Members of the Ramaliba family of Khalavha village outside Thohoyandou, who have been in a frantic search for a lost family member, are in a state of confusion, following the discovery of the body of the lost man.

Ndivhuwo Ramaliba (26), an employee of the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) at the Khalavha traditional offices, went missing on 2 October and, after people searched for him for almost two months, he was found hanging from a tree not far from his home.

The discovery of the body, with some parts alleged to be missing, has sent shockwaves through the community, with some people strongly believing that he was murdered somewhere else and then hanged at the cliff next to a local river.

Ramaliba's uncle, Mr Alson Masikhwa, said he was called to the scene at around 15:00 on Friday. "I rushed there and what I saw there has traumatised me so much that it will take a long time for me to forget the scene. He was hanging from a tree very close to the river and the body was totally decomposed.” He also mentioned that there were things which made the family very suspicious. "His trousers were found some three metres from where he was found and his underwear was also found some distance from the body," he said.

He said the circumstances of his nephew's death were very strange and left many questions unanswered about his death. "We are in a state of shock and confusion. We are convinced that he was murdered elsewhere and he was hanged here in order to conceal the evidence. Whoever killed him will face the wrath of God, because nobody may kill other people,” he added.

Ramaliba’s sister, Ms Salome Ramaliba, said her brother was a good man who was always there when they needed him. "My brother left so suddenly. He had a girlfriend whom he wanted to marry. He was a quiet man who only spoke his mind when he had something to say. I do not believe that he killed himself. He would have told us if he had some problems,” she said.

Siloam police spokesperson W/O Edzisani Tharaga confirmed that the decomposed body was found in bushes. "We have opened an inquest docket and the results of the inquest will direct us on what to do. If there is any foul play, we will take it from there," he said.