TSHIVHASE – An urgent step must be taken to save the situation in the Tshivhase area, before things totally get out of hand.

There was unrest in the Tshivhase area following the death of youth leader and PAC member Tendani Victor Lukhwareni. The unrest claimed the lives of two people and seriously damaged property and the whole nation sighed with relief when the tense situation calmed down.

However, last Thursday the youths were in the streets again, starting at Tshadama Secondary School. They were demanding that one of the pupils remove himself from the school, because he had allegedly been involved in Tendani's death.

The youths also proceeded to Tshivhase Secondary School where they demanded the same from another youth whom they also accused of knowing something about Tendani's death.

The police confirmed that their vehicle was damaged by the angry youths while they were transporting a teacher at Muhuyu WA Thomba on Monday. The youths also accused the teacher of knowing something about Tendani's death.

During the time of going to press, there was no schooling in the area. Pupils said it was no use going to school to prepare for their future, as they "knew very well that their lives were not safe in the hands of ritual murders."

The regional office of the Department of Education was still trying to find a way to save the learning days for children in the area.

A community leader, Mr Ntsieni Mavhungu, who is also a member of the Crisis Committee, said it was frustrating for parents to encourage children to go to school while police continued arresting the youths on public violence and other charges. In the meantime they were doing nothing about the people who had killed Tendani and those suspected of other ritual murder cases, he said.

A youth leader, Avhatakali Nethononda, also pointed a finger at the police for "worsening the situation by arresting the youths while doing nothing about the suspected ritual murder killers".

The police spokesperson, Capt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi appealed for calmness, while urging the community to come forward with information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of the suspects.