Mrs Joyce Sendedza, the mother of ritual murder victim Maanda Sendedza, says she will not rest until all the people who were involved in the brutal murder of her son are arrested and successfully prosecuted.

Mirror was fortunate to speak to her, because she spoke to the media for the first time after the Thohoyandou High Court imposed heavy sentences on three traditional healers, Shumani Dzebu (31), Mukondeleli Phosha (54) and Edson Tshimomo Munyai (45), for the ritual murder of her son.

Maanda Sendedza’s private parts and tongue had been sliced off when he was discovered dead at Makonde Shadani in October last year. His surviving girlfriend, Nyelisani Sidimela (18), lay helplessly besides his body. Her lips had been sliced off. Sendedza’s trousers and cellphone were missing. Phosha and Dzebu were found in possession of Sendedza’s private parts, tongue, cellphone and trousers. They were also found in possession of Nyelisani Sidimela’s removed lips.

With her heart bleeding in pain, the depressed Joyce (48) says she welcomes the life sentences imposed on Dzebu and Phosha, but claims that there were other people who were involved in the murder, but who were not arrested. "The names of three other people were publicly mentioned in the lower courts by Dzebu who said they had committed the act together. But I was very disappointed because his evidence was never used in the High Court. Dzebu even explained their roles and how they participated in the brutal murder of my son. I know that justice will one day prevail because they think they are now off the hook. This is just the beginning of more things to come."

She says she is confident that the truth will come out even after the court has imposed heavy sentences on those who have been locked up. "Look, all the people who are now in prison stay far away from Makonde village. How did they come and murder my son for muti if there no other local people, who knew my son very well, were not involved? To make matters worse, my boy was murdered during the night. How did they know that they would get hold of him if there was nobody who knew his moves? The sentenced murderers also confirmed in court that they did not have prior knowledge of my son before the murder. I know that there are local people who played a role in the killing of my son. Even if they are not arrested now, they will never know peace until they depart from this world."

Joyce says it would be her wish before she died that the three other people, whom she knows very well, must face the consequences of their acts in a court of law.

"It is only that I do not have powers to restart the trial afresh. I wish the court case could be resumed, using the basis of Dzebu’s evidence and confession. My main wish is to see those people arrested and facing the heavy wrath of the law."

She says she knows that those people are already in jail despite the fact that they have not been arrested. "They will never enjoy life until they account for their bad deeds. They are in a spiritual prison, which will never stop taking their peace away. They need to know that they are only off the hook for a while because only time will tell."

However, Joyce says she was overwhelmed and impressed by the support from the community during the worst time of her life. "I would like to pass my heartfelt gratitude to all community members and leaders of various structures who stood besides me during the trying times. Although I will not get my son back, I have courage to go on with life because of the massive support I received from them."