Local Voices Behind Tshulu
These stakeholders primarily hope for consistent monthly visits from groups, as well as improvements to Tshulu Camp to better accommodate guests. Current visits are sporadic, with some months seeing multiple groups and others, no visitors at all. As their salaries depend on these visits, and with few other places to work in the area, they may be forced to leave and find work in Johannesburg, or remain unemployed. The continued survival of Tshulu Trust and the various opportunities for employment it provides, as well as expansion of the homestay program, are vital to the local communities’ wellbeing and livelihoods.
Rodney Munyai, Camp Manager (left), and Mr. Thompson Malala, Facilities Manager (right)
Rodney Munyai and Mr. Thomson Malala
When Rodney Munyai learned of a night security internship at Tshulu Research Camp, along with the Trust’s mission, he jumped at the opportunity to apply and secured the position. Eventually working his way up to Camp Manager in 2011, Rodney continues to hold that role today. Before working at the Trust, Rodney was a security guard in Johannesburg and supported his wife and four children back in HaMakuya through remittances.
An engineer and jack of all trades with extensive knowledge of the area’s geography, Mr. Malala was approached by the Trust to actualize plans for the camp. He advised the board on the best location to build the camp’s facilities and set out doing the masonry, contracting, electrical, and welding work necessary to make the camp a reality. Tshulu Camp stands tall because of his continuing work. Whenever any maintenance needs occur, he is contacted to rectify the issue. He is married to Sarah, one of the camp’s housekeepers, and supports a family of nine.
Recognizing the challenges of raising a family in the area, the two men have stated that working for the Trust has helped them put their children through school. Both men would like to expand the camp so that they can bring more visitors to the area and employ more local people to the benefit of entire families and communities.
Fhatuwani Makuya, Translator and Homestay Coordinator
Fhatuwani Makuya
Born in HaMakuya and vital to the operations of the Trust, Fhatuwani is a translator who speaks fluent Tshivenda and English. With an intimate understanding of the HaMakuya community and ability to communicate most effectively with community members, Fhatuwani arranges all homestay experiences for visiting university students and researchers, and helps to recruit community members for building projects at the camp. When he is not arranging homestays, he is a nature and birding guide at Tshulu Camp and currently training to track poachers for South Africa National Parks as a game guard.
Gladys Tshinavhe (left) and Phelinah Ntshauba (right), two of the housekeepers at Tshulu.
Gladys Tshinavhe, Phelina Ntshauba, Sarah Mushayi and Vhuthu (not pictured)
As housekeepers at Tshulu Camp, Gladys, Phelinah, Sarah, and Vhuthu prepare the guest houses, wash the sheets, clean the facilities, and cook the most delicious food, ensuring that visitors are well taken care of. All four women hail from nearby communities, with Gladys and Sarah living in Guyuni Village.
Gladys began working for the Trust in 2007 and jokes that she is especially proud that the sheets have remained white all of these years. Gladys comes from a large family and uses her wages from working at the camp to support her four children, particularly her oldest who attends University in Johannesburg. As a direct result of groups visiting Tshulu and participating in the homestay program, her son is receiving his degree in physics and chemistry. Working or not, Gladys is always cracking jokes and infecting others with her contagious laughter. At home in Guyuni, you can find her raising chickens and pigs and growing spinach and tomatoes in her garden.
Sarah had no work experience prior to working for Tshulu, but secured the housekeeping position by impressing the interviewers with her cooking, particularly with her beef stew, or as she says, her best meal. From her salary and additional funds obtained from selling eggs and chickens, Sarah supports three sons. Her favorite part of working for Tshulu is sharing her culture with visitors to the camp as she thinks that it is important for people to know about Venda culture. In her limited free time, she listens to music and sings, despite having what she says is “not a good voice”. Sarah recently married Mr. Malala, the camp’s Facilities Manager.