Another gruesome murder has shocked the Vhembe district - this time in the village of Mbilwi outside Sibasa. Last Friday, the visibly mutilated body of Ms Elinah Mphaphuli (60) was found in a banana plantation.

It is believed that she met her tragic end after enjoying some liquor with locals at a nearby spaza shop. Her body was found just behind the spaza shop.

After news of the gruesome find had spread though the village, angry villagers barricaded the streets, protesting against what they said was the senseless murder of an innocent granny. The local Sanco leader, Mr Alson Nndanganeni, said the community was angry about the killing of people by suspected ritual murderers.

“We are sick and tired of these killings. There have been four mysterious deaths in this village and this has left the community gripped by fear, not knowing who will be next. I saw Mphaphuli’s body and it was really shocking. It seemed as if they had used an angle grinder to kill her. Her eyes were gouged out, she did not have lips and her scalp had also been severed. I have never seen such cruelty,” he said.

The deceased’s younger sister, Ms Aluwani Mphaphuli, said she had visited her sister last Friday. “We spent some time together. She even cooked food for us and she accompanied me to my home at around 15: 00. At the nearby spaza shop, we met an old man who said he had some liquor at his place. They left together with my sister and, after a while, they came back with a can of beer,” she said.

She said another local woman who was there gave her R10 to buy homemade brew, not far from the spaza shop. She said the sister came back with the brew and they indulged in it at the spaza shop.

“Around 17: 30, I left with the other people, and that was the last time I saw my sister alive. I later heard she was found dead in the banana plantation just behind the spaza shop. After hearing of the sad news, I rushed to the scene and found that the police and members of the community were already there,” she said.

“The police allowed us to identify the body and I could not look straight at it as I was in a state of shock. I later learned, however, that her scalp was bare, she did not have her nose and lips. This makes me believe that she was ritually murdered and I do not have doubts about that. I strongly believe that the people who were with her know what happened to her or had a part in her murder.”

The deceased’s daughter-in-law, Ms Takalani Makhwathana, said the murder had been pre-planned. "They waited for me to go to Mpumalanga, where my husband works, and then attacked her. Her death has left a big void in the family as she was the parent figure. I just hope the police will do their job and apprehend the perpetrators and put them behind bars. They have robbed us of a very good person,’ she said.

Thohoyandou police spokesperson Const Avhafarei Tshiovhe said nobody had been arrested so far in connection with the incident, but investigations were continuing.