The Mutonga ritual murder case seems to receive much attention from the public and the media, where everyone needs to know the latest news and developments about the case.

However, few people are interested or even aware of the painful living conditions to which the children of one of the six initially accused in the case are subjected.

The 55-year-old Frans Madzive, who stands as accused number one, left his 14 children (and two wives) without a father to look after them, and they were instantly rendered homeless.

In an interview with Limpopo Mirror last week at Madzive's burnt-out, desolate home, one of Madzive's 14 children, Martha (19), said that they had been acutely affected by displacement and uncertainty when the community burnt down their home shortly after their father's arrest on 16 May 2012. “We had to live at an empty, doorless shelter at Waterval before we moved to the stadium,” she told.

The family occupied one of the rest rooms at the Waterval Stadium. However, on Wednesday evening, sewage spilled from a hole directly in front of the door and around the water tap. The stench forced them to go back home to the Magulule section of Mutonga.

Last Thursday afternoon, Martha, her sister Emelinah (14) and half-brother Solani (13) were clearing the wild grass around the shack in the yard. They said that 'people' from the municipality had informed them that it was safe to return home because the municipality had pleaded with the community to welcome them back in the village.

“The community burnt down all our property but we have forgiven them because they acted out of pain, emotion and anger,” Martha said, staring towards the sunrise and looking thoughtful. "We ask our people (community) to welcome us back in the village. We also request them to understand that we didn't do any wrong.”

It was after 14:00 and pupils were walking home from school. Nearly all the pupils shouted greetings in friendly tones to Solani, Martha and Emelinah from beyond the fence. “They are our friends,” smiled Emelinah.

Martha said that it was difficult for her younger siblings to travel long distances and busy roads from the rundown Waterval Stadium, where they had been living temporarily, to the school near Mutonga village each morning. “They risk being knocked down by speeding cars,” said Martha. “That's why we decided to come back home.”

Ward 15's Cllr Sipho Masuka confirmed that the family had returned home last Friday and that he had since arranged for social workers to visit the affected children. He stated that Madzive's children had to feel safe and free in their home and within the community. “Nobody is going to intimidate these children,” said Masuka. “Inasmuch as people are angry, nobody has the right to take the law into their own hands, most particularly when it concerns young, innocent children.”

Masuka said that the affected children decided on their own to return to their home because home was the best place to be for any person. “There's nobody who is going to interfere with their lives through signs, words or pamphlets,” Masuka assured. “As government we are ready to deal with anybody who tries to interfere with their lives.”