Ga-Riba

Ga-Riba Ga-Makgatha
Ga-Riba Ga-Riba Ga-Riba  Ga-Riba shown within Limpopo
Coordinates: 24°33′07″S 30°13′23″E / 24.552°S 30.223°ECoordinates: 24°33′07″S 30°13′23″E / 24.552°S 30.223°E
Country	South Africa
Province	Limpopo
District	Sekhukhune
Municipality	Greater Tubatse
Area[1]
• Total	6.18 km^2 (2.39 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	3,073
• Density	500/km^2 (1,300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
• Black African	99.9%
• Other	0.1%
First languages (2011)[1]
• Northern Sotho	91.4%
• S. Ndebele	5.0%
• Other	3.5%

Ga-Riba is a village located in the Bushveld Complex in Greater Tubatse Local Municipality in the Limpopo province of South Africa.

The village, like many rural villages in the Limpopo province, was named after its king, Kgosi Riba. The village is situated 20km from the town of Burgersfort and 16 km from Steelpoort.

The current king of the village is Kgoshigadi Hunadi Riba who took over from the former king who passed away, Lehlaba Jonathan Riba. The father to Jonathan was Kgoshi Boas Morewane Riba, a very intelligent man who led the village for a long time under different government systems. He is one of the few leaders who allowed he son to succeed him whilst he was still alive in 1982. He had the opportunity to guide him and supervise him during his reign and his death. He was a very intelligent and brilliant king

The village has various sections such as GaModupi, Mmidite, GaKomane, Theding, Maripane, Makotleng, Maswikane, GaKhulwane, Dithabaneng and Dipatsaneng. Some of these sections have since been deserted by the communities and resettled at a new section called New Stands. Most had to leave the sections at which they were born in order to live closer to services such as electricity, schools, public roads and so on.

The village has grown exponentially despite the fact that many of its children have descended the mountain and resettled in places like Praktiseer, Burgersfort, Makgemeng, etc.

Initially the village was served by only one primary school called Ntapane primary school which for a long time was led by Principal Ramaepadi during kgosi Morewane's time. Access to schools was later improved when the community at GaModupi initiated the building of another primary school called Tantanyane primary school which was assigned to the leadership of Ms Asa Riba who was commonly known as Mistress Riba or just Mistress. She is one of the longest serving teachers in the community who taught children, their parents up to their grand parents. She was very discipline and order oriented, also very much hygiene and religious aware. Letau High School opened its doors officially in the early eighties after it started operating on the premises of Ntepane High School. Its inception Principal was Mr Kgoale who was assisted by only one teacher Mr Ishmael Marebane who also later became a Principal at another school.

The village is blessed with beauty of nature, fauna and flora. Unfortunately investors have not seen the reason to come and develop the resources for tourists.

References

1. "Main Place Ga-Riba". Census 2011.