Thulamela Local Municipality, located in the northern reaches of South Africa, is a tribute to the region’s unique cultural tapestry and natural beauty.
This Limpopo Province municipality comprises a broad range of scenery, from beautiful hills to expansive plains, and offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity.
The Thulamela Local Municipality encompasses a large region and plays an important role in the socioeconomic development of the neighboring areas.
The territory contains a mix of urban and rural settlements, each of which contributes to the municipality’s dynamic character.
Thohoyandou, its administrative center, acts as a nexus for governance and business, exhibiting the spirit of progress that characterizes this portion of South Africa.
Thulamela is famous for its dedication to conserving and appreciating its cultural history. The municipality is home to a number of ethnic groups, including the Venda, who have a strong connection to the land.
Traditional practices and rituals are an important element of everyday life, lending a distinct flavor to the municipality’s cultural identity.
Thulamela has been forever changed by the Venda people’s rich history and creative traditions.
The region has thriving art and craft scenes that highlight the ingenuity and talent of local artists.
Visitors can wander around marketplaces and galleries, immersing themselves in the elaborate beadwork, sculptures, and paintings that reflect the community’s cultural life.
Thulamela is both a cultural sanctuary and a natural wonderland. The municipality is known for its diversified ecosystem, which includes lush woods, vast savannas, and flowing rivers.
Within its limits is the Mapungubwe National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that provides a haven for a diversity of flora and species.
The historic landscapes of the park are archaeologically significant, displaying the ruins of a once-thriving African monarchy.
Thulamela has an important economic role in the region, contributing to South Africa’s development. Agriculture is an important economic driver, with good soil supporting crops including maize, sugarcane, and fruit orchards.
The municipality’s excellent location along important transportation lines improves its economic prospects even more by encouraging trade and commerce.
Population
 (2011)
|
|
---|---|
 • Total | 618,462 |
 • Density | 110/km2 (270/sq mi) |
Despite its progress, Thulamela confronts a number of hurdles. Issues like as infrastructural development, healthcare access, and unemployment continue in the region, as they do in many others.
The municipality is still working to solve these issues, looking for long-term solutions that improve the quality of life for its citizens.
The 2011 census divided the municipality into the following main places:
Place | Code | Population | Area (km2) |
---|---|---|---|
Altein | 966225 | 1,759 | 2.15 |
Basani | 966092 | 3,408 | 4.39 |
Begwa | 966015 | 2,066 | 3.32 |
Bevula | 966136 | 1,787 | 2.24 |
Botsoleni | 966026 | 2,002 | 1.67 |
Budeli | 966163 | 2,362 | 9.24 |
Buluni | 966042 | 382 | 1.08 |
Damani | 966052 | 1,336 | 3.83 |
Dididi | 966180 | 2,312 | 2.94 |
Dimani | 966044 | 807 | 1.92 |
Dlamini | 966123 | 146 | 0.50 |
Dopeni | 966102 | 6,560 | 15.15 |
