A New Chapter Begins: UNIVEN and Thomo Community Unite for Inclusive Development

On 29 August 2025, the University of Venda’s Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education formally adopted the Thomo Heritage Park Project during a community engagement gathering at the Thomo Tribal Council Office in Giyani. The visit marked a turning point in the University’s strategic plan for inclusive development.
Mr Herbet Maluleke from the Shiviti Tribal Council warmly welcomed attendees to the Leisure Council, expressing gratitude by saying, “We feel so honoured that you have chosen us to partner with.”

He shared the Council’s eagerness to hear fresh ideas, stating they are “very much prepared to listen to what UNIVEN is going to deliver.” He urged community members to actively participate in the discussions ahead.

In his address to the Thomo Community, Dr Mafemani Joseph Baloyi, the Faculty Manager of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, outlined the purpose of the visit as a foundational step for the University of Venda to engage with and expand a significant project, promising to extend the collaboration to the sister faculties to create specialised areas within it. He highlighted a shift in the role of universities, stating that while they once “used to produce knowledge that benefits individuals,” they now focus on generating knowledge “meant to benefit society and in particular, the community it serves.” Dr Baloyi expressed strong confidence in the university’s ability to contribute meaningfully to the development of the Thomo Community, and affirmed this position by saying, “We have all the plans to make a major difference to the Thomo Community and beyond.”
While outlining the purpose of UNIVEN’s visit, Dr Baloyi highlighted the historical connection between the University and the Thomo Community. He explained that this link stems from the groundbreaking research conducted by Dr Eric Mathoho, a lecturer in the Department of Human Sciences, during his M.Phil. and D.Phil. studies in Archaeology at the University of Cape Town. His survey around Thomo village discovered more than 20 archaeological/historical sites that were geo-referenced within the range of metal production, occupational, and mining sites. One of the discoveries includes the Iron Age site, which represents the earliest occupation of Iron Age communities south of the Soutpansberg, and further investigations provided radiocarbon dates of its early occupation dating to 650AD. These types of sites are very scarce and difficult to find, with only very few sites within the province exposed to research investigations. An identical site dating to the same period was discovered and excavated as part of the Cultural Resource Man-agement programme for the construction of the Nandoni Dam. The site was excavated for three years from 1997 to 1999. During the excavation process, Dr Mathoho and his team managed to salvage a well-representative cultural material sample, which is currently kept at the University of Venda’s Department of Human Sciences’ Anthropology Museums.”
Dr Baloyi expressed that, “Given these enormous discoveries within the province and in an un-tapped terrain, UNIVEN felt it necessary to pursue archaeological research through a formal collaboration with the Thomo Community, which will also explore these valuable resources to benefit the two parties.”

In his presentation on the background of the Thomo Heritage Park project, the Thomo Heritage Park Project Manager, Mr Richard Mafemani Mabunda, reflected on its origins in the Greater Giyani area, stating that it was “conceived around 2001 as a cultural beacon to preserve and pro-mote the heritage of the Thomo community.” He acknowledged that while the project had made promising strides, it had stalled due to “a combination of poor integration, limited resources, and the ongoing issue of cable theft,” which he described as “a serious setback that has disrupted infrastructure and delayed progress.” Mr Mabunda stressed the importance of renewed collab-oration, noting that “we must re-engage our academic partners and community stakeholders to breathe life back into this initiative.” He affirmed the team’s commitment to inclusive develop-ment, adding, “The way forward lies in strengthening governance, securing the site, and ensuring that the community plays a central role in shaping its future.”
The University of Venda’s 2021–2025 Strategic Plan positions community engagement as a core pillar, aiming to foster inclusive partnerships that drive local development and shared knowledge creation. In line with this vision, the Acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education, Prof. Tawanda Runhare, addressed the faculty’s adoption of the Thomo Heritage Park project, calling for a clear structure to guide its progress. “To adopt each other means we need a structure, a leadership, a committee that is overseeing and guiding the way we are going to move on,” he said. He outlined the need for a shared mission and vision, practical planning over the next five years, and the mobilisation of resources such as funding, transport, time, and skilled personnel. Prof Runhare welcomed the site’s potential as both a tourist and academic centre, noting, “students should know about the potential to study at the site and come up with knowledge that is going to strengthen what is happening.” He urged the faculty to reclaim and publish local history, adding, “There is a lot of history that needs to be reclaimed here.” He also stressed the importance of environmental and vandalism assessments to understand what has been lost and how to rebuild. In concluding his remarks, he called for immediate action: “We need a steering committee, because if we talk and then leave it like this, we would have done nothing.”

Hosi Kenneth Shiviti addressing the audience
In his acknowledgement, Hosi Kenneth Shiviti expressed concern over being sidelined after ini-tially supporting the Thomo Heritage Park project, stating that although he “was invited to the project during its initial stage” and performed rituals “freely and openly,” he was later excluded and misled. He described the site as “massive, expensive,” but lamented that “every good work has been reduced to nothingness” due to vandalism, including the theft of valuable items and electric cables. Uncertain whether the culprits were locals or outsiders, he criticised the neg-ligence surrounding the project. However, he welcomed the involvement of the University of Venda, saying he was “very much happy” and hoped the project would be “well-resourced, oiled, and engineered to move forward.” He concluded by urging meaningful action, affirming that “the presence of UNIVEN must leave some traces; there should be clear tracks to follow because we don’t necessarily derive joy from speeches, but we need practice.”

Dr Lufuluvhi Mudimeli, a Senior Lecturer and the Head of the Department of Human Sciences, delivered a vote of thanks, calling the day “a very big day in the history records of the Thomo community and the Department of Human Sciences that is leading the project through Dr Eric Mathoho (the first from the right on the picture provided below) and Dr Humbulani Tshamano (the fourth from the left on the picture provided below).
Dr Mudimeli praised Prof Tawanda Runhare’s leadership in officially adopting the project and thanked all contributors. She also expressed her sincere gratitude to Chief Keneth Shiviti for his warm welcome and for giving them a sharp hearing. She also thanked Mr Richard Mabunda, the project coordinators, and urged continued support, saying, “The best way of providing the expected service to the Thomo Community is for all who are involved to ensure that their faces should always be present.”
Following their visit to the Thomo Tribal Offices, the University of Venda delegates were escorted to the Thomo Heritage Park for a guided tour led by Mr Rich Mabunda. With deep knowledge and passion, Mr. Mabunda walked the group through the historical significance of the site, highlight-ing its cultural roots and ancestral importance to the local community. He shared stories of the land’s heritage, its role in preserving traditional practices, and the legacy of the people who once inhabited the area. The tour offered the delegates a rich and immersive experience, connecting them to the vibrant history that defines Thomo Heritage Park.

Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811