MUHUYU – The peaceful little village of Muhuyu, outside Thohoyandou, is reeling with shock because a prominent educator and community builder, Mr Khathutshelo Nkhumeleni (34), has been receiving death threats from unknown people for the past two weeks.

Nkhumeleni told Mirror that he has so far received eight SMS messages that tell him that he will never escape the power of death, but he is not told the reasons why he deserves to die. Two of the messages read as follows: “Mark our words. We always keep our promise. Your days are numbered, and you will die young. Please, read Proverbs 16:1” and another one reads: “Blow shall be delivered. Remember that some techniques can not be equaled. This is Africa and you will never escape. South Africa is too small for you to hide.”

Nkhumeleni explained: “I think these are jealous people who are threatened by my success, both educationally and socially. I will never allow them to stop me from developing my community and doing a good job for my people because there are reasons why God brought me in this world. I will never be judged by their wicked intentions but instead, I will work hard to uplift the standard of life in my village.”

Nkhumeleni said the cellphone number that sends the SMS to his phone appears (and Mirror is in possession of it), but it is always unavailable when he calls it. “The person uses the same number every time he sends the SMS, but when I call back, it always gives me a busy tone. I also get calls during the evenings, telling me that I must take care of myself and prepare myself for death.

Since I am in possession of the number, I have tried to trace it through Vodacom Customer Care Service and they say they can only release the information strictly at the request of the police. I then went to the Mutale SAPS last week Friday to report the matter, and the police are investigating the matter.”

Insp Tshilidzi Nyambeni of Mutale SAPS confirmed that Nkhumeleni had laid a charge of intimidation and assault with telephonic threat, but he further told Mirror that the case has been transferred to the Thohoyandou SAPS for further investigation.

Nkhumeleni said he is happy that police are giving him maximum cooperation and he is confident that the perpetrators will be brought to book soon.