Na daoine vhaVenda na Vhembe, Limpopo Cúige i dtuaisceart an-na hAfraice Theas, faoi ​​ghlas i streachailt a chosaint ar a gcuid tailte ó á scriosadh le tionscadail forbartha agus mianadóireacht guail, agus do na láithreáin deiridh a bhí fágtha naofa nádúrtha a shábháil ó turasóireachta agus tógála bóthair.

Tá cónaí orthu i foothills álainn agus thorthúil ar an réimse Mountain Soutpansberg agus a bhfuil coinnithe ar chultúr beoga, a léirítear ina custaim go leor, traidisiúin agus creidimh. Ag croílár an chultúir Venda bhfuil córas de shuímh nádúrtha naofa, lena n-áirítear an cáiliúil, ach díghrádaithe Loch Funduzi, Thate Vonde Foraoise agus Phiphidi thiteann.

Phiphidi is a place where important rain-making rituals are carried out by elders of the Ramunangi clan. But scant recognition is given to the spirituality of Phiphidi waterfall nor the traditions that have been the bedrock of Ramunangi culture for centuries. The waterfall, cheana féin ar an láthair-aitheanta go maith le haghaidh picnicí agus gníomhaíochtaí eile, coiscíní léir ó na tulacha an bhruscair agus a úsáideadh, á iompú isteach i láithreán tógála chun freastal ar an gcreideamh go mbeidh méadú ar líon na dturasóirí a.

"Ar dtús, a tógadh le bóthar gan aon chomaoin na n-áiteanna spioradálta feadh na habhann. Agus bhí chinnfear le cairéal ceart thuas suíomh tábhachtach spioradálta. Anois tá an ceart áit is naofa in aice leis an eas á dtochailt chun cur le lóistín do thurasóirí gan dul i gcomhairle leis an chaomhnóirí rightful agus i sárú soiléir creat reachtach Afraic Theas ar. I mí an Mheithimh, ollscartairí thosaigh tochailte in aice leis an eas Phiphidi a thógáil thaisceann turasóireachta gan aon cheann de na geallta an consaluiríll", deir ar cheann de na elders áitiúil.

Mar fhreagra ar, the custodians of the Venda’s sacred natural sites have formed a committee called Dzomo la Mupo (An guth an Domhain). Creideann siad go bhfuil má tá an scrios Phiphidi suíomh naofa a cheadaítear, it will pave the way for the destruction of all seven sacred sites in Venda. One of the chiefs explains,

"Is iad ár suímh naofa ag croílár ár gcultúr, ár bpobal. If we protect them and respect them, we have a chance to save the future. All previous generations of elders and leaders, respected our sacred sites. Why is it now being destroyed? What has happened to our leaders? Do they feel no obligation to their ancestors or to their children?.”

The role of sacred sites across the world is recognised internationally by IUCN and UNESCO as places of ecological, cultural and spiritual significance. South Africa has legal obligations under the South African Heritage Resources Act and international law to protect biodiversity and community rights to sacred lands, cultural and spiritual practice and prior informed consent. The South African Constitution also states that all South African citizens have the right to enjoy and practice their culture and spirituality and associate freely without discrimination (e.g. Sections 9, 30 agus 31); a right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing and to have the environment protected (Section 24); and a right to information (Section 32). They also have a right to administrative justice.

“Government bodies have failed to uphold their responsibilities to protect the rights of communities as required by law”, explains Roger Chennels, the legal advisor to the Dzomo la Mupo.“The ongoing and deliberate destruction of Phiphidi waterfalls, one of the last most sacred places in Venda, clearly illustrates that although South Africa has made good progress in terms of instituting progressive legislation, it is still far behind in the democratic implementation of these laws. When it comes to the implementation of rights-based legislation, poor communities are still at the mercy of officials flouting their very clear constitutional rights and traditional authorities that have too much political power to take their subjects’ concerns seriously.”

The Gaia Foundation and the African Biodiversity Network are supporting Dzomo la Mupo to stop the bulldozers, arguing for protection of customary rights and responsibilities to sacred lands. Meanwhile the bulldozers continue to destroy this sacred site of Phiphidi waterfall and forest, to start building tourist huts without local consultation with the community nor legally required environmental impact assessments.

Take action

• Join us in helping to stop the destruction of Phiphidi waterfalls and other sacred sites in Venda, An Afraic Theas.
• Send a letter of your support, or sign-on to a Statement of Support.