A man who was reported missing last weekend, was found under mysterious circumstances in the dense bushes around Khubvi on Tuesday morning. His hands and legs were chained to a pole and his mouth was wrapped with powerful tape.

The discovery raised suspicion among local villagers that the man was a victim of a foiled ritual murder attack, but it was not clear how his attackers had injured him as he had no visible wounds on his body. Next to him was his bag full of clothes, a pair of shoes, black lumber jacket and yellow shirt.

Gumani Calvin Muhudi (22) of Haluvhimbi, north of Thohoyandou, works in Gauteng and he reportedly called his mother last Saturday, saying he was coming back home. He called his mother again on Saturday afternoon and told her that he was approaching Polokwane. His mother, Lydia, waited in vain and ended up opening a missing person file at the Thohoyandou SAPS. She realized that Gumani had departed from Gauteng but he did not arrive home and his mobile phone was off.

A neighbour, who stays not far away from the dense bush where Gumani was found, said she heard something crying like a baby in the early hours of Tuesday. "I was afraid to go and investigate and waited for the sun to rise. I then asked neighbours to accompany me to the bush, because somebody was still crying."

She said they were shocked to make the discovery. "Although it was difficult to reach the scene, because of the dense bush, we walked there, guided by the man’s desperate moaning noises. The man was crying in pain and his legs and hands were chained to a fence pole. The chain and the padlock were new and it was clear that it was done by people who know their job very well. The tape was placed around his mouth and he breathed with difficulty. It was a horrible sight. We then called the police and the man was finally rescued. He is lucky to survive, because that dense bush is known for ritual murder acts."

Regional police spokesperson Capt Mashudu Malelo confirmed the incident. He said police were investigating a missing person’s file after the man did not arrive from Gauteng last week. "The victim is receiving treatment at Donald Fraser Hospital. He was conscious, but could not talk. We will take the matter further when he becomes better and can explain what happened. The nature of the case that we will open will depend on his explanation," said Malelo.