The bones of little Sarina Ndou (4), who was allegedly killed for muti in 2000, were finally buried last Wednesday.

The burial took place at the Malale cemetery.

The bones were kept in the ceiling of the Malale Community Centre for the past 12 years, after the family refused to bury her until the people who had allegedly murdered her were apprehended. The ceremony was attended by community members, Cllr Fistos Mafela, family members and Vhamusanda Vho-Nemalale.

The girl’s mother, Ms Josephine Ndou, said her little girl was sent by a relative to buy bread when she disappeared. “We became worried when my little girl did not return and it was becoming late. We reported the matter to the local headman, who immediately summoned the police. We searched all over, but she was nowhere to be found. The search continued for two weeks, but it was fruitless.”

She said community members saw an old lady with a young girl on her back heading towards the bush on the same day her little girl disappeared. “People said the child was crying uncontrollably, but the old woman kept on walking to the bush. I believe it was my child who was being delivered to muti killers,” she added.

The girl’s bones were later discovered by women who were looking for wood in the mountain and forensic tests confirmed that they belonged to the little girl. When the police returned with the bones for the burial, family members refused to bury them because they believed little Sarina had been murdered for muti.

Ms Ndou said that she was convinced by Cllr Mafela and other family members to bury the bones, “but I need the suspects to be brought to book,” she added. According to her, the case needs to be reopened.