Thousands of angry demonstrators bayed for the blood of three suspects who appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday in connection with a notorious muti murder that took place in the region last year. Bishop Tanzwani Ramafamba (73) of the Holiness Apostolic Church, Mukondeleli Phosha (54) and Shumani Dzebu (31), both traditional healers, were formally served with seven counts which range from murder, robbery, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder and possession of human body parts.

The three were arrested following the incident at Makonde village, outside Thohoyandou, on 23 October last year. A 23-year-old soccer star, Maanda Sendedza, was found dead with his tongue and private parts cut off. His girlfriend, Nyelisani Sidimela, was lying helplessly next to him with her lips sliced off. She is at present recovering in a hospital in Gauteng.

Senior Magistrate Raphalalani Mantsha said the case against the three will be heard at the Thohoyandou High Court from September 4 to 15. Phosha and Dzebu are still in custody, but Ramafamba is out on R5 000 bail.

In the High Court, the three will be appearing with Balanganani Munyai and Tshimomo Munyai, both traditional healers, who are also facing the same charges. The two Munyais, Dzebu and Phosha are implicated in the case where a human body without the head, legs and ribs was discovered at Mafukani Village. The suspects cooperated with the police and pointed out where they had buried the skull, ribs and legs on the banks of Ngwedi River. The Munyais are also in custody.

Ramafamba’s legal representative made an application that his bail conditions be relaxed. When he was given bail last week, he was ordered to report at the nearest police station on a daily basis at 6:00 and 18:00. He was also not allowed to move from the district in which he is based. The senior magistrate did not have an objection to the applications and as such, Ramafamba was ordered to report to the nearest police station between 06:00 and 18:00 on Mondays and Fridays only. He was also not only confined to the district in which he is based, but he is also allowed to move around the province. He may not leave the province without the required permission.

Although Phosha was denied bail more than three times by the same court, his legal representative made another bail application based on new facts. The court gave June 8 as provisional date for Phosha’s bail application.

The court nearly turned into a Hollywood movie when the angry crowd booed the magistrate for not giving Dzebu time to give more names of people who he claims are also involved in the ritual murder. “There is no use booing at me, because I am trying to help him with the procedures that he must follow to voice his grievances. He should direct his concern to the prosecutor or investigating officer, because I am working on the information that has been provided to me,” said Senior Magistrate Raphalalani.

Dzebu told the court that he could not understand why Ramafamba was granted bail whereas he and Phosha were sidelined. “We are not the only ones involved and there are other people who have not yet been arrested,” said Dzebu, while holding a list in his hand.

The magistrate said he couldn’t explain anything about the previous bail applications because they were heard by different magistrates.

After the court proceedings, Dzebu refused to go back into custody unless other people, who he claimed helped him commit the ritual murder, were arrested. He was escorted back into custody by police officers.

Before the court proceedings, the furious marchers, led by the Makonde Royal Council and Sanco, handed a memorandum to the senior magistrate, Azwihangwisi Ramavhale.

Amongst other things, the memorandum demanded that the investigating officer in the case be kicked out and that he be investigated because he was not doing his job properly. They also demanded that Bishop Ramafamba’s bail be withdrawn and no further bail should be given to the ritual murderers. Ramavhale said he would forward the grievances to the relevant authorities.

Limpopo Sanco Organizing Secretary, James Delekisa, said the community was angry and disappointed about the way in which the court handled the case. He said that , by relaxing the bail conditions of the Bishop, it meant they are giving him more freedom, while the surviving victim, Nyelisani Sidimela, was lying in pain in hospital. “There is obviously something fishy about this case and we will never keep quiet until the truth comes out. These people should never be given bail because that is what we are crying for every time we hand them memorandums. Why are they going to hear Phosha’s bail application again, because it has been rejected several times?”