre, High Quality Education Centres, Giyani College of Technology and Management, and Muhluri Combine School. Public schools include Kheto Nxumayo Agricultural High School and Giyani High School.


Tertiary Institutions in or near Giyani

* Northern Technical College * Stanford Business and Computer College * Happy Tots Creche * New Era College * Harvest Bible College * Madzahisi College * Avuxeni Computer Academy *Giyani Campus Of Nursing College *Limpopo Province College of Nursing *Letaba TVET College (Giyani Campus) *Giyani Education Multipurpose Centre *Tshwane University of Technology (Giyani Campus) *Giyani College of Technology and Management *Giyani College of Education and Training


Roads

The R81 is the major road that runs through Giyani. It links Giyani to Polokwane and Malamulele and joins the R524 to Punda Maria entrance gate of the
Kruger National Park Kruger National Park () is a national park in South Africa covering an area of in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in the country's northeast. It extends from north to south and from east to west. The administrative headquarters are i ...
. The R81 joins the N1 to Pretoria and Johannesburg in Polokwane, next to the Mall of the North.


Sports

Giyani Stadium was the home of
National First Division The South African Championship, officially known as the Motsepe Foundation Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest league of South African football after the South African Premiership. Both the South African Championship and ...
club Dynamos F.C. (South Africa) Giyani has been home to Giyani United and Giyani Classic. And temporarily a home for Casric fc On the athletics front the 100 metre sprint ace Peter "Manero" Ngobeni stayed in Giyani Section A during the 1980s. FiFA Referee late Herman Mashava was from Dzumeri, Mageva Village.


Notable People

* Phillemon Hlungwani * Penny Penny
Musa Keys
* Gladwin Shitolo * Tinyiko Victor Hlungwani * Fulani Shibulana * Ishmael Maluleke * Tiyani Mabunda * Risimati Wilson Makhubele


Tourism

Giyani's location is in the warm African bushveld, which makes it attractive for both local and international visitors. The Giyani Golf Course is home to zebras, giraffes, bushbucks, and some other herbivores; however, the viewing of these animals has not yet been commercialized. At the moment, there are a number of bed and breakfast and guest house facilities for tourists. A few are: Hanyani Lodge, Riverside Guest House, Xisaka Bed and Breakfast, Tihosi Guest House, Elridge Mountain Lodge, Rosanna Guest House, Nwayitelo Lodge, and Mopani Guest House. Limpopo Lodge (formerly Giyani Hotel) is situated in the center of town and managed by the Oasis Group. Man'ombe Nature Reserve is located 6 km east of Giyani. Giyani also borders
Kruger National Park Kruger National Park () is a national park in South Africa covering an area of in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in the country's northeast. It extends from north to south and from east to west. The administrative headquarters are i ...
on the western side of the Northern Region. Historically, Giyani had no entry point to Kruger National Park, even though Giyani shares a long border with Kruger National Park. There was a plan to open a new gate, known as Shangoni Gate, at Muyexe Village, 30 km north-east of Giyani town. This gate was supposed to bring much-needed development to the nearby villages of Muyexe, Mahonisi, and Mtititi, where unemployment is 80%. These villages have been historically poor, despite the fact that they border one of the world's best safari destinations.


References

{{Authority control Populated places in the Greater Giyani Local Municipality 1960s establishments in South Africa