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DNA tests still have to confirm the identity of the man who was found burnt beyond recognition in Ravele four weeks ago. Maria Thanyani (left), however, claims that he is her brother, Lavhelesani Joseph Matamela (right). Photo supplied.

DNA backlog delays funeral

 

The family of a man who was found burnt beyond recognition at Ravele four weeks ago is still waiting for his remains to be released, so that they can bury him.

Everything regarding the funeral arrangements was put on hold as the family awaits the release of the DNA results to determine his identity.

The burnt body of a woman, identified through DNA tests as 41-year-old Gloria Ramulongo, was discovered in the bushes at Ravele on 28 June. Shortly after that, two men who were collecting sand around the village at around 17:00 on the afternoon of 7 July stumbled upon another badly burnt body – this time that of a man. The police were notified, and a murder docket was opened.

Limpopo police spokesperson Brig Mojapelo Motlafela dismissed allegations of the murder being ritual-related (for muti purposes) and said that the post-mortem and police investigations would determine the cause of death and what might really have happened, while DNA tests would reveal the man’s identity. The results had not yet been released when Limpopo Mirror went to press with this story last week.

Ms Maria Thanyani, however, claims that the deceased man was her 61-year-old brother, Lavhelesani Joseph Matamela. Thanyani said Matamela had visited her at Lwamondo and left to go back to his home at Ravele on 6 July. She said that she had received a phone call from a community member, who had informed her that a man had been assaulted by four people on the street who had accused him of killing Gloria Ramulongo and driven with him to the bushes, where they had dumped his body. Thanyani had gone to the police and positively identified the deceased as her brother from a piece of T-shirt he had worn the day he left Lwamondo.

“We are very saddened by my brother’s death. How does anyone ever forget something like this?” she asked. “We still have a lot of questions about his death and need answers.” Thanyani pleaded with the police to complete their forensic investigation as the family cannot find closure until his remains are released to them and they can give him a dignified funeral.

According to Thanyani, the police still need to get the DNA results back from Pretoria to confirm that the remains are those of Matamela before the body can be released. She said the family had been waiting for four weeks now for the police’s forensic investigation to be concluded.

“My health is deteriorating each day when I think about the matter of my brother. The forensic police came to me and my younger sister to take blood samples, but since then they have not come back to us. We just want to move forward with our lives, but that is not possible until we have buried my brother’s remains,” said Thanyani. “We have called the police to explain to us what is causing the delay, but nobody cares to explain to us.”

Mojapelo said that, after the post-mortem examination and because the body had been burnt, the doctor’s report requested that the body be sent for DNA tests in Pretoria. Mojapelo urged the family to be patient and said that the results would be back as soon as they were done with the tests. “There is a DNA backlog at the forensic lab in Pretoria. However, we will follow up on the matter to establish why the family was not informed about the cause of this delay. We have since engaged with our forensic team to speed up the DNA process,” he said.

On Monday, 12 July, four suspects were arrested in connection with the murder. Patrick Selota (51), Thabelo Selota (23), Latani Selota (21) and Emanuel Khangale (22) appeared in the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate’s Court again on 27 July. The case was postponed to 4 August for a bail application.

 

News - Date: 30 July 2021

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Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

Email: [email protected]

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