The high-profile ritual murder trial finally came to an end when acting judge Ephraim Makgoba passed down harsh sentences in the Thohoyandou High Court on Monday. The joint sentence of the four traditional healers amounted to three-life sentences and 70 years imprisonment, while Bishop Ramafamba was acquitted in all charges.

Accused no 1, Shumani Dzebu (32), was found guilty on six counts and was sentenced to two life sentences and 17 years imprisonment. The sentences will run concurrently. He was found guilty of murdering Maanda Sendedza (life sentence), trading in Sendedza’s body parts (1 year), attempted murder of Nyelisani Sidimela (10 years), robbery of the late Maanda Sendedza’s clothes and cell phone (5 years), murder of an unknown man at Mafukani (life) and trading in body parts of the unknown man (1 year).

Accused no 2, Mukondeleli Phosha (54) was found guilty on five counts and he was sentenced to one life sentence and 32 years imprisonment. His sentence was broken down as follows: Murder of Maanda Sendedza (life), acquiring and trading in human tissue (1 year), attempted murder of Nyelisani Sidimela (10 years), murder of unknown man at Mafukani (20 years), trading in body parts of the unknown man (1 year). The sentences run concurrently.

Accused no 3, Tshimomo Munyai (54) was found guilty on two counts and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment. For the murder of an unknown man at Mafukani, he was sentenced to 20 years and an additional one-year sentence for trading in the body parts of the unknown man. His sentences also run concurrently.

Accused no 4, Balanganani Munyai (85), was only found guilty on one count, that of trading in body parts of the unknown man. He was sentenced to one year imprisonment, of which six months is suspended for five years. The judge said there was not sufficient evidence to link Munyai with the actual murder of the unknown man. “Despite your advanced age, we have also taken into consideration that you have already spent ten months in prison. You must consider yourself very lucky, because you could not be linked to the actual act of murder.”

When acquitting the bishop, Acting Judge Makgoba said there is not sufficient evidence to link him with the ritual murder of Maanda Sendedza and the removal of Nyelisani Sidimela’s lips. This was also confirmed by the fact that Nyelisani failed to point out the bishop in court.

While raising his fist to demonstrate victory, the bishop said shortly after his acquittal: “I knew God would fight for me because I was framed. I will go back to my community and concentrate on my life and congregation. This was just meant to destroy my good image in the community. My God is the God of Power who always protects me from the power of jealous people. Malofha a u dodzwa ha fari (smeared blood will never stick)”

When handing down the sentences, acting judge Ephraim Makgoba said the judiciary had concluded the verdicts in the interest of society and the seriousness of the offences committed by the four accused traditional healers. He added: “What you have done is cannibalism at its worst and none of you showed any remorse during the trial. You committed the crimes out of greed and the court will be forced to disregard all mitigating factors. It is the duty of this court to assist the community in removing dangerous criminals from society. Your sentences should serve as a strong warning to other would-be ritual killers that the law will not tolerate the maiming of innocent people for your own selfish reasons.”

Meanwhile, the Premier of Limpopo, Mr Sello Moloto has joined citizens of the province in welcoming the judgement. Upon learning of the decision, the Premier expressed his gratitude to the community for volunteering information which led to the arrest of the four accused and their subsequent prosecution and sentencing by the Thohoyandou High Court.

“Finally, justice has been done. We believe these sentences will serve as a good deterrent to other ritual murderers who may have similar intentions to prey on the lives of unsuspecting innocent people,” said the Premier.

He further stressed that the set Task Team on ritual murders was in need of similar cooperation from members of the community in order to ensure successful prosecution of the more than 50 outstanding cases since 1994.

Mautjie Pataki of The South African Council of Churches in Limpopo Province says they have welcomed the sentence with open hands. “After all the pain and agony that the affected families and communities were subjected to, we can only give thanks to God that, at the end, justice prevailed as the accused failed to prove their innocence. As we thank the police for swift arrests and thorough investigations, we also appreciate the level of cooperation received from community members who acted as witnesses against the accused. We are convinced that this case has proved that our judiciary has the necessary grinding teeth never to tolerate injustice to prevail in this Province.”

Divid Sidimela, who represented Nyelisani’s family, said: “We are happy because the law has taken its course, but we are still concerned about the safety of our child. She is still in pain and we cannot raise the money for her plastic surgery. There are still other suspects who were mentioned in the lower court and they are still roaming freely in the streets. We are not free because we know that some of her attackers are there within our community. However, we welcome the sentences for the four traditional healers.”

Dr Mmbulaheni Neluvhola of Mbofho Traditional Healers’ Organization welcomed the sentences. “This will be a lesson to other traditional healers who might be tempted to kill people for muti purposes. We are happy and we praise the initiative by the court for imposing the harsh sentences.”

Progress Kutama of the South African National Civic Organization (SANCO) echoed Neluvhola’s sentiments: “SANCO welcomes the sentences although there is still much to be done to resolve ritual murder cases. The sentences will obviously be a lesson to other would-be killers and we are happy because this will help in decreasing ritual murder cases in our area.”