Well-known local community builder Mr Goddard Mugwena (43) has committed himself to taking care of the seven children of Shonisani Thinandavha, the latest victim of ritual murder.

Apart from the R3 000 donation he made, Mugwena will contribute R850 on a monthly basis for a period of 12 months to the family. Mugwena is the founder and managing director of Pragmatic Centre for Science and Technology and Injectmed Paramedic College.

Ms Thinandavha was buried at her home village of Mulodi during the weekend. Her mutilated body was discovered at Mulodi Mountain last Sunday. Her upper lip, right handpalm, left ear and the front part of her breasts were sliced off. She was naked from the waist down and a rope was tied around her neck.

Mugwena says it is heartbreaking to note that ritual murderers target the poorest of the poor families. “Shonisani was poor, but she worked very hard by selling fire wood to support her seven kids. Now that she is gone, her children have no one to look to for survival. The sad news of her painful death was a wake-up call for me to do something to bring a change in the family. I felt it is my civic duty to make a contribution so that the children can grow up to become responsible future leaders. Their mother died a painful death and they need people who will always be on their side for protection and warmth…”

Mugwena, who is not related to the family, said he is doing it whole-heartedly of his own free will and he encourages other community members to help the family. “The children need to be comforted and go on with life. They need to leave everything behind and face the future with pride. I hope other community members will learn that it is important to help indigent community members because they did not choose the circumstances in which they find themselves. I am not doing this for name or fame.”

He condemned the act of killing people for muti and said ritual murderers must be removed from the community. “Look what they have done to the poor kids. It is sad because the hardworking mother has left behind a three-month-old baby. As a single parent, Shonisani struggled to bring up her children, but it is unfortunate because evil people took her life away in an indescribably cruel way.”

The eldest of the kids, Given (18), did not have enough words to thank the Good Samaritan for his kind heart. “It is not easy to find good people like him in sorrowful times like these. We only came to know him after my mother’s death and he is not our relative, but his grace and merciful heart cannot be described. Thank you, Mr Mugwena, a thousand times. May God bless you more and more.”