Green Farm, Limpopo

Green Farm Village is a human settlement in the province of Limpopo in South Africa. The village as is named is situated in the north east region of Limpopo province within the Thulamela municipality, Vhembe district.

Green Farm Village was named Mahori after the initial royal council, and it currently has a royal council belonging to the "Nhongani family".

The village is situated right in the middle of Malamulele, between Madonsi village, Gijamhandeni, Phugwani, Nkovani, Makhasa, Bobo and Xibangwa villages.

Sections of the village

The village is a vibrant place where the population speaks mainly Xitsonga as a mother tongue. There area in itself is spacious with a mountain range which runs right in the middle dividing the main village into two areas, namely Endhzaku ka ntshava (behind the mountain with reference to the face being at the main road) and a henhla (meaning on top, due to the placement on the high lying area). There are new sections being established due to growth and the need for children to get their own spaces; Hunguta poto (Reduce the size of a cooking pot) and Tshumbula doki (Where donkeys sprawls - used to be open grounds)

Seasons and climate

The area experiences a prolonged heat season, running from August to April. There is a wind season from July to August and the wind can be dusty because there is no moisture then and the grass is commonly dry leaving open grounds. The rain is most likely from October to January and this is the time where the residents plough their yards for maize, water melons, pumpkins, beans etc. In the period, there is also an abundance of fruits in the yards (Mangoes, Papawa/papaya) and you can enjoy tintoma, tinyiri or tinyiya, tintsengele, mapfilwa and later Mahodinga/ makajawa. The winter can be said to be warm and drizzling is possible

What is Green or Gireni

The village is in itself not green or fertile. Green Farm was named by the white immigrants as they travelled around South Africa promoting their missions and education. The name has since been endorsed and used by all people young and old and it is affectionately called "Gireni or Green". The staple food is vuswa (pap, meal cooked with maize) and vuswa is served with any relish which can be found in the yards (guxe, theka, muxiji, tinhwembe, tinyawa) and meat type of food found in the forest or bought from the supermarkets

Economics and demographics

Most people at Green Farm are unemployed. Most women are housewives, Children at school going ages attend to the schools which are situated in the village; There is a creche for toddlers and young children, A primary school named Tsundzukani and a high school named P.P Hlungwani. Men work to support their families; from hut roofing (ku fulela tindlu), Building housing, Digging toilet pits, fencing, fishing, herding livestock (cattle, goats, donkeys). A few percentage of residents work for the government departments and schools. There is a large number of young people who spend a lot of time outside the village being at tertiary institutions or working in both governments institutions and private companies in the province or elsewhere.

Recreation and facilities

Shopping is done at a general dealer and several family run spaza shops around the village otherwise people can decide to go to the nearest township of Malamulele where they can at least find major national retailers like Shoprite and Pick n pay. There is a post office which is used just to deposit mail and collect mail. The main sporting codes are soccer for males and netball for females. Soccer is played at a community level and the school level while netball is played mainly in a school level.

Music and arts

Music is a major part of vatsonga people. They enjoy playing Xitsonga music at home and at ceremonies like tikhomba (female initiation ceremony) na xiseveseve (celebration of friendship mostly for women). There are artists on their own right like Magrita, of Swa misava remix fame; and currently Makhahlele Forget of Xitimela xa na mixo fame. People do carving (matshuri, minkombe na swinwana), moulding (ti mbita and majomela) and they make the traditional clothing like tinjhovo and xibelani.

Religion, social organisation and politics

The area offers the residents a choice when it comes to religious affiliation, there are different church denominations like Zion Christian Church, Apostolic Faith Mission, Assemblies of God, Roman Catholic Church and other churches. The residents also have traditional ceremonies of African religion (muphahlo na mancomani). Politically, Green Farm falls under a region where political education is still at a very low rate. Most people have voted for ANC in the previous elections and they were not given an alternative choice by the educators. There is a strong social movement towards development. There is a highly active and recognized health development project and there is a new organisation which was established in 2008 to advance development through education. Many leaders have come out of the village and there will be a lot more to come in the years to come