Tzaneen

Tzaneen is a large tropical garden town situated in the Mopani District Municipality of the Limpopo province in South Africa. It is situated in a high rainfall fertile region with tropical and subtropical agriculture taking place in a 20000 km2 region. It is Limpopo's second largest town after Polokwane.

About 475,000 people reside within a 30 km radius, with the town itself holding a population of 14,571, according to the 2011 census. The town of Tzaneen is composed predominantly of Afrikaans-language whites and a mix of Tsonga and Balobedu and Bapedi. In the extended area around the town, there are approximately 225,000 people from the Northern Sotho ethnic nation of Balobedu ba ga Modjadji. Bapedi tribe such as BaNareng ba ga sekororo, Batlou ba ga makgoba, Bathlabine ba ga mogoboya, BaKgaga ba maake, Bakgaga ba maupa and Babirwa ba ga Raphahlelo, phooko and Bakoni ba Mametja and Bakhutama ba GA Modiba. There are approximately 220,000 Tsonga from the ethnic groups of Shiluvane-Nkuna and Hosi Muhlaba-Shiluvane (132,000 people), and Valoyi under Hosi Nwamitwa-Valoyi (91,000 people). The White population consists mainly of the Afrikaner people and a minority of English, Portuguese, Scottish, Irish, Jewish and German. The distance from Tzaneen to Johannesburg is approximately 420 km.

Origin of the name
Tzaneen's name is derived from a Northern Sotho word 'Tsaneng', which refers to a small basket called 'Tsana'. Tsana was made of bamboo grass called Lehlaka. Due to the fertile riverbank, the area was known to produce high-quality bamboo grass used to make different types of utensils. Tsana was a popular utensil made in the area, which attracted customers from different areas. Later the area would be known as DiTsaneng (a place where Tsanas are made).The area bordering the Great Letaba River was named Tsanakolo(meaning the place of the big reed) and occupied by the Prince of Balobedu kingdom named Modika, who was the eldest son of the first male ruler and founder of the Bolobedu kingdom named Makgaphele or Phetole. Makgaphele was the son of Princess Dzungudini. It is said Makgapele had three known sons from the senior house namely Modika, Mahasha and Mohale. The descendants of the three brothers are the original royal families of the Balobedu nation and are an integral part of the Modjadji Royal family. To date the descendants of the Modika clan are referred to as batsanakolo or motsanakolo. Balobedu are the first to occupy the area using the great or and klein Letaba Rivers as a border of the Balobedu Land until they were forcefully removed by the European settlers. European settlers built the modern-day town using the name Tzaneen, and the name remains to this day.

Geology and geography
Tzaneen is Limpopo's paradise and it has been nicknamed 'Land of Silver Mist' because of the frequent mist that occur on the mountains above it. It is located in lush, tropical surroundings and is home to Limpopo's highest mountain, the Iron Crown Mountain, lying more than 2200 m above sea level. The Iron Crown mountain, also known by its Afrikaans name Wolkberg, supports Limpopo's biodiversity and is home to South Africa's second largest indigenous forest after Tsitsikamma forest in the southern Cape. Weather can change very fast from clear skies to being misty, with the highest reaches enveloped in clouds. Hence the name of the range, meaning "Cloud Mountain" in Afrikaans. The Wolkberg is rugged, with rocky shoulders and deep humid gorges. There are rare plant and animal species in these areas. Species such as the Wolkberg Zulu (Alaena margaritacea), the Wolkberg widow (Dingana clara) and the Wolkberg sandman (Spialia secessus), have been named after these mountains. The Wolkberg area is one of only two areas in the world where the critically endangered butterfly, Lepidochrysops lotana, are found. The Iron Crown Mountain is a protected area in terms of South African law. The Groot Letaba River, Middle Letaba River and Klein Letaba River all rise up in these mountains.

Agriculture
Tzaneen produces about 40% of South Africa's avocados, 40% of South Africa's mangoes and 20% of South Africa's bananas. Tzaneen also produces 90% of South Africa's tomatoes, making South Africa the world's 40th largest tomato producer. Even though South Africa is ranked 40th in terms of tomato production, the ZZ2 farms are the world's biggest producer of tomatoes. Tzaneen is also the biggest producer of pine plantations in the Limpopo Province, accounting for more than 85% of Limpopo's pine and bluegum production. The majority of Tzaneen's tropical indigenous forest were cleared for the production of pine, bluegum, banana, avocado and other agricultural plantations.

The economy of Tzaneen depends largely on farming fruits, vegetables, animals and timber. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of Tzaneen, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured its development. Water is supplied from several dams in the area, including Tzaneen Dam, Merensky Dam and Magoebaskloof Dam, although water boreholes are also common in Tzaneen, for watering crops and performing household chores.

A wide range of fruit are grown in the Tzaneen area, notably mangoes, bananas, oranges, tomatoes and avocados. Pine and eucalyptus plantations are also a common sight in the area around the town, particularly toward Modjadjiskloof, Magoebaskloof and Haenertsburg. The plantations serve a number of sawmills located in the area.

Education
Tzaneen branch is charged with the responsibility of effecting quality education and training for all. It was during this time that the branch had to shape up its direction and coordinate all professional developments and support. Policies, systems, and procedures had to be developed. This was not easily achievable due to a lack of personnel to effect change. Tzaneen still remains as one of the areas in South Africa with a high rate of tertiary graduates but a low employment rate.

Sports
Soccer and rugby are the main sports in Tzaneen. Soccer is widely played in rural areas and townships. Mountain hiking became popular teams like Tzaneen Hiking Club, Mount Sibu hiking and Bokgaga hiking Club.

Tourism
Tourism is also an important part of the Tzaneen economy, along with agribusiness. Tzaneen offers great country and town accommodation for visitors.

There are many tourist attractions around the small town of Tzaneen, including the beautiful Tzaneen Dam, Magoebaskloof, Haenertsburg and Wolkberg mountains. The town is also situated close to a number of game reserves and the town often serves as a thoroughfare for tourists on their way to other tourist destinations in the province. The well-known Kruger National Park, for instance, is situated approximately 100 km away.

The Vervet Monkey Foundation is located just outside Tzaneen where it cares for over 600 vervet monkeys.

Weather
Mostly sunshine, long summer days with pleasant winters. Tzaneen's subtropical conditions provide more suited weather for dense forests (high summer rainfall) than the thorny bushveld above the escarpment and further to the east.

The summer months, September – March, have an average temperature of 28 C and winter months around 15 C. Rainfall averages from around 800 mm per year in town to over 1500 mm per year in the mountains.

Notable people

 * Tito Mboweni (born 1959), businessman, economist and former central banker
 * Cassel Mathale former Limpopo Premier, Current DP
 * Marchant de Lange (born 1990), international cricketer
 * Master KG, singer, record producer
 * King Monada, singer
 * Mahlatse "Chiliboy" Ralepelle (born 1986), rugby player
 * Trevor Nyakane, South African rugby union player
 * Judas Moseamedi, PSL player
 * Andrew Rabutla, former Jomo Cosmos F.C. player
 * Ernst Roets (born 1985), Deputy CEO of AfriForum
 * Peta Teanet, Music Producer and Singer
 * Benny Mayengani, Singer
 * Ndavi Nokeri, Miss South Africa 2022