Venda (or Vhembe District) in Limpopo Province, South Africa is famous for its biodiversity and cultural richness. Its sacred sites are watched over by the elder women of the communities, known as Makhadzis. These women have come to be known as the "Rainmakers" of South Africa, due to the capacity of their cultural rituals to invite rain to the area.
Years of colonisation and the encroachment of the western world on traditional cultures have meant that the Makhadzis became increasingly marginalised and silenced; their traditional roles as advisors to the chiefs and as keepers of the indigenous seeds, were undermined. But now, with support from The Mupo Foundation, a South African NGO, the Makhadzis are finding their voice once again. They are rallying to protect Venda’s network of sacred forests, and to set an important legal precedent for South Africa’s natural and cultural heritage.
In 2009, the Makhadzis were joined by the elder men and chiefs of the community to form Dzomo la Mupo (meaning Voice of the Earth), a small community-based organisation, “To protect Nature in all her forms, and especially indigenous forests … [and] to protect and preserve sacred sites in Venda”. The Mupo Foundation is backing them in this task.
A 'Rainmaker' elder at workThere exists a small network of bountiful forests in Venda, the source of springs that feed into the Luvuvhu river. The river catchment provides water for the surrounding land and communities, and the forests are revered as sacred; they are places where the ancestors reside and where peace must be maintained. It is the responsibility of the Makhadzis, as the traditional custodians of these sacred forests, to ensure that they are safeguarded and respected.
Until recently, tourism, plantations and development projects have been the main threats to the sacred forests in Venda. Last year, the Makhadzis and the Ramunangi clan were featured in BBC World News for their courageous stand against developers building a tourism complex that is destroying Phiphidi sacred waterfall and forest. But, just as the Makhadzis deal with one choking pressure, they are faced with another. Huge coal mining projects – among the worst contributor’s to global climate change - are being planned across Limpopo province. They threaten to devour much of the Venda region, and the future of the Makhadzhis, their communities and the forests is under serious threat.
With this grant from APE, Dzomo la Mupo will receive para-legal training to build confidence and capacity to assert their customary, constitutional and legal rights. They will develop materials - maps, socio-cultural and ecological profiles, Claim of Rights - for the recognition and protection of their sacred community forests.
This support to the Makhadzis as custodians of Venda’s sacred forests and as holders of traditional knowledge, is a direct contribution to climate change resilience.
