The South African Council of Churches in Vhembe has strongly condemned the recent ritual murder incidents in the area. This follows after four traditional healers were recently arrested and charged with ritual and attempted murder.

In an exclusive interview with Limpopo Mirror, the Chairperson of Vhembe SACC, Dean Alunamutwe Rannditsheni, said although the law will be allowed to take its course, it is also important for the church to make its feelings felt in public.

“Life is a wonderful gift from God and there is no one who has the mandate to execute another person. We appreciate the good works of the police and members of the public in making the great breakthrough by arresting the suspected traditional healers. We strongly condemn the idea of using body parts for medication. We believe that other people who are also practicing ritual murder will be arrested and charged because we want to take them out from our community completely. The Bible forbids us to kill and who are they to murder innocent people senselessly? The church has a lot to do to make sure that people are living freely and enjoying life given to them by the Creator. We need to stand up together to win this war against evil. God has given life to everyone to enjoy but these people are taking someone’s life away in a barbaric manner...”

Rannditsheni urged the angry communities not to take the law into their own hands. “We understand that everyone is angry about the recent ritual murder cases, but we must allow the justice system to do its job. The law will obviously take its course and justice will prevail at the end of the day…”

He concluded by commending the justice system for not giving bail to the suspected ritual murderers.