Tiyani is a village situated on the banks of the Middle Letaba Dam in the Hlanganani District of the former Gazankulu homeland and currently form part of the Vhembe District Municipality in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Before Waterval, next to Elim Hospital was developed, Tiyani used to housed the Hlanganani Regional court and the Hlanganani Police station. Today it houses the second Magistrate court in the former Hlanganani district, the New Tiyani Magistrate court, which was inaugurated in 2016 by the deputy minister of Justice and Constitutional development, Mr John Jeffrey and replaced the now defunct Tiyani branch court, which was established in 1960.The Tiyani Branch Court was, for a short period, an outpost of Hlanganani Regional Court in Waterval, Elim. The Hlanganani Police station has remained at Tiyani, while the new Waterval Police Station, together with Hlanganani Regional court were established by the Gazankulu Administration at Waterval township in 1980, next to Elim Hospital. Officially the place is known as Tiyani, but the area is popularly known as Magoro and was named after a Venda Chief Magoro, who occupied the area before the Tsonga people arrived. The Tsonga people arrived here as refugees from Mozambique during the wars of Manukosi, also known as Soshangane. Forced removal of Venda people took place during the 1960s when Tiyani was declared a Tsonga area and incorporated into Gazankulu homeland. Magoro was also a site where a group of 60 Boer commandos, directed by Joao Albasini and Head chief of VaTsonga, Chief General Nwa-Manugu, attacked its people, massacred more than 300 people and killed Chief Magoro's son. The military campaign was carried out because chief Magoro had refused to pay tax levied by Joao Albasini and his continued support for King Makhado.
Tiyani consist of different Chiefdom's who were placed on the area after the removal of Magoro. These are Chief Xihimu, Chief Mdono, Chief Manghove, Chief Mangurwani and Chief Nkanyani. The names of the original sections are derived from the Chiefs name based on their section of settlement. Second generation sections were created with people from different chiefs depending on which Chief granted permission for the stand the stand owner will be a subject of that particular chief. The Second generation sections are Vata Fika, Tsema ra ha vona, Russia, Manyunyu, Hluvula Baji and Wisa Galaza. Education Facilities There are a number of pre-school centres. Five Primary Schools are based at Tiyani namely: Goza Primary School; Kulani Primary School; Vulani Primary School, Vungela Primary School and Nkanyani Primary School. Secondary Education is catered for by Four schools namely: Akani High School, Mahlorhi High School, Tiyani Secondary School and N'wamalobye High School.
Health Facilities
Two health facilities are available to service the community, a clinic in the eastern side at Xihimu Section and a Main Health center on the western side. One of the first Pioneers a.k.a Nkisi N'wa Klaas and her apprentice co founder Nurse Roselet Nkanyani who walked house by house back in the days treating people of the Glaucoma Eye Disease and teaching hygiene awareness.
Economic Activities
Large scalesubsistence farming is practiced at Tiyani with small scale commercial farming also taking place. Some businesses developed as a result of farming, like the mill where maize is being milled into maize meal. Different business can be found in the area with some being specialty business like Jan Road Glazing Shop, Tiyani Book Shop, Tiyani Dairy, Mathye welding works, Diza Butchery and Toy Tyres. Mamba Complex hosts the biggest supermarket in the area, there are a variety of supermarkets, spaza shops and a number of street vendors. A number of ATM's can be found in the village representing some of the main national banks.
