Thovhele Vho Mutele Livhuwani Ntshandule makes history as the first female to ascend the throne

South Africa’s transformation of gender equality concerning traditional leadership is bearing fruit. The evident jubilation during the installation and recognition of the young, Thovhele Vho Mutele Livhuwani Ntshandule of Ha Mutele Traditional Council on 10 October 2025 in Ha Mutele Village situated within the Musina Municipality, gathered the Limpopo Provincial government leadership, traditional representatives, and community members to witness the first ever female ascending the throne in the history of Mutele.

A traditional leader such as chief or queen ascends the throne through lineage, and not by democratic votes. The patriarchal system in previous decades denied women to be in position of traditional authority, thus, it is historic in the Mutele village to have a female traditional leader.

Raised as a princess by her late parents, Hosi Mutele, Vho Thovele was afforded an opportunity to pursue her studies at the University of Venda where she graduated with cum laude from her Honours in Social Work and Psychology. This allowed her to have a sophisticated insight in being an ethical and committed leader to her people while exercising the empathy she practiced during her formal higher education training.

During her tenure as the woman who broke barriers for generations to come, Vho Thovhele’s upbringing coupled with experience of being in the city grounded by her rural understanding of challenges faced by her community will provide her with more capable leadership skills to address the needs of her people by applying traditional and modern solutions and successfully lead in a space densely dominated by male.

During her acceptance speech, Vho Thovhele appreciated the Limpopo provincial government’s role of participating in the historic moment for the Ha Mutele community. She also encouraged young people like her to continue investing in education to overcome poverty by shaping their knowledge to change circumstances in their lives and communities.

Congratulating Vho Thovhele, Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba said that she stands firm in supporting her tenure. Hence, the 7th administration under her leadership is committed towards finalising a framework that will support traditional councils to lease land for sustainable investment to generate income and create economic opportunities to traditional areas. EC