The untimely death of Tendani Lukhwareni, an SANDF member, PAC youth leader and the chairperson of the Tshivhase Youth Committee, who was shot and killed along the road while he was walking to his home at Ngwenani ya Ha-Mapholi last Thursday morning, has led to the total unrest in the area.

As a sign of their anger about the death of their militant leader, thousands of the youth from the villages of Ngwenani ya Ha-Mapholi, Vhufulwi, Ha-Makhuvha, Tshitereke, Vondwe, Tshidimmbini, Matatshe, Dzingahe and Ngudza blocked the road to Vhufulwi and the T-junction from Tshilamba to Sibasa on Sunday afternoon.

The situation became tense on the same evening when the youth burnt down two homes of the people whom they suspected to be responsible of the death of Lukhwareni. One the same day, Philemon Bongwe (60), the father of Azwindini Bongwe, who was once arrested for the death of the late Grace Nephawe, was killed in front of his home. The house he was sharing with his son, Azwindini, was set alight.

One of the youths, a 19-year-old man, was allegedly shot by one of the people who were suspected of being responsible for the death of Lukhwareni. The youth later died from excessive bloodloss. The man, who was identified as Azwindini's uncle, who is working as a security officer, was arrested on the same day.

The following morning, Monday, the situation became tense as the youths blocked the roads leading to some areas and disrupted the schooling process in every local school and the schools in the Dzingahe area.

A very big crowd of youths then marched along the road to Thohoyandou until a strong police force blocked their way at the Mazhou road. A helicopter and police aeroplane were monitoring the situation as the police pushed the youths back to their homes using two Nyalas and a back-up of more than twenty police vans.

At the Matatshe T-junction the situation became tense as the youths used bus stop structures, old cars, gates, stones and sand to block the roads, while motorists were watching helplessly from a distance. Everything came to a stand- still, as every business and health service was affected by the blockade. Some of the youths hijacked a truck delivering sand, so that they could use the sand to block the road.

On Monday evening the police reported that more houses had been burnt, as well as a butchery and café.

Police spokesperson Captain Ailwei Mushavhanamadi appealed to the youth to keep calm and let the Police investigate the case. Mushavhanamadi confirmed that the situation was so tense that they still could not get to the scenes of the crimes, which he said it would affect their investigations.

Youth leader Avhatakali Nethononda also appealed for calmn, so that police could do their job without difficulty. Nethononda said they wanted to see the arrest of Lukwareni's killers and those involved in other ritual murders, including that of the late Nephawe.

Meanwhile, the ANC Youth League in the province said they have noted with serious concern the deteriorating situation at Ngwenani. The League's Communications Officer, Mr Aluwani Netsianda, said that they supported the demands made by the youth and communities in the area for the police to take swift action in order to solve the murder cases, which have remained pending for a long period.

"We also call on the police to move speedily in arresting suspects for the murder of Lukwareni who was apparently gunned down for his involvement in the demand that justice be done to these cases. On the same note, we do not support the violence and anarchy accompanying his campaign of justice. We do not support the blockade of roads, prevention of the flow of traffic, preventing workers from going to work and students to schools. We condemn the burning of the houses, business and illegal persecution of suspects," he said.

At the time of going to press, two people had been killed and ten houses had been burnt down, as well as two cars. Two people were arrested.