Facts about Maphalle Village

Ga-Maphalle Village

Maphalle Village (Ga-Maphalle or Pipa) is a village of about two thousand homes and a population estimation of 13000 based in Bolobedu region - a region under the leadership of the Rain Queen Modjadji.

It is believed that the name was derived from the surname Maphalle, one of the families to be situated in the portion of Pipa long before the forced Bantu stand relocation of the late 1960s when black people were grouped in stands. There are varying accounts on how the village was named after this family. The common and most believable account is that their home was and still is situated very close to the bus station. Recurring mention of the surname evolved in the village been named after the family and eventually registered as such.

Sections

The village is subdivided into six main sections: Nyakelane, Byabyamela, Polantane, Nanedi, Sekotiphola and Nkwelemotse.




Chieftency

The village is under the leadership of traditional leader headman Phetole Modika.

Headman Phetole Modika took the reigns from Amos Modika. The Modika family took the leadership of the village from Machipi family in the early 1970s when Mphela Machipi was suspended by the Bolobedu traditional authority.


Main Languages

Maphalle people are predominantly Balobedu who speak the undocumented and yet unrecognized Khilobedu language. Although the language shares much with Sepedi and Tshivenha languages, it is a unique and complete language on its own. Due to failure to include it in the official languages during the 1996 compilation of recognized languages in South Africa, it has been forced into a dialect of Sepedi language.

The village has VaTsongas and VhaVenda people who form part of its people. In general, Khilobedu and Xitsonga are the main spoken languages in the village.

Schools and Daycare centres

The village has two public schools, a primary (Pipa Primary School) and a secondary school (Modisha High School), serving the whole population.  As of 2016, Mr Makgalo S.S is the principal of Pipa Primary school, and Mr Monyepote M.N the acting principal of Modisha High after Mr Phasha M.W retired in 2015.

There are nearly four recognized pre-schools: Selae Pre School (Plantane section), Mawadikwa Daycare centre(Nkwelemotse section), Tswelopele daycare centre (Khithabaneng Section) and daycare centre (Sekotiphola section).

Churches or religious sites

There are nearly 12 ALL Christian denominations in almost every section of the village.

1. Dynamite Word Ministries founded by and led by Pastor Mopai. Membership is between 300 and 500, with a Sunday attendane average of 80-120.

2. Maphalle Assemblies of God founded by the late  Rev. Nicholas Bhengu, and led by Pastor Ngobeni Godfrey as of 2016. This is a branch of the large Assemblies of God Movement church with main offices in Thabanchu - Free State. The denomination has approximately 120 members, with a Sunday turn out of 30 -60 members.

3. Assemblies of God Faith Ministries founded by Pastor Pheeha M.F and his late wife, Pastor Pheeha Magdalene. The church has a membership of over 200 with branches in Mohlabaneng, Fototo and Shawela. Sunday attendances are between 40 and 80 on average.

Other denominations includes the ZCC (Barnabas led, common classified as star church because of the symbol of the badge worn by members), ZCC (Engenas led, also called Leeba or dove, similarly called so for the badge symbol), The IPHC, Roman Catholic, Lutheran church, Seventh Adventist, and Apostolic denominations.