A 24-year-old man, Ndidzulafhi Sikhwetha of Tshakhuma, briefly appeared in the Vuwani Magistrates’ court yesterday, Thursday, on seven counts of murder and a count of arson. This follows a heartbreaking incident in which seven members of one family died in a burning hut at the Mashau Mathothwe village late on Saturday evening.

According to the police spokesperson in the Vhembe Area, Supt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi, the victims, Mrs Khakhu Makananise (pensioner), her daughter Nancy Mudau, three granddaughters Rendani Makananise, Khuthadzo Ndove and Tsakani Ndove, and her two great-grandchildren Rolivhuwa Mutswana and Aluwani Rabinda, were fast asleep when the alleged arsonist tied the door of the hut in which they were sleeping to the roof of the hut before setting the hut alight.

The victims’ ages were still to be confirmed at the time of going to press. The only person who survived the killer fire was a 16-year-old boy, Bertas Ndove, who was watching television at the neighbour’ house. The victims screamed for assistance and two young girls, Iris Mukwevho and Cecilia Munyai, who were passing by heard the cries and went closer to the hut only to find that the door was tied to the roof with a rope.

According to Iris, they too also screamed for assistance until neighbours woke up. When the neighbors arrived at the scene it was too late, as the roof of the burning hut had already fallen inside. The local traditional leader, Chief SR Mashau, has expressed his shock and described the incident as the first of its kind in his area. He praised the police for arresting the suspect two days after the incident that sent shock waves throughout the country. The mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Mr Rhulani Nkuzana, said that his municipality has declared the incident a disaster and that they would do everything within their power to assist the bereaved family.

Nkuzana and other political leaders were among the hundreds of people who visited the bereaved family on Sunday morning. The Office of the Premier has also expressed its shock at the tragedy. “We send our condolences to their friends and surviving relatives,” reads an extract from the statement issued by that office.

The suspect was arrested at Hamangilasi village on Tuesday morning. He was not asked to plead when he appeared in court yesterday and the case was remanded to a later date. Arrangements for the mass funeral were at an advanced stage at the time of going to press.

According to BuaNews, a South African government news service, published by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), the Limpopo provincial government will assist the family.

The Limpopo government, together with the Makhado municipality, will help with funeral costs. Housing and Local Government Department spokesperson Khuitsemang Diseko said the department was also planning to build a house for the remaining family member. At present, he is receiving counselling to help him cope with the ordeal.

“We are also exploring other means of assistance that we can offer to ensure that the victims get a proper burial,” Diseko said. “We are also appealing to the community to offer support in whatever form.”

There are also plans to set up a trust account to look after the needs of the survivor. Details of the trust account will be made public once it has been opened.