The community of Magangeni Village in the Elim area and surrounding villages is still shocked about the death of an 81-year-old man, who is believed to have been ritually murdered.

The victim, Mr Wilson Magau of Magangeni, was reported missing on March 26. Apparently, the victim left home on March 15 to attend a funeral in the village and never came back. The Waterval police searched for him throughout the area, but the body of Mr Magau was later found by a family member next to the Magangeni communal land.

Members of the community confirmed that they had seen the deceased at the funeral. "We are now shocked to hear that he went missing, not to mention that he was found murdered," they said.

According to Mr Magau’s nephew, Mr Boy Joseph Khoza, the family is still shocked about the incident. He complained that his uncle’s life was not supposed to end in a cruel way. "He did not deserve to die. This is a very big shock to the family," said Khoza. Khoza, as well as the police, expressed the belief that Mr Magau was ritually murdered, as certain body parts had been removed from the body. "The most painful thing is that when the body of my uncle was recovered, his lips and his hands were cut off, and the tongue was removed, together with the eyes. This really shocked the family and we truly believed he was ritually murdered," Khoza indicated.

The community of Magangeni expressed their concern about the suspected ritual attack.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Waterval police, Insp Risimati Masonto, confirmed that the body of the 81-year-old Mr Wilson Magau had been recovered next to the Magangeni communal land. He further revealed that an inquest docket had been opened. "We are continuing with investigations," said Masonto.

Similar cases of murder had been reported in Vhembe District areas of Makonde, Mutale, Tshivhase and surrounding areas in the past. Amongst them are the death of youth leader Tendani Victor Lukhwareni, who was assassinated after he demanded the arrest of the ritual murder suspects after the death of Mutshinyalo Grace Nephawe and other ritual murders in the area.

It also reminds people of the ritual murder incident in Makonde-Shadani village east of Thohoyando on October 23, 2005, where the victims, the late Maanda Sendedza and the survivor, Nyelisani Sidimela were also attacked.

This attracted the attention of Premier Sello Moloto, who set up a permanent special investigating unit that is responsible for investigating ritual murder cases and missing people throughout the province. The Vhembe communities are shocked to see ritual attacks still continuing.