The Malamulele police had their hands full to keep angry Mahonisi villagers away as an Indian trader suspected of having a hand in a recent ritual murder case was forced to leave the village.

This is after a plastic bag with fresh body parts, believed to belong to granny Tsatsawani Maceke, which were allegedly harvested during her murder, was allegedly found in bushes besides a pathway not far from the shop operated by the Indian trader.

The situation was tense at Mahonisi village, with police barricading the entrance to the shop and others in riot gear inside the business premises while the trader packed his goods. The villagers demanded that the shop owner be arrested immediately, after accusing him of having a hand in the murder.

At one stage, police had to use rubber bullets, when the villagers started pelting them with stones and damaged cars belonging to the trader.

Mr Sasol Hlungwani, a member of the task team that has been appointed by the community to assist the police in the investigation and who visited the scene, said they were called to the scene on Wednesday morning. “On our arrival, we found people there and we were shocked to see the grisly find. The parts, which included the breasts and private parts, were beside the path near a primary school,” he said. He added that the parts were found by a woman who is believed to be the sister of Simon Mathebula, accused number one in the case, who was on her way to the local traditional leader.

Hlungwani said the parts were still fresh. He said the woman told police that she had seen her brother with a plastic bag. “We have submitted a memorandum, urging police to intensify their investigations into this matter, as we believe that many people are involved in this murder,“ said Cllr Noel Manganyi, who is also a member of the task team.

Meanwhile, five people, including a woman tavern owner who is the neighbour of the granny, have appeared in court in connection with the granny’s gruesome murder. Simon Mathebula (35), Sarah Maluleke, Patrick Ndengeza (32), Petrus Zitha (33) and Makanza Joao (60) were warned about the gravity of the charges by magistrate Susana van Rhijn during their appearance. Their case was postponed for further investigations.

The murder is the second one in the Malamulele area in three weeks. The first happened at Mavambe village three weeks ago, when the body of Grace Chauke (46) was found at nearby mealie fields with some of her parts missing. The perpetrators of the murder have not been arrested so far. This has led people to believe that the ritual murder season has once more started in Vhembe.

Malamulele police spokesperson, WO Alson Mapindani confirmed that the parts had been foun,d but said police were looking for more clues. He said the parts found would be tested to see if they matched those of the 75-year-old granny.