Ga-Riba

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

Ga-Riba Ga-Makgatha
Ga-Riba Show map of Limpopo Ga-Riba Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 24.552°S 30.223°E / -24.552; 30.223
Country	South Africa
Province	Limpopo
District	Sekhukhune
Municipality	Greater Tubatse
Area [1]
• Total	6.18 km2 (2.39 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	3,073
• Density	500/km2 (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%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)

The village, like many villages in the Limpopo province, was named after its traditional leader (chief), Kgoshi Riba. The village is situated 20km from Burgersfort town and 16 km from Steelpoort.

The current traditional leader of the village is Moswaredi Kgoshigadi Setlogago Gertrude "Hunadi" Riba who succeeded her husband Kgoshi Lehlaba Jonathan "Phogole" Riba after his death. The father to Jonathan was Kgoshi Boas Morewane "Bauba" Riba, who led the village for a long time under different government systems. He is one of the few leaders who allowed his son to succeed him whilst he was still alive in 1982. He had the opportunity to guide and supervise him during his reign.

Kgoshi Jonathan Riba acted as advisor in the office of the minister of agriculture during his reign and while he was still a member of the Lebowa Parliament. Ga-Riba is said to be led by its current crown prince, Phaswane III in future.

The village has various sections such as Ga-Modupi, Mmiditsi, Ga-Komane, Theding, Maripane, Makotleng, Maswikane, Ga-Khulwane, Dithabaneng, Dipatsaneng and more. 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 one primary school called Ntepane primary school which for a long time was led by Principal Ramaepadi during kgoshi Morewane's reign. Access to schools was later improved when the community at Ga-Modupi 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.