The community of Tshishushuru outside Thohoyandou and surrounding villages has been engulfed in shock and fear, following the discovery of a burnt-out body in bushes not far from the village.

The body of a local man, Mr Elvis Davhana (aged around 44), was found on Sunday morning nearly totally destroyed, with only part of the head left. The car in which he was found was also completely gutted.

Ironically, a doll with the word LOVE inscribed on it was found next to the burnt-out shell of the car. 

Information at this paper’s disposal is that the man had an argument with his wife the previous day, after allegedly finding suspicious contact numbers on the wife’s cell phone. A serious argument allegedly led to an assault and the injured woman was taken to hospital.

Information provided by someone close to those involved is that the man received a phone call from the police after the assault. It is alleged that the police wanted to confiscate the car, which allegedly belonged to the man's wife. It is also alleged that the man feared that he might have killed the woman and, in trying to avoid being arrested, drove to some bushes not far from the village, where he set himself alight inside the vehicle.

Residents who live nearby said they heard a big bang in the  morning. "We could hear the direction it came from and that was why we did not take long to locate this place. We are worried because this is not the first  burnt-out body to be found here. A soldier was found burnt to death two years ago, and we feel that this area should be utilised for development and for dwelling sites. It should be cleared of all bushes," said a man who lives at the village and who preferred not to be named.

Community leader Peter Rasikhanya, secretary of the Tshishishuru Council, said they were saddened by the incident. "The incident comes at a time when we are having talks with a prospective developer who wants to change this area. We were shocked to learn of the incident and, as community leaders, we want to encourage people to share their problems with people close to them or seek help from professionals to prevent such incidents. Just this morning the council had a meeting with the prospective developer, and we hope this area will soon be developed and not become a dumping ground for dead bodies."

A source very close to the woman who was injured said she spoke to her during the week and that she did not show any signs of stress. "We are still in shock and we cannot even figure out what had happened that led to the incident," she said.

Reacting after learning of the incident, the chairperson of Munna Ndi Nnyi Men's Forum, Mr Bardwell Mufunwaini, said as an organisation they were worried about the increasing number of killings related to family arguments. "We always preach peace in the family, and that men are protectors of their families. Men who kill are cowards. There is always a way out of problems. If people cannot reconcile, the best way is to get out of a relationship," he said.

Vuwani police spokesperson W/O Elijah Malatjie said that they had opened an inquest docket about the incident.