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Luphephe RiverLuphephe River is a tributary of the Nwanedi River in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Its origin is in the Dzumbama/Tshitandani/Tshamulungwi area about 10 km from where Nwanedi River springs on the other side of the mountain. It flows to the north towards the Luphephe Dam. Just before it enters Nwanedi Nature Reserve, it joins the Savhani River supplying Luphephe Dam, whereas Nwanedi River supply water to the Nwanedi Dam. The Savhani River starts in Gwangwatini, passing Ngalavhani, Tshitanzhe, Musunda, Gumela, Helula 2, and Tshikotoni (formerly known as Manzhenge). The communities living closer to the river utilise the Luphephe river for washing clothes, irrigating crops and for maintaining livestock,[1] amongst others. Luphephe river supplied water to livestock dip built in 1927 on Tshikotoni land. Communities of Tshitanzhe, Musunda, Gumela, Helula 2, Tshikotoni and Tshitandani used to dip their livestock there every fortnight at seven o'clock until few years after the dawn of democracy in 1994. It also supplied water to crop farmers on its banks still on Tshikotoni land. The prominent farmers were Mukwevho clan, Dzuguda clan, Phupheli clan, Nekhumbe clan, Chauke clan, Ndou dza Manenzhe clan, Luranga clan and Galauvhe. Luphephe river supplied water for crop farmers on the banks of Helula 2 land. Crops such as sugar canes, maize, sweet potatos, beans, mangos and bananas were farmed there for many generations. The Mathukha/Marubini clan, Phupheli clan (their field were called Makhothoni) , Madumi clan, Kwinda la ha Tshirundu clan, Netshishangane clan, Manenzhe clan and Mukwevho clan were dominant farmers on Helula 2 land. The Mukwevho clan and Manenzhe clan exported beans to national and international markets if they received good harvest in 1980s. Women and young ladies in Tshikotoni, Helula 2 and Gumela used Luphephe river to fetch water for domestic consumption. They would also wash blankets and clothes at Luphephe river for many years. Men and young boys used Luphephe river to fetch fish for survival and swimming. Luphephe Dam and Nwanedi Dam are the arch wall type, and adjacent to each other. Nwanedi Dam on the West, and Luphephe Dam on the Eastern side separated by a hill approximately 100 meters apart. Luphephe Dam wall is 39 meters high with a capacity of 14 800 000 cubic meters. Nwanedi Dam wall is 36 meters high with a capacity of 5 310 000 cubic meters. They were completed in 1964 for the purpose of irrigation. The vertical sluice gates are used to maintain water levels, and control flow of water from both dams into a single canal to convey water for irrigation. This confluence of the Nwanedi and Luphephe rivers is about 500 meters downstream of the Nwanedi/Luphephe Dam. There is a road with concrete bridge, from and to Gumela Entrance Gate, which sometimes get flooded and deposition of sand upstream of the bridge. The canal supply water for crop farming in Folovhodwe village. It also supply water for stock farming and crop farming at Nwanedi Communal Property Association including former Northern Province Agricultural Cooperation. Nwanedi Communal Property Association was established after land claim for redistribution and restitution. The canal form sub-reservoir of Nwanedi Dam and Luphephe Dam also called a Cross Dam,(Gondoza) for the same purpose. The Cross dam supply water for irrigation on the field cultivated along the river downstream of the bridge where Tshipise/Pafuri tar road crosses Nwanedi river.[2] 22°39′S 30°26′E / 22.650°S 30.433°E
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