NGWENANI - About 3 000 people gathered at Pfano Primary School in Ngwenani Ya Ha-Mapholi to pay their last respects to the youth leader and PAC member, Tendani Victor Lukhwareni, who was murdered two weeks ago while he was walking home.

His death came five days after he led a community march to the area commissioner's office in Sibasa, where they demanded that the unresolved ritual murder cases from their area be forwarded to the Scorpions, because they had lost faith in the police.

Among those who attended the funeral held last Saturday were the PAC provincial leader Maxwell Nemadzivhanani, Chief Kennedy Midiyavhathu Tshivhase, the MEC for Public Works Collins Chabane, SANDF members, representatives from the South African Council of Churches, youth members and the community members and Tendani's family members.

Chabane said it was unfortunate that Tendani was laid to rest while the rest of the country was celebrating Freedom Day, which Tendani fought for. Chabane said the community should help the government to fight any form of crime as Tendani had already set the trend.

Youth leaders from the PAC said they would pick up where Tendani left off, as he had died for the truth. Nemadzivhanani said the entire community should join hands to fight against ritual murders in the area.

The ANC Youth League also pledged their support to the Tshivhase youth's campaign against ritual murders. However, the ANCYL through their liaison officer Aluwani Netsianda said that they do not support acts of violence and anarchy.

Meanwhile, the PAC's acting Secretary in the province, Nicholas Dangale, said they would call for the transfer of area Commissioner Masipa Maepa to resign, "because he instructed police to act with force while MEC Dikeledi Magadzi was calling for police to act with restrain".

Tendani was honored by his former colleagues from the SANDF. They carried his coffin from the school to the gravesite, where they proceeded with the first part of the funeral, leaving the last part to his former comrades from the PAC.