The two members of the Vhulaudzi Youth Against Crime, who passed away on January 1, received a dignified burial at Vhulaudzi last Saturday.

Kanukani Matshidza (18) and Khathutshelo Mafunisa (19) had a joint funeral and members of the Dzanani community, Khosikhulu Vho Toni Mphephu Ramabulana, the MEC of Safety and Security, Mr Ratshivhanda Ndou, the newly appointed mayor of Makhado Municipality, Cllr Mavhungui Luruli, traditional leaders and church leaders attended the ceremony.  

Kanukani and Khathutshelo were coming from the youth against crime campaign at Mphephu resort when the police van they were traveling in collided with a private vehicle at Dopeni village at about 22:00 in the evening. Several other members of the organization who were traveling in the same vehicle are still receiving treatment at Siloam Hospital.

In his address, Mr Ratshivhanda Ndou said that his department was very touched by the death of the two, provided that they had died coming from assisting the police in the fight against crime. “What these young people were doing in the community was not a new thing. In the Department of Safety and Security, we have units which are dedicated to dealing with the mobilization of the community, such as crime prevention and community relations,” he said.

He added that all community members should join hands in the fight against crime. Ndou encouraged all police stations to establish Youth Against Crime structures and Community Policing Forums (CPF) in the areas they serve. “What these young people we are burying today lost their lives doing has a very strong impact on the reduction of crime in the province,” Ndou acknowledged.

Ndou also sent his condolences to the Mushaniki family of Shixwadza, who had also died in the car accident.

The funeral was made possible by Khosikhulu Vho-Toni Ramabulana, who bought the two caskets, tombstones and provided some food for the people. Mphephu Ramabulana said that in situations like these people should not point fingers. “We all know what happened, so people must not point fingers. It is times like these where community members are supposed to be supportive of each other. You don’t have to abandon your families, so businesspeople must not wait to be called for them to come and assist,” he said.

According to Mphephu, a long time ago, while Venda was still independent, people use to be very helpful toward each other and the social interaction between community members was very overwhelming.  “Let us all support each other in whatever situation we encounter in our respective villages,” pleaded Mphephu. 

The chairperson of the Youth Commission in Limpopo, Mr Rogers Tshivhase, depicted the two as hero and heroine who died trying to protect the community. “We are not here to mourn, but to celebrate the death of two comrades who died trying to protect the community against criminals. Through their contribution we are slowly wining the war against crime in Limpopo,” highlighted Tshivhase.

Kanukani Matshidza was laid to rest at Bvuvha cemetery and Khathutshelo Mafunisa was laid to rest at the Phadzima Madzhadzhani cemetery.