Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale has urged communities to speak out and assist police, so that the perpetrators of heinous ritual killings be brought book.

Mathale was addressing mourners at the Jim Jones sports grounds outside Malamulele during the funeral service of a ritual murder victim, 75-year-old Tsatsawani Maceke, on Saturday. Maceke was killed in her sleep at her RDP house at Mahonisi two weeks ago.

Five people, amongst them a woman who is believed to be a tarvern owner, are currently in custody in connection with the matter. They have already appeared at the Malamulele Magistrate´s Court.

Mathale, who was accompanied by the MEC for Safety Security and Liaison, George Phadagi, and the Vhembe executive mayor, Falaza Mdaka, told mourners that he had cut short his stay in Cape Town because he chose to be close to the people. "We are here to share the pain and grief with you. We are here to show that we are one during the good and bad times and we will continue to support you as our people,” he said.

Mathale warned leaders not to act out of emotion, but in a constructive way. “We know people are angry and are not impressed by the way ritual murder cases are handled, but it would be irresponsible for leaders to call for their supporters not to vote in the municipal elections if the ritual killers are not arrested."

Earlier, senior traditional leader Hosi Patrick Mavambe had called on his subjects not go to the polls if the police still showed reluctance to arrest suspected ritual murderers. He angrily pointed to the Malamulele police as not doing their work, saying they had failed to address the community when called to do so. He called for calmness in the community and also warned them against chasing away Indian traders, as they were performing an essential service to the community.

Granny Tsatsawani was laid to rest at the local graveyard.

A few hours later, a 33-year-old security guard, Stanley Hlungwane, was found dead at Mavambe in a ditch. The incident has incensed residents to go on the rampage, damaging property and injuring people.

According to the police, 70 people, whose ages range between 18 and 40 years, were arrested at Malamulele for public violence. The arrests follow an incident after the community of Mavambe village gathered at the place where Hlungwane´s body was found. The police added that community members became violent, alleging that it could be another ritual murder. The deceased did not have any visible injuries. A post mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death, a police spokesperson said.