Mayor moots the Vakhegulu Vakhegulu league for Collins Chabane
Xikundu Mountain Vakhegulu Vakhegulu launched
The Village Voice
The grannies in Xikundu, located in the Collins Chabane Local Municipality, cannot just let the demise of their leaders die away. At the launch event for the Xikundu Mountain Vakhegulu Vakhegulu team, held at the Xikundu Mountain Bombers Ground on Wednesday, the grandmothers, dressed in new kits purchased for them by local tycoon GV Baloyi, mourned their former leaders: former minister Collins Chabane who died in a car accident in 2016, and former Collins Chabane Local Municipality mayor Moses Maluleke, who was gunned down at his home in July of this year in what police described as a botched robbery.
Both men were from Xikundu and were very popular with the community.
The idea for the team came about when they were singing for the local traditional leader, Hosi Xikundu. Hosi Xikundu implored the municipality to prepare and fence soccer fields at Xikundu in memory of a leader like Collins Chabane. Mr. Humbulani Mapholi from Thulamela challenged Hosi Xikundu to support the team. The coordinator for Vakhegulu Vakhegulu teams, Julia Madzanani, said that the local grandmothers team was being launched because they are organized. She thanked Hosi Xikundu for supporting the team and said that wherever they go to launch teams, they make sure the initiative is supported by traditional leaders.
Madzanani herself was hugely praised for introducing the concept in the area. Speakers said that although she is a Tshivenda-speaking person, she is loved in Saselamani home for Xitsonga-speaking people. Councillor Dorris Mabasa, who represented Mayor Shadrack Maluleke, said the municipality was planning to fix and fence soccer fields, but because of budget constraints, it would take time to finish all the soccer fields.
The mayor later arrived at the event and addressed the crowd. The mayor said that municipality was committed to giving the elderly support because their continued exercises assisted them in getting rid of various ailments such as high blood pressure.. “As the municipality, we support the initiative, and we hope to work together with you,” said Maluleke. At least 14 teams from both Thulamela and Collins Chabane Local Municipalities participated in the launch tournament.
