HALUVHIMBI – The family of Dzina Manenzhe, a 26-year-old bricklayer, who was brutally murdered by a group of villagers for allegedly stealing a packet of BB tobacco worth R3 at a local butchery, say their son was not supposed to die like a dog, because his life was more precious than the BB he was wrongly accused of stealing.

To make matters worse, the body of the man is still lying in the mortuary today, for the third week, because the family is too poor to afford the burial costs. Mirror is in possession of the medical report, which indicates that Dzina died of blunt-force trauma to the head.

“The brutal murder of my son is only based on hatred. He was a good man who never stole from anyone. He was not supposed to die such a senseless death, because he was a hard worker, who was eager to support his wife and two kids. If they accused him of stealing the BB, why didn’t they call the police so that the law could take its course? They did not even get the BB in his possession. I tried to rescue him, but his assassins pushed me aside and continued with their brutal act,” said the dead man’s mother, Lufuno Sididzha.

Lufuno said a group of approximately 25 villagers approached her late son on October 8, at about 20:30. “They took my son together with his elder brother, Masioana, and beat them severely. Masioana luckily survived the beatings, but he is receiving treatment in Pretoria. They took the boys to the local dipping tank and baptised them with the poisonous dipping mixture. They also hammered Dzina’s private parts with an iron bar and sang, while my son was in great pain. They then locked him in cold storage for some time, before they continued beating him. They closed his eyes with a cloth and his hands were tied at the back while they beat him endlessly. They then abandoned him and he died the next day in hospital. How could they do this to my beloved son? Who will look after his wife and kids now that he is gone? As a bricklayer, he could at least bring something home for his wife and two kids,” said the unemployed Lufuno, while weeping uncontrollably.

Lufuno also claims that the villagers were enjoying beer and soft drinks while her son was pleading with them not to kill him. “They used iron bars, pieces of wood and anything they could lay their hands on to beat him. I will never forget this horrible thing and it has also affected my social being. We have not set the funeral date because we do not have even a cent to bury him.” The dead man’s wife, Mashudu (21), was in deep mourning during our interview.

“My poor children, Zwoluga (5) and Vhafuniwa (2), are now fatherless and life will no longer be the same without my husband, whom I loved so much. This is a terrible blow to the family which will forever remain ringing in our minds.”

Insp Nkanukeni Raedani of the Thohoyandou SAPS says murder and attempted murder cases were registered with the police. He warned people not to take the law into their own hands because it is against the law of the country. “We arrested 11 villagers on 10 October in connection with the incident, among them learners of the local school. Learners were released to write their final exams.”

The six adults were still waiting for bail applications and they were still in custody at the time of going to press.

Community members who would like to help the poor grieving family to bury their loved one can call 076 327 0590, 076 103 2262 or 072 351 0164.