When the man arrested in connection with the attack on the eight-year-old Fortune Khumalo´s appeared in court last week, there was much anticipation from those who attended to see the man he had implicated, but they were disappointed to learn that the man was dead.

Lucky Simango, the alleged human parts merchant, had in his earlier appearance claimed that he had been sent to commit the crime by his uncle, Mr Risimati Msimango, who lived in Polokwane. People hoped they would be able to see Risimati in court, but when Lucky Msimango appeared this week, his uncle was in a mortuary, having died the previous week.

Risimati Msimango was buried on Saturday at Jilongo. His dead has left the community with unanswered questions as they had expected to hear what he had to say in court.

"My uncle promised me that if I gave him human parts I would get buckets of money as human parts sell for large amounts of money in Johannesburg," Lucky told the court during one of his previous appearances.

Surprisingly, when Risimati was to be buried, there was no money – he died a poor man. Risimati was running a shebeen business in Polokwane and died after a short illness.

His death was met with mixed feelings in the community as everyone seemed to be in the dark about his actual involvement in the attempted murder of Fortune. "His death has left so many questions unanswered and the truth will never come out again," said a concerned member of the community who wanted to remain anonymous. "We had hoped that the police would arrest him soon after he was implicated in the boy´s murder, but we were disappointed when he died before having his day in court," he said.

Lucky Simango, the alleged human parts merchant, appeared at the Malamulele Magistrate’s Court last Thursday in connection with the case. His case was postponed to February 22 for a regional court date. He remains in custody as he did not ask for bail.

Journalists who travelled to the Malamulele Magistrate´s Court were disappointed to go back without taking any pictures of the suspect as a big sign forbade cameras on the premises. Guards manning the entry said they were under strict instructions to search for cameras and dangerous weapons. "Cameras are now regarded as dangerous weapons," said one journalist jokingly.