THOHOYANDOU – Two residents of Dopeni Village, Noria Ramabulana (54) and her son, Lutendo Ramabulana (23) and Mbulaheni Bethuel Magadagela (54) of Mandala village were found guilty of murder by the Venda High Court last Thursday. The trio had murdered Mr Wilson Makhado Ramabulana (76) of Dopeni village during the night of April 11 this year.

The court heard that, during the night of the incident, the culprits proceeded to the deceased’s kraal where he was fast asleep in the house. Upon arrival, they accused the deceased of witchcraft. The court further heard that the trio told the deceased that he was responsible for the death of Noria’s son, Norman Ramabulana, who died in a car accident some time ago.

The court further heard that the culprits had used pangas and axes to chop the deceased to death. The culprits, together with the other two suspects, Matodzi Irene Ramabulana (33) and Phumudzo Ramabulana (29), were arrested a few days after the incident.

Phumudzo and Matodzi were, however, acquitted when the other three were found guilty last week. The prosecutor, Adv Johannes Makhera, was still cross-examining Noria when the court adjourned last Thursday. During the cross-examination, Makhera asked Noria as to whether she was sure about the allegations that the deceased was a witch. She stated that she was convinced that the deceased, who was her former husband, was responsible for her son’s death. When she was asked why Norman was not the only person who had died in the accident, as the deceased had no interest in the other victims of the crash, and if she still believed that he was at all responsible for Norman’s death, Noria turned and said that she was now convinced that the old man was not a witch at all.

The case was postponed until Friday, October 7, where Makhera will continue with the cross-examination. Noria and Lutendo Ramabulana are represented by Adv Mushasha while Theodora Mathivha is represented by Adv Magadagela.