A two-day search for a missing woman by members of the community and police officials at Lufule-Mavhunda Village outside Thohoyandou last weekend ended tragically when the woman was found hanging from a tree not far from the Aces Dam.

It is said that the children of the deceased woman noticed that she was no longer in the house and, after looking for her without success, notified relatives and members of the community.

The woman, Tambudzeni Mulaudzi (36), had sneaked from home through a window on Saturday morning (27 August), after leaving a note that she was going to kill herself, which was found in a diary . The note also stated that they should look for her and her two-year-old baby, Tshedza, at the nearby dam.

Taking her at her word, villagers and family members went straight to the dam after getting the note but were greeted by the lifeless body of the baby floating in the dam. There was, however, no sign of the missing woman.

By 07:00, the whole dam was abuzz with villagers looking for the body. The search party, which included Thulamela Municipal Manager Makonde Mathivha and Vho Thovhele Jeffrey Ramovha, spent the whole day at the dam. They combed the whole dam, but their efforts did not pay any dividends.

The search was nearly marred by a venomous mamba which wanted to attack after its territory was invaded. It did not stand a chance and was stoned to death by the mob.

Local divers who were also searching for the body were joined by provincial divers. A grader was also used to break the dam in an effort to lower the level of the dam, but they had to wait overnight for the level to go down.

The local ward councillor, Ms Matodzi Mulaudzi, who was amongst the last people to leave the previous night, said she had arrived at the dam at about seven in the morning on Sunday. She said the level of the water had not gone down by the time they arrived.

“We decided after consultation with all the stakeholders, which included the police and traditional leaders, among others, to comb the surrounding bushes when somebody was heard screaming that there was a person hanging from a nearby tree not very far from the dam. This is the second incident at this dam this year and we are very worried about it. In this case, however, we feel it could have been averted if she had sought professional help. We urge all those with problems to use services that are provided for free by the government," she said.

Thohoyandou police spokesperson Major Mashudu Malelo confirmed the incident. He said they had received a report of the missing mother and child and they started with their investigations. “After receiving the report, our members sprang into action and found the body of the three-year-old. We thought the body of the mother was in the dam and we used a lot of manpower, only to find that she had hanged herself not far from the dam,” he said.

The aunt of the deceased, Ms Nyawasedza Sikhwivhilu, who resides at Dzindi Village, said she received a call of the sad news at 02:00. “I could not go to the place as I did not have transport, but a brother brought me here at 06:00. Although the baby had already been found, there was no sign of the mother,“ she said.

She said the deceased had left a suicide note, saying that she was tired of her illness and that they would find her at the dam. “I am so saddened. She left three children behind, and I wonder what will become of them as their father also passed away three years ago. I do not even know who will take care of the children. We are putting everything in the hands of God,” she said.

Sikhwivhilu confirmed that the deceased had been sick for some time, but no one ever thought that she would think of taking her own life and that of the baby. “I think she could not accept her condition. After the death of her husband three years ago, she was also finding it very difficult to support her four children," she said.

She said the death had brought much misery to the family as they had earlier this year lost another member of the family, who had also committed suicide at Tshisele Village.

Inquest and murder dockets have been opened.

Mulaudzi and her baby was buried on Saturday, 3 September.