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The Constitutional Court confirms hosi mahonisi as a Senior Traditional leader
The community of Mahonisi in the Collins Chabane Local Municipality, in the Vhembe District Municipality, has been in a celebratory mood since May 15 when the Constitutional Court delivered a favourable judgment to the community and the royal family. In the judgment , the Court refused to entertain the appeal by Hosi Patric Manganyi of the Mavambe Traditional Council and the Mavambe Traditional Council. The two were challenging the 2020 judgment by Mr J Muller which confirmed that Mahonisi is a Senior Traditional Leader in his own right and exercising authority in his own jurisdiction. This was at the time the premier had appealed the judgment. Following the Full Bench judgment of 15 November 2024 the premier decided not to pursue any appeal. Then Hosi Mavambe and Mavambe Traditional Council sought to pursue the matter though they were not part of the proceedings until 2020. Their appeals before the Supreme Court were dismissed and now the Constitutional Court has refused to hear the matter. This means that Hosi Mahonisi is a senior traditional leader and will receive his certificate of recognition from the Limpopo Premier. This is a culmination of many years of fights to reclaim the land and the chieftainship status.. This will be done in a big function in which members of the community will sing and dance in celebration, the struggle that was started by the late Hosi George Sonto Mahonisi, the father of the incumbent leader. The late Hosi George Sonto Risenga Mahonisi was a highly respected leader in the country. He was one of the founders of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, alongside leaders like his late friend Gilbert Tshikalanga of Tshififi and Mr Dodi Maswanganyi, e veteran leader of the Maswanganyo royal family in Giyani.
Mahonisi Royal Family spokesperson Amos Mahonisi said the family was relieved that success has been attained at last..
He said: “The judgment brings to an end a prolonged legal battle.”.
“The judgment is not merely a legal victory, but it is a restoration of the integrity and recognition of our people. It also paves the way for stability, unity, development and proper governance within the mahonisi traditional community,” he said.
The Mahonisi Community Trust also hailed the judgment. “We congratulate Hosi Mahonisi for the pleasant victory and we are looking forward to a respected rural community that will be characterised by working together by all structures,” said chairperson Mr Noel Manganyi Madinani.
