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Giyani is a town in the limpopo province in north eastern South Africa, and former capital of the Gazankulu bantustan. Giyani is located in the heart of Limpopo Bushveld, on the northern bank of the Klein (Little) Letaba River west of Kruger National Park.
Situated in what was the northern portion of Gazankulu, Giyani was
established in the 1960s as the administrative centre for the Tsonga
people. Giyani is now the administrative capital of Mopani District Municipality.
Distance from Johannesburg
Giyani is 478KM north east of Johannesburg and 200KM from the Phalaborwa Gate of the Kruger National Park. The distance between Elim and Giyani is approximately 80KM, Elim is the oldest town in the former Gazankulu territory and was considered the most important centre of enlightenment for the Shangaan people.
Climate
Giyani is situated within the Sub-tropical zone, it can be very hot in summer, reaching more than 36 degrees in summer and minimum of 22 degrees in winter. Summers are hot during the day and nights, Winters are mild during the day and cold during the nights. Rainfall season is between September to March, while winter season starts from April to August. In most years Giyani is likely to experience drought which put Giyani residences to be under pressure as food oncerned. The vegetation and even the lifestocks stave due to the high pressure cell which is mostly experienced in Giyani. The on-coming Climatalogist around Giyani township is Siweya Mfanzile Japhta.
Culture
Residents of Giyani speak Xitsonga as their first language. The Tsonga women perform the xibelani dance and the men enjoy mpuluto and makhwaya. The Tsonga people also engage in a custom dance called mchongolo. The xibelani is an African skirt. Xibelani is a skirt design to make your hips look bigger so the shaking can be apparent. The Tsonga people have their own distinct music where the xibelani dance is extensively enjoyed and it became a custom for all Tsonga bands to have female xibelani dancers. The latest dances in Giyani are Xibebula and Tshetsha. The staple diet in Giyani is maize meal(vuswa) and it is enjoyed in many houses on a daily basis with meat and other vegetables(matsavu)
Sports
Giyani Stadium is the home of Dynamos FC, the team is based in Giyani, and is in the Mvela Golden League.And historically Giyani has been home to Giyani United and Giyani Classic. On the athletics front the 100 metre ace called Peter "Manero" Ngobeni stayed in Giyani during the 80,s.
It is also the home town of the professional boxer Cassius Baloyi.
Economy
Giyani's economy is predominately rural, mielies, peanuts, tomatoes, potatoes, Mangos, Bananas and cattle ranching forms the backbone of the economy. With the country's economic boom, Giyani has now become a retail and entertainment centre for the local population. Modern Shopping centres and a mini mall has uplifted the local economy. These happened over the last few years with the emergence of property developer Masingita Mike Nkuna who, with the help of larger business institutions pationately uplifted the area. People of Giyani are very much ambitious and they are not afraid of taking new initiatives, especially in the business world.
One of the biggest Spar chain stores are also to be found in Giyani. It was started in 1993 and has grown to such an extent that a 2nd Spar was built to accommodate the influx of shoppers to the stores. Several other chain stores such as Pick 'n Pay, Shoprite, Truworths, Markham, Wimpy, Romans and many others have also reached the shores of Giyani.
[edit] Residential areas
Giyani is less populated and the large part of the town's open land is not developed or settled. Giyani Section A, D1, D2, E, F and Kremetart are affluent residential areas in the town. Villages around Giyani are Mhlava Willem, Khakhala, Siyandhani (Hala kava Siweya Mfanzile Japhta), Jimu Nghalalume, Dzingidzingi, Homu (14b,14a,14c,mapayeni, vuhehli,nw'a nkhuwani), Ngove, Nkomo, Thomo, Makoxa, Muyexe, Xikukwana, Mavalani, Mbatlo, N'wadzekudzeku, Xivulani, Bode, Babangu, Sikhunyani, Bambeni, Maphata, Mageva, Basani, N'wamankena, Shimange, Dingamazi, Mghonghoma, Loloka, Mbhedhle, Guwela, Kheyi, Muxiyani, Mayephu, Mzilela, Matsotsosela, Xitlakati, N'wamarhanga, Khashani, Gawula, Phalaubeni, Mbaula, Makhuva, Nsavulani, Shawela, Shikhumba, Maswanganyi, Dzumeri, Hlaneki, Gon'on'o, Majosi, Bungeni, Mavhuza, Noblehoek, Mpepule, Shamfana, Ndhambi, Shikhumba, Ndengeza, Phikela, Rivala, Ximawusi, Bungeni etc.
Education
The people of Giyani value education, however, there are independent schools in the town, Khanyisa Education Centre, Nkwangulatilo Education centre. At the moment, Khanyisa is still a school for the privileged few, better off than all Government run schools. Khanyisa has the best sporting facilities, equipments, classes, and the best teachers by far in the province, apart from Khanyisa, Makovongo High School, Kheto Nxumalo Agricultural High School, Famandha High school, Hanyani Thomo high school, Giyani High School, Gija Ngove, Risinga, Hawuka High, Malenga High, Muhawu and Rithlavile are the greatest centres for academic excellence to emerge from Giyani and these schools have produced very high educated candidates who are part of the people who are growing the country. For higher education, the youth of Giyani typically attend the University of Limpopo, the University of Venda, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and Potchefstroom University.
Tourism
Giyani's location in the African Bushveld attracts a fair number of local and international visitors. The Giyani Golf course keeps Zebras, Giraffe, bushbuck and other herbivores. Viewing of these animals has not yet been commercialised, a living proof of the town's growth potential. At the moment, there are a number of Bed and Breakfast and Guest House facilities for tourist to relax and eat, some are Riverside Guest House, Xisaka bed and breakfast and Mopani Guest House. Limpopo Lodge (formerly Giyani Hotel) is situated at the centre of the town, the hotel is run by the Oasis group, which also run several hotels in other African countries, such as Namibia and Botswana. Man'ombe Nature Reserve is located 6 km east of Giyani.