Doveni | 966176 | 318 | 1.28 |
Dumasi | 966149 | 2,154 | 2.60 |
Duthuni | 966166 | 6,345 | 6.70 |
Dzindi | 966192 | 2,787 | 2.03 |
Dzingahe | 966121 | 2,862 | 2.14 |
Dzivhadolo | 966039 | 1,566 | 2.73 |
Dzwaboni | 966021 | 597 | 1.87 |
Dzwerani | 966205 | 5,964 | 14.12 |
Fondwe | 966105 | 1,798 | 4.18 |
Gaba | 966018 | 6,340 | 10.44 |
Gandlanani | 966160 | 3,445 | 3.83 |
Gidjana | 966189 | 2,198 | 1.65 |
Gonani | 966048 | 372 | 1.48 |
Gondeni A | 966135 | 5,391 | 4.96 |
Gondeni B | 966114 | 1,471 | 3.10 |
Govu | 966191 | 1,486 | 1.48 |
Green Farm | 966158 | 3,930 | 5.94 |
Ha-Lambani | 966007 | 3,450 | 18.68 |
Ha-Matsika | 966081 | 1,120 | 1.68 |
Ha-Radali | 966079 | 2,052 | 2.79 |
Hatshisele | 966151 | 4,382 | 3.20 |
Itsani | 966170 | 11,473 | 6.89 |
Jerome | 966161 | 3,413 | 2.76 |
Khakhanwa | 966188 | 1,355 | 1.62 |
Khakhu | 966066 | 142 | 0.88 |
Khalavha | 966106 | 3,237 | 5.97 |
Khambela | 966095 | 65 | 0.52 |
Khubvi | 966051 | 10,271 | 11.50 |
Kruger National Park | 966155 | 55 | 2935.88 |
Lambani | 966012 | 1,881 | 3.92 |
Lamvi | 966001 | 1,530 | 9.83 |
Lufule | 966142 | 1,617 | 1.38 |
Lukalo | 966016 | 1,532 | 2.75 |
Lutomboni | 966085 | 529 | 0.75 |
Luvhimbi | 966035 | 2,296 | 8.50 |
Lwamondo | 966171 | 20,218 | 20.72 |
Mabaligwe | 966058 | 2,382 | 1.89 |
Mabokoro | 966217 | 545 | 0.41 |
Madzimu | 966045 | 5,213 | 3.80 |
Magomani | 966040 | 2,734 | 2.34 |
Mahunguhwi | 966025 | 394 | 2.54 |
Makahlule | 966113 | 1,865 | 1.73 |
Makhasa | 966144 | 1,121 | 1.82 |
Makhumbe | 966006 | 56 | 1.17 |
Makhuvha A | 966148 | 1,050 | 2.29 |
Makhuvha B | 966073 | 5,394 | 5.05 |
Makonde | 966034 | 6,077 | 12.59 |
Makovha | 966195 | 2,083 | 2.36 |
Makumbane | 966167 | 2,219 | 2.33 |
Makumeke | 966174 | 1,429 | 0.99 |
Makwarani | 966068 | 867 | 5.36 |
Malamangwa | 966115 | 495 | 2.86 |
Malamhala | 966204 | 1,211 | 1.00 |
Malavuwe | 966087 | 2,362 | 2.78 |
Manamane | 966193 | 2,897 | 3.71 |
Maname | 966063 | 204 | 0.93 |
Mandala | 966104 | 3,078 | 3.51 |
Manele | 966186 | 1,658 | 1.60 |
Mangondi A | 966147 | 2,373 | 5.33 |
Mangondi B | 966088 | 1,275 | 1.88 |
Manyuwa | 966156 | 135 | 1.29 |
Manzemba | 966043 | 608 | 1.26 |
Mapate | 966177 | 3,608 | 3.57 |
Maranzhe | 966125 | 1,764 | 3.61 |
Maraxwe | 966031 | 943 | 1.03 |
Mashawana | 966202 | 551 | 1.21 |
Mashobye | 966165 | 1,638 | 1.70 |
Masiwane | 966041 | 1,257 | 1.98 |
Matangari | 966028 | 4,062 | 7.63 |
Maungani | 966130 | 7,271 | 7.487 |
Mavhuwa | 966027 | 55 | 1.12 |
Mavunde | 966005 | 1,573 | 3.84 |
Mbahe | 966111 | 982 | 2.99 |
Mbahela | 966032 | 852 | 0.81 |
Mbilwi | 966133 | 5,077 | 3.73 |
Mianzwi | 966030 | 1,928 | 2.39 |
Milaboni | 966098 | 343 | 0.81 |
Mphego | 966153 | 3,003 | 2.36 |
Mubvumoni | 966014 | 2,086 | 5.15 |
Mudunungu | 966099 | 1,366 | 1.35 |
Mudzidzidzi | 966060 | 400 | 1.08 |
Muhotoni | 966033 | 672 | 0.73 |
Muhuyu | 966046 | 698 | 1.25 |
Mukhomi | 966207 | 3,810 | 3.24 |
Mukomasiandu | 966117 | 764 | 1.28 |
Mukondeni | 966003 | 61 | 1.09 |
Mukula | 966071 | 8,209 | 10.41 |
Mukumbani | 966080 | 2,431 | 3.04 |
Mulenzhe | 966164 | 2,566 | 9.03 |
Munangwe | 966036 | 365 | 0.46 |
Muraga | 966124 | 1,472 | 2.29 |
Mushiru | 966017 | 647 | 1.21 |
Mutoti | 966162 | 904 | 1.85 |
Mutshenzheni | 966011 | 1,062 | 3.61 |
Mutshetshe | 966020 | 673 | 1.05 |
Mvelaphanda | 966206 | 1,563 | 1.11 |
