The situation was still hostile at Manamani village at the time of going to press, following the tragic death of Mulweli Nemadandila (7), whose body was found floating in the Dzondo River on Saturday afternoon. Community members are convinced that little Mulweli was murdered for muti.

According to family members, the little boy went missing a day before the discovery of his body. Realizing that Mulweli was not returning from school last Friday, his parents became concerned and reported his disappearance to the local traditional leader. The traditional leader, Chief David Ravele, called an urgent general meeting during which Mulweli’s disappearance was highlighted. The search for Mulweli started soon thereafter. The search went on until the following day at about 13:00 when his lifeless body was found in the river.

The police were called after the discovery of the body. When the police arrived at the scene, the angry residents ordered them not to take the body away before the residents had inspected it. The police were not comfortable with the order, saying they could not allow everybody to inspect the body, but only the representatives.

What followed thereafter was a huge argument between the two parties which ended after the police officers succumbed to the demand. What was visible from the boy’s body was that his lips, eye-lid and private parts had been cut off. The police spokesperson in the Vhembe area, Supt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi, revealed that they had opened an inquest docket following the boy’s death. He stated that they would convert the case to murder if the results of the post mortem proved that the boy had been murdered.

Angry villagers have vowed that the little Grade 2 learner at Manamani Primary School will not be buried until his body parts have been found. They also said they will not rest until the perpetrators have been arrested and charged for this horrific deed.

The post mortem will be conducted next Monday, March 6. Mushavhanamadi appealed to people not to jump to conclusions that the boy had been murdered, before the post mortem has been conducted. The local traditional leader, Chief David Ravele, expressed his shock and appealed to the law enforcement agencies to do their work until the truth is revealed. He indicated that what was worrying him most was the fact the incident was the second of its kind in his area within a space of two years. According to him, a boy of Mulweli’s age also disappeared in a similar manner in 2004. His body was also found floating in the same river. He added that, if the police do not speed-up their investigations, the residents will ultimately take the law into their own hands.

It is said that Mulweli is the third victim of ritual murder in the village since 2003. Amazingly, the previous two victims were his little neighbours.

The local ward councilor, Mr Mbudzeni Mulandana, said that it looks like the killers are targeting the poorest families, since the 2004 murder victim was also from a family that is living below the breadline. The South African Council of Churches has also sent its condolences to the bereaved family.

The deceased’s grieving uncle, Nditsheni Ramuedi, said the family will not rest until the little boy’s killers are brought to book. “We are highly disturbed and traumatized by the whole incident, but we believe the justice system will do its job to make sure that no stone is left unturned…”

* Cases of ritual murder in the Vhembe area took an ugly turn when the late Maanda Sendedza was discovered without private parts at Makonde-Shadani on 23 October last year. His tongue had also been cut out. He was lying next to his surviving lover, Nyelisani Sidimela, whose lips had been cut off. She is receiving treatment at a Gauteng hospital. Two traditional healers, Mukondeleli Phosha and Shumani Dzebu, were arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder after they were allegedly found with the missing body parts, clothes and cell phone of the deceased. They have unsuccessfully applied for bail more than three times at Thohoyandou Magistrates’ court and they are currently in police custody.

The same two traditional healers are also implicated in the murder case where a human skull, ribs and legs were found buried on the banks of Ngwedi River last year. Also implicated in the case are Balanganani Munyai and Tshimomo Munyai (both traditional healers) whose bail applications have been denied at Mutale Magistrate’s court.