The life of the six-year-old Adivhaho Nethengwe of Makonde-Shadani will never be the same. The scars she suffered during an alleged ritual murder attempt will take time to heal, but the experience may haunt her for the rest of her life.

All Adivhaho Nethengewe wanted was to make coffee for herself and her siblings when an angel of death pounced on her with evil intentions of murder. Adivhaho was busy making coffee in an outside kitchen. She did not know that a man with evil plans was watching all her moves and was just waiting for an opportunity to pounce. He ultimately had the chance and grabbed the innocent child with the intention of killing her.

However, her sharp screams alerted her younger cousin, who ran to the kitchen, only to find her pinned to the ground with the attacker already plunging his knife into her throat. Quick action by her older sister, who was in the main house, and neighbours averted what could have been another gruesome ritual murder in the area.

On seeing people, the suspect, who stays not far from the family, ran away into nearby bushes. After news of the attempted ritual murder spread in the village, police dispatched several units and the community swung into action. They combed the area, using dogs and police on foot, looking for the suspect, who had been spotted by community members in the area.

When Mirror visited the family on Tuesday, community members had gathered at the family homestead while others combed the bushes for the suspect. Bloodied clothing that was allegedly worn by the child was still there; the family had kept them in their original form as evidence. The older sister of the victim, Takalani Mulanduli, showed Mirror in the presence of Vhakoma Vho Abel Nethathe of the Makonde Royal Council the bloodied clothing and the place where the child was nearly killed.

Shedding tears, Takalani was at pains to narrate the ordeal her sister had gone through. “I nearly lost my sister while busy in the main house, I just thank God that my younger cousin alerted me to the scene in time before her throat was cut, otherwise he would have finished with her,” she said.

Takalani said her younger sister was preparing coffee for them after returning from the shop to buy bread. “I heard the noise but never took it seriously as I thought the kids were playing by themselves,” she said. She said it was only after she heard the screams of her cousin who ran to her saying that somebody was killing her cousin that she went out to investigate. “I screamed at the top of my voice, calling for neighbours to help us. I think this scared the man as he let go of the child and ran away. Fortunately, he is known to the community,” she said. She said she, together with members of the community, summoned the police and emergency services members, who re-sponded swiftly. The child was taken to a local hospital where she is said to be progressing well and could speak.

Vhakoma Vho Abel Nethathe of the Makonde Royal Council who also visited the family was very shocked. “We have had a lot of bad publicity because of ritual mur-ders in our area and we thought it was over after the perpetrators were arrested and convicted. We are very disap-pointed,” he said. Nethathe said he was just happy because the police had shown the commitment to root out ritual murderers.

In an interview with the victim at her hospital bed, a traumatised Adivhaho said that she was not going back home. “I do not like going back home as I fear that man with a big knife will come and kill me,” she said.

The child’s refusal to go back home has brought more challenges to her mother, Florence Nethengwe. “I won’t like returning to that village. It is not safe at all and I fear that they will wipe out my children while I am away at work in Polokwane,” she said.

She said she would appreciate it if the government could build her and her children an RDP house somewhere far from her village for their safety. The 37-year-old disabled single mother of two said she struggled for years to build her family a house. “I won’t be able to build another one, but I am forced to quit this place for the safety of my children,” she said. She has a string of qualifications but could not get a decent job. She trained in emergency services, has an Information Technology Diploma, a Customer Care certificate from Unisa, a driver’s license and Grade C Security training with a firearm. “I need a better-paying job, so that I can start life afresh somewhere with my kids,” pleaded Florence.

Makonde-Shadani is the same area where, four years ago, a man was mercilessly killed while his lover was maimed for life at the hands of ritual murderers. The recent incident occurred a few blocks from where the other one happened and, ironically, the man alleged to have committed the crime stays not far from the victim.

In the last incident, four traditional healers were arrested and charged with ritual murder. Shumani Dzebu of Muledzhi, Mukondeleli Phosha of Tshidzini, Tshimomo Munyai of Tshandama and Balanganani Munyai of Khubvi were all linked to a separate incident, the murder of a 40-year-old man of Mafukani, whose head, legs and ribs were missing. They cooperated with the police and retrieved the missing body parts at Tshidzini, on the banks of the Ngwedi River. Dzebu and Phosha were also implicated in ritual murder and attempted murder cases, after they were allegedly found in possession of the late Maanda Sendedza’s missing private parts, tongue, clothes and cell phone. They were also allegedly found in possession of the surviving Nyelisani Sidimela’s removed lips. Some of the accused received life sentences with some getting long prison sentences and fines.

There was an outcry by the community that some of the ritual murderers were still roaming the streets and the fear that they might strike again. The latest incident cemented the fear of the community that ritual murderers are still roaming the streets with impunity.

Limpopo police spokesperson in Vhembe Insp Nkanukeni Raedani confirmed the incident and made an appeal to the community to expose all forms of criminality in the area, He asked the community to bring whatever information they might have that could assist the police in solving the crime. “We appeal to our communities to assist us in arresting the suspect who is still at large, but we appeal to people not to take the law into their own hands but to report to the police,” he said. An attempted murder case has been opened.

Kindhearted South Africans who might open their hearts and assist the young family get shelter or a job, so that they could start life afresh, are requested to contact: 082 747 0465