Woman’s murder “not a ritual killing”

The family of Tshinakaho Khorommbi (52) are still struggling in their search for answers, following her mysterious death.  She was found dead in the house of her employer, Ms Sarah Letsoalo, at Matangari village on 13 July.

Khorommbi’s death sparked controversy in the small village of Matangari and the surrounding areas. An employee of the Department of Home Affairs, the owner of a lounge and a restaurant, was accused of  “killing her kitchen lady for ritual murder purposes.”

Police spokesperson W/O Tshilidzi Nyambeni of the Mutale Police Station said that no body part was missing from Khorommbi’s body. “The victim was found dead in a pool of blood, with 15 stab wounds to the head and another 15 stab wounds to the body. It looks like a sharp object like a screwdriver was used to stab the victim, but no body parts were missing and the postmortem also confirmed that,” said Nyambeni.

Nyambeni also revealed that a woman was taken to the police station where she was questioned about the death of Khorommbi. “We questioned her and released her as we could not link her to Khorommbi’s death. It was a procedural thing to question her, but we could not keep her in the cells if we could not link her to the death of Khorommbi. We are still continuing with our investigations on the murder case we have opened,” said Nyambeni.

The community of Matangari went on the rampage and damaged the main gate and four windows of the woman's home last Saturday. The angry community also blocked the road from Mokonde junction to Matangari with rocks, electricity poles and other objects.

Nyambeni has appealed to the community to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.  He said the community should “help us with information that can lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of the suspects who are responsible for this murder.”

Meanwhile, Mbulungeni Mphaphuli, who is a cousin of the late Khorommbi, said: “We are not happy about the way in which the police are handling the case. It is true that there was no body part missing from Khorommbi’s body, but the testimony of the woman we suspect is very suspicious.  We want her to explain what happened to my cousin,” said Mphaphuli.

Khorommbi was buried two weeks ago at her home village of Mukovhawabale, near Muswodi village, outside Thohoyandou.

News - Date: 09 August 2013

Ndivhuwo Musetha

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