"This is pure ritual murder!" fumed Thomas Muedi (25), the eldest son of Joyce Nyadzani Muedi (44) of Hamutsha-Khwekhwe, whose badly damaged, naked body was found floating in the Muunga River, near Levubu, last Friday.

Ms Muedi’s body had two visible gaping wounds to the head and her hands were tied behind her back. Her clothes were later found just a few metres from the river. When the body was retrieved, the water poured through the deceased’s mouth and found its way through the private parts, raising suspicion that body parts in her stomach might have been removed.

Three suspects are presently in custody and one of them has allegedly confirmed to the police that they had removed the intestines of the deceased and handed them over to another suspect. The suspect has also extended an invitation to the family of the deceased to meet him in the police cells so that he can ask for forgiveness.

A staunch member of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), Joyce was reported missing on 20 April when she allegedly went to see her lover at Levubu. It was later discovered that she had never arrived at her lover’s place. The family then searched all over for her until they reported the matter to the police. Community members, with the help of the police, started conducting a massive search in the bushes and her body was later found in the river at about 16:00 on Saturday last week.

The deceased’s eldest son, Thomas, says he strongly believes that his mother was murdered for muti. "It was difficult for us to witness her body being retrieved from the river and you could not look at it twice. There was a clear indication that there was nothing in her stomach and her head was seriously damaged. She was a kind parent who did not deserve to die such a violent death. We are only waiting for the law to take its course, but we are relieved because the suspects are in custody."

Another family member, Sarah Muedi, who also joined in the search for the deceased, said: "I cannot understand why they could have murdered such a jolly and lovely woman. Although she was unemployed, she tried her utmost to support her two children. We really miss her, but we only put our trust in the laws of the country."

The youngest son of the deceased, Victor (22), was so depressed that he could only say: "Oh, why my mother?" while crying like a baby.

Supt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi of the Limpopo police confirmed the incident and added that three suspects were behind bars. "Two suspects, an old man and old lady, are aged 65 and another man is 22 years old. We are investigating a case of murder, but there is a greater possibility of turning it into ritual murder if the post-mortem confirms that body parts were removed. We will keep the community informed about the results of the post mortem as soon as they are available." The suspects appeared in the Vuwani magistrate’s court on Wednesday. They have been identified as Azwihangwisi Mudau (22), Nyamukamamadi Miriri (65) and Thomas Mdlayi (65). They have been charged with murder. The case has been postponed to May 31 for further investigation. They were not granted bail.

* Joyce will be buried on Sunday morning at Hamutsha-Khwekhwe.