Families claim Univen demolished ancestral graves
When development for Univen started in 1982, many of the graves had apparently been demolished and now families say more graves have been flattened to make way for a new road.
LIMPOPO- Families who claim the University of Venda (Univen) demolished their ancestral graves to make way for infrastructure, now demand that the remains of their forefathers be reburied.
They claim that they had been relocated from Marude Mpandani, situated next to Univen, to Ngovhela and Maungani during apartheid in the 1960s. Their graves, however, were left behind, they said. When development for Univen started in 1982, many of these graves had apparently been demolished and now, they say, more graves have been flattened to make way for a new road.
Thomas Ndonyana (73), who used to live in the area, said he only recently discovered that the graves had been removed to make way for the Univen building, in 1986.
“This is a double blow for my family who firstly was forcefully removed from the area in the 1960s. We do not even know what happened to the remains of my forefathers. I used to visit the gravesite regularly because this portion of land belonged to my family. I was shocked when I found out that the graves were no longer here.”
He said the gravesite was of importance to them as this was the only place where they could communicate with their ancestors and inform the ancestors of a new birth in the family. “It is only a matter of time before they listen to our prayers and deal with these people, who are only after money.”
Another family member who had been relocated from the area, Pastor Thizwilondwi Matodzi said his family lived in the area for years before they were moved between 1961 and 1969 to reside at Ngovhela, Maungani and other areas.
“The government at the time didn’t care that we had been living here for years, and forcefully removed us.”
He claims that bulldozers had dug up the remains of the dead when they started building a new road last year. “These remains were taken to another place where they were reburied by the municipality, without consulting the families. All we want now is to have the remains dug up again and reburied with dignity where they belong.”
The spokesperson for Univen, Takalani Dzaga, however refuted the suggestion that the university had not followed due processes. “We met with the families on various occasions, each time requesting them to come and identify their ancestral graves”.
He confirmed that no buildings or roads were built on top of these gravesites, and added that the university would erect a plaque on site, with the names of the deceased.
