The spokesperson for the Department of Road and Transport in Limpopo, Boiki Tsedu, briefly appeared before the Thohoyandou magistrate’s court on Monday, facing a charge of malicious damage to property.

Tsedu, the younger brother of the former City Press Editor in Chief, Mathatha Tsedu, appeared before the court in connection with an incident that occurred on March 1, 2008, together with Mmbangiseni Makumbane and thirteen other suspects.

Tsedu and his co-accused allegedly destroyed the fence of the sacred burial site that belonged to the Nekhwevha family in Tshisaulu, outside Thohoyandou. The Nekhwevha family has lodged a claim for the throne of Tshisaulu village, which is now occupied by Thulamela Mayor Thivhulawi Makumbane.

Since they have lodged the claim for the throne with the Nhlapo Commission, the two families, the Nekhwevhas and Makumbanes, have been at each other’s throats. The Makumbanes had allegedly also refused the former to bury their loved ones at their sacred site.

The two families also slapped each other with court orders on several occasions, whenever there was supposed to be a funeral for the Nekhwevha family.

The Nekhwevha family, however, has successfully sued the Makumbanes for damages incurred during these court battles.

Meanwhile, Tsedu was appearing for the first time in court after failing to pitch up on more than three dates.

Azwihangwisi Mudau Nekhwevha, the family spokesperson, claims that Tsedu was able to appear before the court for the first time because the case was taken away from the investigating officer, whom they accuse of dragging his feet.

Tsedu was released on a warning while his case was postponed to April 30.

Attempts to get comment from Tsedu, an ANC member who defected from Azapo, proved fruitless.