Amid protests from the angry crowd that demanded that he not be granted bail, the 73-year-old Bishop Tanzwani Ramafamba, facing charges of ritual murder and attempted murder, was granted R5 000 bail in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Bishop Ramafamba of the Holiness Apostolic Church was arrested last month at his home in Makonde village for his alleged involvement in the much-publicized case of Maanda Sendedza and Nyelisani Sidimela. Nyelisani Sidimela narrated her ordeal to police investigators from her bed at George Mkhari hospital, Gauteng, where she is still receiving treatment. She allegedly told investigators that Bishop Tanzwani was the one who cut off her lips in the bush at Makonde-Shadani.

Magistrate Adreen Geldenhys granted Bishop Tanzwani bail after explaining that the evidence presented by the investigating officer is not enough to keep the bishop in custody. Besides that, the bishop did not have any previous convictions and there is no indication that he would run away.

However, the bail conditions for the bishop are strict, as he has to report to the nearest police station at 06:00 and 18:00 on a daily basis. He is also not allowed to move from the district where he lives, after being granted bail. He is also not allowed to make any move that can interfere in the investigations of the case.

Angry demonstrators outside the court vowed that they would not rest until justice prevails. There were dramatic scenes outside the court. Protestors who had used hired taxis and buses were escorted from the vicinity of the court by the police.

Representing the Sidimela family, Mr David Sidimela said: “We are totally disappointed by the way the state handled the bail application of the bishop. How can the court grant bail to that man facing such serious charges while our child is still lying in pain in hospital? Nobody is safe now because the law is failing every community member. We thought the law would issue a strong warning to the public by not giving bail to the bishop, but now we are powerless. Everyone is now a potential victim of ritual murder because the law is very soft on killers…”

Mr James Delekisa, the Provincial Organizing Secretary of Sanco, said: “The court has failed us because we never thought that a man charged with such a serious offence could be granted bail. We have been demonstrating outside the court for many days, and have handed over memorandums, but our pleas were never heard. This is the time to start our own defence units and task teams because the state is failing us. How many more must die of ritual murder before the state does something? The law has totally failed us and the granting of bail to the bishop sends a bad message to the public. Everyone in the country, including young kids, was against the bail of the bishop, but it pains us to note that our pleas fell on deaf ears. We will consult other stakeholders and see what we can do because this bail needs to be challenged.”

* Bishop Tanzwani joined two traditional healers, Mukondeleli Phosha (54) and Shumani Dzebu (31), who were arrested last year, and charged with murder and attempted murder in the same case of Maanda Sendedza and Nyelisani Sidimela which continues to make headlines countrywide. Dzebu and Phosha are still in custody after they were denied bail. Police arrested them after they were allegedly found with the body parts, clothes and cell phone of the deceased, Maanda Sendedza.

Bishop Tanzwani, Mukondeleli Phosha and Shumani Dzebu, will appear in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court again on May 31, for a High Court date.