TSHIVHILIDULU – A murdered mother, Mrs Maria Munyai (27), was laid to rest at the Tshivhilidulu cemetery last Saturday.

Mrs Munyai was chopped to death with an axe at her two-roomed house at Tshivhilidulu village near Mphephu Resort a fortnight ago. After killing Munyai, the suspects assaulted a seven-year-old boy with a sharp object. The motive behind the killing is not yet known.The deceased left her three children behind. One of them, Moraine (9), is disabled and she attends school at the Tshilidzini Special School.

Representing the disabled children at Tshilidzini Special School, Mr Samson Ramabulana said the Munyai family must sit down and decide on how to raise the three children. Ramabulana further said the death of Mrs Munyai must not prevent the children from attending school.

The Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Project (TVEP) appealed to community members to report any abuse. Many people have witnessed deaths, but they remain silent.

The deceased was a local civic secretary for a long time and a member of the African National Congress.

* Six months ago a woman was chopped to death at Tshikombani village and her house was set on fire. She was found in a pool of blood with wounds to her head and all over the body.

Five months ago, three members of Phidza family were chopped to death by an unknown suspect at their Mandala home and in these two cases, no suspects have been arrested.