A ritual murder suspect left everyone in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court astonished on Friday afternoon, when he refused to participate in the proceedings if his three alleged accomplices were not arrested as well.

The suspect, Shumani Dzebu (31), told a packed court that he would never continue with the proceedings until three accomplices, with “whom he committed a ritual murder” were arrested. He said he gave the list of their names to the police a long time ago “and they ignored my testimony. Today I hope you, the magistrate, will do something about it. Why should I suffer alone while my accomplices are walking free on the streets? I will not die alone, because I did not commit this crime alone.”

Mirror is in the possession of the list of ritual murder suspects and amongst them is a so-called prophet, a relative of the deceased, and two unemployed men. All of them are residents of Makonde.

Dzebu and Mukondeleli Phosha (54) are in custody and are facing murder and attempted murder charges, following an incident that took place at Makonde-Shadani on October 23, last year, when a promising soccer star, Maanda Sendedza, was found murdered with his private parts and tongue sliced off. His girlfriend, Nyelisani Sidimela, was also found next to him with her lips sliced off.

Dzebu and Phosha were arrested last year for being found in a possession of the missing body parts from the deceased and the surviving Nyelisani Sidimela, as well as the clothes and cell phone of the deceased.

During their court appearance last Friday, a large crowd of angry community members participating in an demonstration outside the court demanded that the suspect be locked up until the surviving Nyelisani Sidimela had recovered and was able to testify about the gruesome murder and the assault on her.

The magistrate postponed the case until May 3, 2006.

Captain Mashudu Malelo of the Vhembe SAPS said the police were still investigating if the three names mentioned have been involved in this ritual murder case. If found to have been involved, they will be arrested, he said.