Makhado (also: Makhato or Makgato, c.1839 – 3 September 1895) was a 19th-century chief (or ''khosi'') in the Singo (or Vhasenzi) dynasty of the
Vendas. They ruled over the Dzanani "district" of the
Zoutpansberg
Zoutpansberg was the north-eastern division of the Transvaal, South Africa, encompassing an area of 25,654 square miles. The chief towns at the time were Pietersburg and Leydsdorp. It was divided into two districts (west and east) prior to the ...
region of
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
.
He was the youngest son of ''khosi'' Ramabulana who died in 1864 when Makhado was about 25. Makhado's mother was Limani, noted for her political intrigue. Makhado's first wife was Nwaphunga. According to Venda historian M. H. Nemudzivhadi, Nwaphunga conspired with a pro-Boer faction among the Venda, and poisoned him in 1895.
Accession
Limani was the daughter of the ''khosi'' of Tshitavhadulu. He intended her to become the new great wife of Ramabulana's younger brother Ramavhoya, then ''khosi'', after her sister's passing. With the voortrekker
Louis Tregardt
Louis Johannes TregardtFootnote (translated): Various opinions exist concerning the spelling of the surname which arrived with Louis' grandfather from Sweden. This forebear and his son almost always wrote it as "Tregard". Louis initially wrote it ...
's assistance, Ramabulana was able to overthrow Ramavhoya (who earlier had unseated him) and took the option to marry Limani.
Genealogy
* Thohoyandou the Great
* Munzhedzi Mpofu (''khosi'' at Tshirululuni till 1829)
* Rasithu (also known as: Rasethau,
[Rasetau means "whose father is a lion"] Ramabulana, Ramapoelana, Munzhedzi and Ravele), ruled c.1830 and 1836–1864), Ramavhoya (ruled c.1830–1836) and Madzhie were sons of Mpofu
* Davhana and Makhado were sons of Ramabulana
* Maemu Malise, Alilali Tshilamulela (Mphephu I, or M'pefu), Sinthumule and Kutama were sons of Makhado
* Mbulaheni George (Mphephu II)
*
Ramaano Patrick (Mphephu III, 1924–1988), president of
Venda bantustan (1979–1988)
* Tshimangadzo (Dimbanyika Thohoyandou II) and Toni (Mphephu Ramabulana)
References
{{reflist
Venda people
Monarchies of South Africa
1895 deaths
People from Limpopo
Year of birth uncertain