The rural community of Muledane outside Thohoyandou is still reeling in shock after the death of two family members in what many believe is an act of witchcraft.

Only last week, the Nevhulaudzi family buried their beloved son, popular Radio Jacaranda field reporter Robert Vhulahani Nevhulaudzi. The family is still mourning his death and some relatives had not even left for their homes when another tragedy hit the family.

This time around the mother, Mrs Phophi Nevhulaudzi, died without showing any signs of illness. The family had already lost the youngest son, who died after a short illness in 2006.

The latest tragedy has left the family and the community in a state of confusion, not knowing whether death will strike again and finish off the last remaining member of the family.

Robert’s funeral was supposed to have taken place on February 7, as the mother had wanted, but she was discouraged by members of the family and the community who were assisting with the funeral arrangements. Now people believe that she might have had a premonition of her death and wanted to be buried together with her son.

Her wish for a burial on the 7th was finally granted as she was buried the very day she wanted her son to be buried.

And now a malicious rumour is doing the rounds in the village that the family has been bewitched. Villagers, who spoke to Mirror on condition of anonymity, said they had no doubt that the deaths were the result of witchcraft.

They could not understand that natural death could frequent a family that has only one member left.  Family spokesperson Tshililo Tshilongamulenzhe said the granny had complained of headache and body ache on Monday, just a day after the funeral of her son. “We thought that it was just stress as she had gone through the worst, losing her children,” she said. Tshilongamulenzhe said the family was shocked to find her dead on Tuesday morning.

“We are devastated! It happened so suddenly and unexpectedly. We were still mourning Robert and now his mother is also gone,”she said.

She said they are failing to come to terms with the double tragedy that had befallen the family.

“We are lost and very confused. We do not know what is actually happening here but believe an evil force must be at work. We are just consoled by the support we are getting from the community, who have been there all along and we are very thankful,” she said.

Azwitamisi Nevhulaudzi, the last surviving member of the family, is devastated. He could not even talk and showed signs of stress.

Phophi was buried on Sunday at Muledane cemetery.