At a time when the gospel against the abuse of women and children is being preached everywhere, a pregnant woman lies dead, allegedly killed by a person who is supposed to protect and care for her and her unborn child. She was stabbed several times and thrown into a river.

Alugumi Nemukula, 32, a mother of two children from another relationship, stayed with her married brother and mother at Itsani village outside Thohoyandou.

She met her fate in the early hours of Sunday at Dzindi River bridge between Manamani and Itsani. She was allegedly stabbed several times all over her body.

The deceased, who was in the company of two other people, was coming from an all-night drinking binge, it is alleged. Villagers who stay near the river say that screams were heard in the early hours of Sunday, but they did not suspect anything untoward. The body was later seen by a passerby, who saw it wrapped in a towel, submerged in the water.

Within a short space of time, the river was swamped by curious onlookers from the surrounding villages who waited to have a glimpse of the pregnant body.

Maria Mukwevho, the deceased’s sister, said the relationship between her sister and her lover had not been a bed of roses. "They were always bickering," she says.

She said the alleged killer, who is a known thug, abused her sister for a long time but she was love smitten. "He assaulted her at will, but she never reported the matter to police," said the dejected sister.

Mukwevho said the thug used to take her away forcefully but she never complained about it. "I reprimanded her about her relationship with this man, but this created bad blood between us, to such an extent that she tended to avoid me," said the sister.

"My sister was so obsessed with this man, that she avoided all people who advised her against her lover." Mukwevho said the incident has left the family in a state of shock and confusion. "Imagine having seen your sister some few days back, healthy and strong, and all of a sudden being called to identify her body at a mortuary with her body full of stab wounds; it is very painful," said a sobbing Mukwevho.

Mukwevho said she was worried that the two kids will grow up without motherly love, as their biological father deserted them along time ago. "All this now means that my sickly mother will assume a new role for the kids and this is really a big burden to her," she said. The burial will also be an uphill struggle as the family does not have money.

Nyatshavhungwa Nemukula, mother of Alugumi, said she last saw her daughter on Thursday when she was about to leave for Shayandima, where she was being treated for her illness. "As if it was a final good bye, I gave her some money to buy some of the family´s necessities and told her to take care of my things," said the sad old lady.

The local traditional leader at Manamani where the incident happened, Chief Tshisamphiri Ravele, said he was very disturbed by the incident. "This came as a shock to me. We still have the ritual murder of one of our villagers hanging over our heads and now this," he exclaimed. He said all the incidents put their village in bad light and also repel development. Manamani is known for the cruel ritual murder of learner Mulwelwi Nemadandila some two years ago and no one has been arrested for the crime so far.

The chairperson of the Munna Ndi Nnyi Men´s Forum, Bardwell Mufunwaini, said it is sad that the incident happened during the16 days of non-violence against women and children. He said the thug who did it is not a man as real men provide and take care of their families. "No person has the right to take another person´s life and everybody has the right to life," said Mufunwaini. He added that they abhor all forms of violence against all people and encouraged people with problems to try and solve them in an amicable way, failing which, they are free to separate without hurting one another.

The spokesperson for the Limpopo police in the Vhembe District, Capt Mashudu Malelo, confirmed the incident and said they were investigating murder charges against a suspect who is known to them. "It is just a matter of time before we put the suspect behind bars; we are following all leads," he said. He further cautioned members of the public not to resolve their problems in a violent way.

Alugumi will be buried this weekend.