The battle for traditional leadership has left Mr Elvis Khorommbi (46) of Sanari-Hamakuya, near Tshikondeni Mine, paying with his life. He was shot and killed on Friday evening.

A traditional leader, Headman Azwihangwisi Mukomawabani (58) of Ha-Mukomawabani Village, appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Monday. He has been charged with murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm following the incident. His case was remanded to February for a bail application, and he remains in custody.

Mirror has learnt that there was a long-standing battle for leadership between the suspect and the deceased. Well-placed sources say the struggle for leadership started in December last year, when the local chief allegedly installed a headman in Sanari, the area under the jurisdiction of Headman Mukomawabani. The suspect was quoted as defying the installation several times, in public. The deceased is a ndumi (assistant) of the headman who was installed at Sanari.

Supt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi of the Vhembe SAPS confirmed the incident. He said the suspect went to the deceased’s home at about 20:00 on Friday. “He demanded a report about a local irrigation scheme and an argument later ensured about land issues. The suspect allegedly produced a firearm and shot the deceased in the head. The deceased died at the scene. We later determined that the firearm was unlicensed and the traditional leader has been charged with murder and possession of unlicensed firearm.”

The Vice-Chairperson of Contralesa in Vhembe, Khosi Ravhalitsheni Sumbana, condemned Khorommbi’s brutal murder and encouraged traditional leaders to resolve their disputes in a peaceful manner. He said traditional leaders should lead by example and protect their subjects at all times. “As Vhembe Contralesa, we are seriously disappointed by the behaviour of the suspect but we will wait for the law to take its course. Traditional leadership dispute should be forwarded either to the court or organizations like Contralesa. Traditional leaders are role models who need to sit down and talk openly about their problems instead of taking the law into their own hands…”