Waterval
Waterval
Njhakanjhaka | |
|---|---|
Waterval Waterval | |
| Coordinates: 23°09′32″S 30°04′05″E / 23.159°S 30.068°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Limpopo |
| District | Vhembe |
| Municipality | Makhado |
| Main Place | Elim, Limpopo |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.60 km2 (1.39 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 7,712 |
| • Density | 2,140/km2 (5,550/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 99.6% |
| • Coloured | 0.1% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.2% |
| • Other | 0.1% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Tsonga | 80.2% |
| • Venda | 15.1% |
| • Other | 4.7% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 1739 |
Waterval is a residential township situated in front of Elim Hospital, in the Hlanganani district of the former Tsonga homeland of Gazankulu. It lies along the R578 road to Giyani in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Waterval includes Njhakanjhaka, Lemana, Elim Hospital, Elim Mall, Hubyeni Shopping Centre and Magangeni, but excludes Shirley village, which is a separate farm. Shirley shares a legal boundary with Waterval and Mbhokota village to the east.
According to mid-2015 population statistics by Statistics South Africa, Waterval had a population of about 9,000 people. It forms part of the Njhakanjhaka Traditional Authority, also referred to as the Elim/Shirley Traditional Authority, which had a combined population of more than 22,000 people in 2015.
The Njhakanjhaka Traditional Authority or Elim/Shirley Traditional Authority proper includes Mbhokota, Bokisi, Chavani, Riverplaats and Nwaxinyamani, with a total population of more than 42,000 people. Due to apartheid policies of the 1960s, the land of the Njhakanjhaka Traditional Authority was reduced to Waterval, Shirley, Lemana and Elim, while the villages of Mbhokota, Bokisi, Chavani, Milaboni, Riverplaats, Tzaneen and Nwaxinyamani were placed under the administration of Chief Njhakanjhaka's firstborn son, Chief Chavani Njhakanjhaka Mukhari. These villages are collectively known as the Nkhensani Tribal Authority, under Hosi Chavani. The offices of the Nkhensani Tribal Authority are located at Chavani village, behind the township of Waterval.