A former Gazankulu town to re-construct its 57 years in existence with a tourist hillside sign
A rural municipality in Limpopo province is determined to develop its entrance monument to attract tourists in Greater Giyani under Mopani District.
The construction for a hillside sign is currently underway.
However, the municipality has not yet disclosed the construction and design budget.
Municipal Spokesperson Steven Mavunda confirmed to MDN News about the construction
” We saw a need to construct a tourist attraction because many people use our entrance monument to capture memories. We have seen portraits of the former Bafana Bafana player Sphiwe Tshabalala to mention a few, ” said Mavunda.
The municipality declined indulging more on the design rather emphasized that once the construction is complete, visitors will be able to use it for a picnic area.
Giyani town was officially established in 1969 and became the capital of Gazankulu, the apartheid-era homeland created for Tsonga-speaking people.
Before the town was established, the area belonged to the Homu Royal Family and was occupied by communities including the Risinga community.
During the creation of Gazankulu, many residents were forcibly removed from their land to make way for the new administrative capital, reflecting the broader forced removals that occurred under apartheid.
The rural municipality is yet to develop as communities await the F.Y. Siyandhani International Airport installation. While its developers planned for it to be fully operational, the project’s construction is currently stalled by the provincial government.
The town has a well structured Masingita Shopping Mall designed by Masingita Group of Companies, which is owned by Dr. Mike Nkuna.
The name “Giyani” is a Xitsonga word commonly understood to mean “a place where peoplen dance” or “the land of friendly people.” The name was chosen in 1968 before the town was officially established.
After South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, Gazankulu was abolished and Giyani became part of the new Limpopo Province.
Giyani remains an important cultural and economic hub for the Tsonga/Shangaan people and surrounding rural communities.