Nghomunghom | 966157 | 1,799 | 1.20 |
Ngovhela | 966129 | 6,296 | 7.82 |
Ngudza | 966120 | 2,855 | 3.74 |
Ngwenani | 966077 | 6,254 | 7.15 |
Nsimbhi | 966089 | 1,885 | 1.64 |
Ntlhaveni A | 966134 | 2,323 | 2.27 |
Ntlhaveni B | 966086 | 1,854 | 1.58 |
Nyavhani | 966094 | 1,568 | 1.30 |
Peninghotsa | 966190 | 803 | 1.09 |
Phaphazela | 966201 | 4,965 | 5.59 |
Phaswana | 966037 | 1,513 | 1.61 |
Phaweni | 966097 | 1,734 | 1.55 |
Phiphidi | 966128 | 9,795 | 9.99 |
Phugeni | 966152 | 1,512 | 1.35 |
Phugwane | 966173 | 1,100 | 1.36 |
Roadhouse | 966159 | 3,710 | 4.19 |
Salani | 966218 | 2,329 | 2.24 |
Salema | 966062 | 3,540 | 2.59 |
Sambandou | 966008 | 826 | 2.03 |
Saselamani | 966069 | 3,727 | 1.84 |
Shanzha | 966103 | 631 | 3.05 |
Shayandima | 966169 | 10,259 | 6.15 |
Shigalo | 966143 | 7,670 | 6.80 |
Shikundu | 966146 | 1,953 | 2.09 |
Shingwidzi | 966183 | 11 | 0.86 |
Siambe | 966138 | 2,565 | 3.29 |
Sindande | 966070 | 70 | 1.38 |
Sterkstroom | 966118 | 39 | 0.05 |
Tambaulate | 966198 | 269 | 0.85 |
Thathe Vondo | 966090 | 94 | 0.65 |
Thembaluvhilo | 966057 | 43 | 0.09 |
Thenzheni | 966047 | 1,845 | 2.62 |
Thohoyandou | 966131 | 69,453 | 42.62 |
Thononda | 966082 | 1,944 | 2.43 |
Thulamela NU | 966050 | 1,399 | 2140.39 |
Tshabvuma | 966002 | 2,168 | 1.93 |
Tshamutavha | 966108 | 184 | 0.81 |
Tshamutilikwa | 966110 | 814 | 1.06 |
Tshaulu | 966019 | 2,077 | 2.49 |
Tshiavha | 966053 | 126 | 0.09 |
Tshidimbini | 966072 | 2,501 | 2.47 |
Tshidzate | 966172 | 781 | 0.81 |
Tshidzini | 966054 | 3,852 | 7.22 |
Tshidzivhe | 966067 | 845 | 2.19 |
Tshififi | 966137 | 2,468 | 4.15 |
Tshifudi | 966038 | 2,343 | 3.47 |
Tshihalwe | 966022 | 568 | 0.78 |
Tshiheni | 966096 | 1,435 | 4.97 |
Tshiiwani | 966061 | 227 | 1.10 |
Tshikambe | 966055 | 471 | 1.16 |
Tshikhudini | 966150 | 1,464 | 1.29 |
Tshikombani | 966100 | 4,084 | 4.29 |
Tshikonelo | 966091 | 4,809 | 7.20 |
Tshikovha | 966178 | 2,074 | 1.75 |
Tshikunda | 966127 | 2,177 | 2.93 |
Tshikweta | 966141 | 814 | 0.54 |
Tshilapfene | 966078 | 1,495 | 2.01 |
Tshilungoma | 966154 | 2,526 | 3.13 |
Tshilungwi | 966065 | 663 | 1.40 |
Tshiombo | 966029 | 1,415 | 1.58 |
Tshipako | 966064 | 800 | 2.17 |
Tshirenzheni | 966101 | 1,248 | 2.08 |
Tshisahulu | 966168 | 7,342 | 5.97 |
Tshisinise | 966112 | 81 | 0.17 |
Tshitanini | 966122 | 227 | 1.02 |
Tshitavha | 966010 | 2,123 | 3.51 |
Tshitereke | 966075 | 5,788 | 7.40 |
Tshithuthuni | 966084 | 2,031 | 2.84 |
Tshivhilidulu | 966107 | 1,339 | 2.35 |
Tshivhilwi | 966056 | 4,334 | 5.00 |
Tshivhulani | 966132 | 2,675 | 2.13 |
Tswera | 966023 | 1,001 | 2.23 |
Tswinga | 966179 | 3,948 | 6.41 |
Vhudimbilu | 966116 | 658 | 1.64 |
Vhufuli | 966076 | 3,626 | 4.23 |
Vhurivhuri | 966004 | 2,215 | 7.49 |
Vhutalu | 966059 | 430 | 0.93 |
Vondo | 966126 | 766 | 1.98 |
Vondwe | 966074 | 6,521 | 5.95 |
Xaswita | 966145 | 680 | 0.84 |
Finally, Thulamela Local Municipality exemplifies South Africa’s variety by capturing the healthy coexistence of tradition and progress.
Thulamela, with its unique cultural legacy and stunning natural surroundings, provides a look into the Limpopo Province’s multifaceted personality.
As it seeks for economic progress and communal well-being, the municipality serves as a light of resilience and possibility in the heart of South Africa.