Tsonga people have lost a father and an adviser
‘EPP’ was involved in education, politics and royal matters
Born: December 5 1927 Died: September 2 Funeral: Tomorrow, at Evangelical Presbyterian Church of SA Burial: At Mhinga royal family grave site, Mhinga village Tsonga people are still trying to come to terms with the death of the man they regarded as “everything” to them.
Edward Percy Piet Mhinga was a leader, historian and an adviser to the community and part of administration of the former Gazankulu homeland in Limpopo.
Mhinga also played a critical role in shaping up the education system of his people over the years.
“EPP”, as Mhinga was affectionately known, died on Saturday after a short illness. He was 89 years old.
He was born into the Mhinga royal family and served as the principal of Mhinga Secondary School in 1969.
It was at that time that Mhinga was recalled by the royal family to be part of the AmaShangane Territorial Authority, which was later renamed Gazankulu Territorial Authority. This was the forerunner to the Gazankulu bantustan for Tsonga/Shangaan people.
In 1973 Mhinga was elected speaker of the Gazankulu legislature. He served until 1978.
A year later, he was appointed the Gazankulu minister of education – a position he held until his retirement from politics in 1994.
Mhinga, together with former Gazankulu prime minister Professor Hudson Ntsanwisi and the Ximoko Progressive Party, formed part of the Codesa dialogues to pave the way for a new democratic dispensation in SA. Codesa – the Convention for a Democratic South Africa – was convened between 1990 and 1993.
After Ntsanwisi’s death in 1993, Mhinga served as acting prime mi nister of Gazankulu
‘ ‘ In 1973 he was elected speaker of Gazankulu legislature
and continued to serve in different committees of Codesa, some in which he served with President Jacob Zuma.
Mhinga will be remembered for his dedication to improve the quality of education and conditions of learners in Gazankulu during the years of apartheid rule in SA.
He will also be remembered as a treasure trove of the Vanwanati history which forms an important part of the Vatsonga people in SA and those in Mozambique and Malawi.
He was a legend, historian and an adviser to the entire royal family and community of Gazankulu.
A short man in stature but a giant at heart, Mhinga was a staunch member and donor of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of South Africa (Swiss Mission).
He will be missed by the royal family, his community and those he served with in the Gazankulu administration.