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November 13, 2012 For Immediate Release

VHAVENDA JOINS OEAS Washington DC: Vhavenda has become a charter member of the Organization of Emerging African States - OEAS, a governmental organization established in 2010 that promotes self determination and the end to colonial era boundaries in Africa. Vhavenda joins OEAS member states like Cabinda (FLEC-FAC), Southern Cameroons (SCYL), Mthwakazi (MLF-MPC) and Biafra (BGIE) in seeking self determination for its people. Vhavenda is represented at the OEAS through the Dabalorivhuwa Patriotic Front (DPF). Vhavenda The Vhavenda are one of many tribal groups within South Africa, and despite their language being recognised as one of the eleven official languages of South Africa, their main aim is to establish their traditional leaders as the local authorities of their territory with legitimate jurisdiction. To date their chiefs and leaders do have influence amongst their people, but since their re-integration into South Africa, and loss of homeland status in 1994, they are now governed by the State law of South African government. The division of South Africa into nine provinces in 1994 saw the Vhavenda incorporated into what was first known as the Northern Transvaal, then later the Northern Province, and today is known as the Limpopo. Dabalorivhuwa Patriotic Front (DPF) The DPF seeks self determination for Vhavenda and has a case pending before the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights regarding protections for civil pensions from Vhavenda. The DPF and its leader, Makhale Tshifhiwa Samuel, have

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ORGANIZATION OF EMERGING AFRICAN STATES www.oeas.info oeas.fbfollow.me secretariat@oeas.info

expressed a keen interest in closely coordinating legal matters with the OEAS as well as establishing bilateral relations with other member states. For more information contact: Ebenezer Derek Mbongo Akwanga, Jr., Secretary General OEAS Jonathan Levy, PhD Chief Administrative Officer OEAS secretariat@oeas.info www.oeas.info For more information on Vhavenda vhavenda@oeas.info

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