An autopsy conducted by the principal forensic pathologist, Dr BL Bhootra of Polokwane, last Thursday, revealed that the latest victim of a suspected muti killing, Mr Itani John Phosa (55) of Ha-Mashau, Tshirando, was indeed ritually murdered.

His tongue, lips, chin and ears were sliced off, according to autopsy results.

Mr Phosa was finally laid to rest at the Chabane graveyard last Sunday. A large police presence was noticed during the funeral. It is believed that the armed policemen were keeping a close eye on mourners after angry villagers went to one of the alleged suspects in the case and stoned his house last Friday.,

The lifeless and ritually mutilated body of Mr Phosha was discovered floating in a dam at Makhado a week ago. During that process his family had already opened a missing person case at the Levubu SAPS.

After the funeral, which was attended by mourners from neighbouring areas of Ha-Mashau, the bereaved family thanked Mirror for informing the public about their ordeal. The deceased's nephew, Mr SI Sadiki, indicated that it would take time for him to accept the painful death suffered by his uncle. “You see, it would have been better if he had died due to illness or an accident, but the fact that he was ritually murdered pains me because I felt like he was slaughtered like a cow,” he said. Family members, who requested to remain anonymous in fear of reprisals by the police and suspects, continue to express their grave concern about the police as the two suspects they alleged to have killed Mr Phosa have not yet been arrested. “Since the discovery of the deceased's body, the police have never came to inform us about the progress in this case. We are still depressed by the police conduct last week when they arrived and arrested our relatives from Gauteng and Mpumalanga during our funeral service. We are still surprised that the police can easily arrest suspects of public violence and seem unable to arrest suspects of ritual murder. When we reported our relative as missing, the police were not visible, but when we were busy laying our breadwinner to rest peacefully, they came in large numbers with their vehicles as if our dead breadwinner was a dangerous criminal,” said one family member.

When the police refused to transport mourners from Ha-Mashau to Chabane graveyard, it fuelled anger with the Phosa family, when the police escorted them to the graveyard. “We are little known and poor; perhaps that's why there is no progress in our case," said desolate family members.

A villager who spoke to Mirror on condition of anonymity, revealed that during an emotional meeting held last Saturday between the police, community stakeholders and representatives from the municipality and Sanco, Capt Mushadu reiterated that people who want to forward information to the police must also be prepared to testify in court. "In this way, I think, the police are trying to intimidate people to stop coming forward with information. How do they protect witnesses?" asked the villager.

The bereaved family indicated that they were thankful for the spiritual support they have received from the mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Cllr Tsakani Glory Mashaba, and the provincial organising secretary of Sanco, Mr James Delekisa.

The deceased is survived by his wife and three children. The municipal manager of the Makhado Municipality, Ms Faith Muthambi, extended her sincere condolences to the Phosa family.