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News - Date: 17 February 2006
Thousands of mourners from all walks of life gathered at the Mashau village on Sunday to pay their last respects to the seven fire victims whose bodies were burnt beyond recognition when the house in which they were sleeping was set alight two weeks ago.
On behalf of the traditional leaders, Thovhele Toni Mphephu Ramabulana described the incident as the first of its kind in the history of Vhavenda. He appealed to the various community leaders not to mislead the people into believing that the killing of the seven people was the will of God as other people claim. He appealed to the traditional leaders to join hands in the fight against the brutal killing of people in that fashion, saying they are leaders because of their subjects. “If we stand aside and look on while innocent people continue to be killed in this manner, we will end up having chiefs without subjects,” he said.
The MEC for Health and Social Development in this province, Mr Seaparo Sekwati, who represented the premier at the ceremony, indicated that the disaster was not a matter of serious concern to the bereaved family only, saying the whole province was mourning the killing of the seven fire victims. “We are here to show you that we are sharing the ills and pains that you are going through,” he said.
The local traditional leader, Chief TRV Mashau, revealed that a disaster account has been opened with a view to assist the surviving boy, Bertas Ndobe (16). The account holder is Makananise Disaster Fund, the account number is 330183524, the branch code 05254940 and is held at Standard Bank.
Ndobe was watching television at the neighbours’ when the suspect, Ndidzulafhi Sikhwetha (24) of Tshakhuma village, allegedly tied the door of the hut in which the victims were sleeping to the roof before setting the hut on fire.
The seven people who died in the killer fire are Khakhu Makananise (80), Nancy Makananise (38), Rendani Mudau (21), Tsakani Ndobe (18), Khuthadzo Mudau (16), Rolivhuwa Mutshwana (3) and a two-year-old girl, Aluwani Rabinda.
The funeral was sponsored by the local funeral undertakers, including Tshitshite Funeral Undertakers, Ligaraba Funerals, Makhado Funeral Undertakers, Classic Funeral Undertakers, Mkhari Funerals, MMK Funerals Undertakers, Venda Funeral Parlor, The Dove Funerals and Maeteko Funerals.
Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990. He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.
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