LIMPOPO – Newly appointed Transport and Community Safety MEC, Florence Radzilani described the late queen Dr Thidziambi Gladys Nethengwe (73) a true representative of the Venda royalty and culture, and the ambassador of the Vhavenda people.
“She remained an outstanding leader of our time, royal servant of her people. She was a rare breed who didn’t use the education she attained to elevate and set herself apart from downtrodden and poor masses, and she was a protagonist of human rights,” said Radzilani.
She remarked that the ANC in Limpopo has lost a true servant of the people.
She was speaking at Nethengwe’s funeral on October 16, and was joined by the Deputy Speaker in Limpopo Legislature, Tshitereke Matibe and Vhembe Mayor, Dowelani Nenguda.
Nethengwe of Thengwe-Thondoni village in Mutale was the royal wife of Thovhele Vudzidzhena Nethengwe, one of the senior traditional leaders of the Vhavenda people.
Nethengwe was born and raised in Tshandama village and started her teaching career in 1972.
She became principal at Lukau Primary in 1976 and later appointed as Inspector of Psychology in 1996.
She is the founder of the Vudzidzhena Royal Women’s Forum, which saw her develop a great number of royal women under the Thengwe Tribal Council who joined the forum in a profound way.
She was also the Chairperson of the Limpopo Royal Women’s Forum.
Nethengwe is survived by her royal husband, Thovhele Vudzidzhena Nethengwe, daughter, Tshamaano and later buried in the sacred places of Thengwe-Thondoni (Zwiendeulu) on October 15.
