Despite all the campaigns by Government and several concerned organizations to sensitize communities on violence against women and children, women and children are still at the receiving end in this country.

Only a fortnight ago, there was an outcry in Vhembe when a nine-year-old girl, Mutshidzi Ramanyimi of Tshilungoma, was found dead after being missing for almost a week.

On Monday, the community of Lwamondo-Mathule outside Thohoyandou had a rude awakening when they were roused by screams for help by a dying woman. The community could not help her in time and she was allegedly killed by her lover, who is believed to be a mental care patient.

Ms Jane Magadani (62) who once stayed with the suspect but was staying alone  in her house, had her head crushed. Her head was crushed by big stones, following what people in the neighbourhood believe was a domestic quarrel.

Fearing that he had killed the woman, the man tried to commit suicide by cutting his throat.

Residents said the man used to stay with the woman, but  he had moved out some time ago. They said quarrels were a constant occurrence mostly towards the end of the month because of money. It is alleged that the couple had quarreled the previous day but the man left, only to come back the following day whereupon he is said to have killed the woman before cutting his own throat with a panga.

The man, whom many thought had died, was taken to hospital in a critical condition. " The police let us down. They knew the man is a mental patient, and after we had reported that he was becoming violent, they should have taken him to hospital. They left him free and now he has killed the poor woman," said a resident, who preferred anonymity.

News of the gruesome incident came as a shock to the community. Within a short space of time, almost the whole community had gathered at the house of death. There was blood everywhere and the stones that were used to crush the woman’s head were still there. Even the bloodied knife was at the scene.

Dean Alunamutwe Rannditsheni of the Devhula Lebowa Circuit and a human rights champion, who was also at the scene, said he had never seen such cruelty. “There is a demon lingering  here. There are so many campaigns against violence on women and children, but still women face these horrendous acts at the hands of people who are supposed to protect them,” he added.

The leader of Rhema Kingdom Life at Tshifulanani, Dr Tshifhiwa Muligwe, where the deceased congregated and the chairperson of the Munna ndi nnyi Men’s Forum, Mr Bardwell Mufunwaini, who were also there, expressed outrage at the incident.

Vuwani police spokesperson W/O Elijah Malatjie said that they had received a report around 11:00 that a man had killed his wife at Lwamondo-Mathule. “We arrested a man who is now recuperating at a local hospital,” he added. He added that the man would appear in court as soon as he was discharged form hospital. The age of the man could not be determined as he cannot speak.

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