Shakadza

Administration and politics

The administration of the village is like a conglomerate because there's political influence and the traditional influence. Shakadza is still in the hands of the traditional administration of Chief Neshakadza whereas political figures in the village conglomerate with the chief in decision making for the development of the village. So both structures, the political one and the chieftaincy play a major role in administrating the village. The chief is responsible for the community at large. He resolves conflicts in the community, monitors the duties, responsibilities and roles of headmen in the villages such as allocation of arable land to individual homesteads for settlement, grazing of livestock and ploughing, organizes ritual, social and work parties and ensures that the natural environment is well preserved.

Local politicians are regarded as the bridge or representatives between the villagers and the municipality. The role that political figures play is very important as the village depends on the municipality for services such as roads, water, housing and other municipality services. Politics in Shakadza is a norm and people engage in politics from a young age. Some remarkable political icons includes Mr. Netshisaulu who had represented the village on many occasions. Most of the developments that the villagers cherish today came from his commitment and determination with a goal of developing this village. Mr. Netshisaulu today holds the councillor position for the ward that comprises a few villages of which Shakadza is one. Another political icon is Nndavheleseni Netshituni, regarded as one of the top politicians in Shakadza.

The population in the villages ranges from hundreds to few thousands with households ranging from 3 to 10 people in a family. Shakadza is well known for a congregation choir of Sabbath church that rose to fame in the 1990s under the leadership of Bishop Muifha.

Education and Health

Regardless of its remote location, Shakadza has 21st century infrastructure and facilities within its perimeters; this includes a Health Care Centre that serves residents of the village and its neighbours such as Tshivhongweni, Mukovhawabale, Tshokotshoko, Thahari. In terms of education, Shakadza is one of the few villages in Mutale that has a primary and high school. Shakadza Primary School accepts children from grade 0 to grade 7 learners. The high school (Malilele Secondary School) accepts learners from grade 8 to 12. The results that these schools produce are quite average even though they are not that high compared to some of the dominating schools in Mutale like Matavhela and Thengwe High. The school has produced some wellknown and highly academically acclaimed pioneers such as Dr Nkhelebeni Phaswana.

Most of the graduates from Malilele Secondary School further their studies at the nearby college (Vhembe FET College) and the University of Venda. One out of 5 students go to other provinces mainly Gauteng where they enrol at many colleges and universities such as Tshwane North College, Tshwane South College, Central Johannesburg College, North West University (Vaal campus), University of Pretoria, Wits University etc. With the help of government funding and bursaries to tertiary students the tertiary enrolments seems to be increasing of youths from this village.

Other services include electricity, which the village received in 1996, ahead of many neighbouring villages. Sanitation was improved a few years ago with the help of Mutale Local Municipality, when meter taps where installed in every household.

Economy

Approximately 50 to 60% of the residents are unemployed, mostly the youth. Most of the workers are from the middle class which includes nurses, police officers, teachers etc. The upper class is very rare since the village is located in a rural area. The working class residents include bricklayers, cashiers in local shops, general workers etc. A large percentage of the working and middle class moved to metropolitan cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria for employment.

In terms of shopping most of the people from this village take taxis to Thohoyandou, the nearest large town, for shopping and whatever they are in need of. Those who cannot afford taxi fares or do not want to travel, can still buy from a variety of goods and services at the local shop, who's owner has been supplying goods directly to the community for over four decades now.

Farming plays a major role for most families in meeting their household needs and to sustain their livelihoods. Subsistence farming is dominant where almost every family has a piece of land to plough and plant crops. About 70% of crops are seasonal mainly summer because this is the season in which Venda gets rain. Summer crops include maize, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and water melons, and during winter vegetables such as lettuce, spinach and cabbage are grown. Stock farming in Shakadza is not that popular and approximately 1 in 5 families is in possession of a herd of cattle. Some of the animals kept include donkeys that serve as transport to collect water from rivers with donkey carts and also used to plough the fields. Goats and other domestic animals are also kept. Despite the dry conditions, due to a lack of rain, Shakadza still produces indigenous mouth watering fruits.

Culture and recreation

It is very typical and quite inevitable that during hot days elders can be seen cooling off by enjoying mahafhe, a traditional sorghum beer. Different households brew this traditional beer and it is another way of making money for households selling beer. Young adults can sit and listen to interesting stories from the past that elders tell while enjoying mahafhe chilling under cooling shades of indigenous trees such as mutokota. However one cannot deny the fact that traditional culture seems to be fading away lately. Western norms and social standards replaced the traditional ones, due to the global Western dominance. Traditional dances such as tshikona, tshigombela and tshifasi are no longer preserved and continuously perpetuated. It is understood that these types of dances used to be performed often when there were social events, especially at the chief's place, but lately people seem not to perform them anymore.

Sports and recreation is not a famous term in this village, because when one talks about sports, you talk about soccer and that's it. As it is a rural village there are no cricket pitches, tennis courts, basketball or netball courts but only a gravel soccer field where residents go on weekends to cheer the locals playing against other teams. Shakadza Ocean Swallows is well known around Mutale and Venda as a whole. It is one of the oldest teams in Venda and has a good track history. Tenderfoot teams that groomed and produced players that featured In Ocean Swallows include Mavhuvhuni Home Defenders, Shakadza Silver Stars, Shakadza Peace Makers, Shakadza Remix and New Stands Congo. Some of the wellknown players of Shakadza Ocean Swallows include all time striker and potentially acclaimed Professor, Khathu who captained Zwigodini Vikings on many occasions, Stanley - one of the best midfielders that the team ever had, Mabuza - the stop nonsense and current players that are continuing the legacy of the team such as Tshinanne, Theshano, Sandy and Phathu (Dute), and Ndivhuwo Muzulu.

Entertainment

There are a few upcoming musicians who are talented and who promise future fame. H-Town2Def is a well known hip-hop group that came into the spotlight in 2011 following their first track called "the grind is on" that was well received by the locals. The group consists of four members namely, Teardrops, K-Mak, Lemax and Pablo. Feel Good Crew followed in the steps of H-Town2Def under the protégée of Pablo who is a member of H-Town2Def. Feel Good Crew consists of Lil Rem, Lee Rex, Kabelo, G Force and the new member Rick Kidd. Some other artists that are well known in the village include Cassius and Tharaga.