TSHIVHULANA - Thousands of mourners from the local communities, government departments, politicians and other dignitaries attended the funeral of Vulani Shithlabana (12). According to speculation by the community, she was ritually murdered last week.

She was in Grade 6 at Tshivhulana Primary School. On Sunday morning, she and her friends went to the bush at Manavhela to fetch firewood. They also decided to go again later in die day. At sunset, Vulani told her mother, Mrs Annah Shithlabana, that she is going to fetch firewood. Her mother allowed her, but it was reported that at that time her friends have already went to the bush without her.

Unfortunately Vulani did not find her friends in the bush, she never returned.

On Monday morning the civic structure, police officers, neighbouring schools and the community members went to the bush and discovered the girl's body in a nearby grazing camp. There was a rope around her neck and she also had two axe wounds on the head. According to the spokesperson of the police in the Vhembe Area, Capt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi, a stick was embedded at the back of the girl's body.

During the funeral service, the headman of that village of Tshivhulana, Mr Elias Mulaudzi said that the whole community is shocked. Due to the lack of money to bury her, Tshitshite Funeral Undertakers bury her free of charge. The managing director of Tshitshite funeral undertakers, Mr John Sigidi said his company was touched by the plight of a young girl "who was slaughtered like an animal".

In the meantime, it was reported that two men, aged 48 and 40, were detained for questioning in connection with the death of Vulani. The 48-year-old man is, according to the police statement, the deceased's father. Although the man was not staying with the girl, he was allegedly maintaining her.