ADVERTISEMENT:
News - Date: 14 July 2006
The mutilated body of a 38-year-old woman was discovered at Mulodi Mountain, near Tshilamba on Sunday. The deceased was later identified as Shonisani Thinandavha of Mulodi village. Her upper lip, right handpalm, left ear and the front part of her breasts were sliced off. She was naked from the waist down and a rope was tied around her neck.
What makes her death more painful is that the deceased has left behind seven kids, including a three-month-old baby. Shonisani was a single, unemployed parent, who survived on selling firewood.
Shonisani’s elder sister, Maria Hamisi, said her younger sister went to collect some firewood at the local mountain on Saturday morning and never came back. “She always went to the mountain to collect wood and came back safely, but that day, we were surprised she did not come back. I don’t know why these people killed her in such a cruel manner because she was a hard worker who sacrificed her life to raise her kids by selling firewood. It is clearly an act of ritual murder because some of her body parts are missing. How many more must die before all the ritual murderers are brought to book? My sister went to the mountain to fetch some firewood with some local children. She allegedly told the children to go back home while she continued to fetch more firewood, but we were surprised when she did not come back when the sun set. We went to the mountain and searched with torches but we suspended the search because it was becoming darker and darker…”
Maria said the family informed the police and the local headman and the search continued on Sunday morning.
“A huge crowd of villagers and the police went to the mountain and continued the search. We conducted the search around the mountain until we made the gruesome discovery in the bushes. My sister was lying on her back and her right handpalm, upper lip, left ear and front parts of the breasts were missing. It was clear that she died a painful death because history says the ritual murderers remove the body parts while one is still alive.”
The deceased’s firstborn son, Tshifhiwa, said his mother’s death has brought misery to the family. “We looked upon her for survival and now that she has been murdered, we are facing the future with uncertainty. I want the people who murdered my mother to be arrested and rot in jail because what they did is inhuman, cruel and barbaric. They must work hard to have wealth instead of using human body parts for their own selfish reasons.”
Vhembe police spokesperson Supt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi confirmed the incident and further indicated that the deceased’s right palm, upper lip, left ear and the front parts of her breasts were sliced off. “We are investigating a case of ritual murder following the incident but no one has been arrested so far. We will never leave a stone unturned in this case. We expect to make an arrest soon.”
* The family is appealing for community assistance in covering the burial costs of the deceased because they are too poor to bury her. The family also needs assistance to make sure that the deceased’s kids, six of them still at school, continue with life. The three-month-old baby, Ridotshila, also needs warm clothing, baby milk and other basic needs.
Community members who would like to help the family can call 073 049 8880.
Search for a story:
ADVERTISEMENT
The economic conditions in Zimbabwe forced Tanaka Moyo (40) to legally seek greener pastures in Musina. He opted for a unique business plan, selling the wild jujube fruit to make a living. The fruit, called masau in Shona, is better known as mazwilu in Tshivenda.
As the unemployment rate in South Africa continued to rise, a group of women from Makonde village decided to start a community-based project to create job opportunities for themselves. However, it is very difficult to continue with the project without support from the government or the private sector.
At the age of 104, William Masindi Sadiki still has many stories to tell. Some of these are about his experiences during World War II, when he was part of the North Africa campaign. He is one of the few black soldiers from that era still alive, and he proudly pins his war medals on his chest on formal occasions.
The Rivoni School for the Blind in in Njakanjaka village in the Vhembe District has 167 learners from Grade R to Grade 12. The school was started in 2016 by the Rivoni Society for the Blind, founded in June 1975 at Elim Hospital by late Swiss doctor Erwin Sutter. The society later transferred responsibility for the school to the Department of Education.