Historically, the natural home of the Tsonga people is in the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park in Northern KwaZulu Natal stretching north into Maputo and in today's Kruger National Park.
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Chief Nhjakanhjaka, who was a headman of Spelenkon, exercised authority over thousands of Tsonga refugees, but Joao Albasini, a Portuguese adventurer of 'mixed blood' or half caste, also contested for power over the control of the thousands of Tsonga refugees in the Spelenkon district, at the end, Chief Nhjakanhjaka was undermined when Joao Albasini declared himself a paramount chief of all Tsonga people in the whole Spelenkon district .