Ritual murder?

A 52-year-old resident of Matonga village in the Elim area, Mr Philip Chambeti Bendzani, was chopped to death in a suspected ritual attack last Wednesday night.

The incident occurred at Mununzwu Farm (Sweetwaters). It is alleged that some body parts were missing when his body was recovered in the nearby bushes. Madzivhe is originally from Mozambique.

Six people were arrested the day after the incident and have since been charged with murder. The accused are a local traditional healer (sangoma), Mr Frans Madzive (54), and Messrs Rudzani Shadrack Malange (21), Meshack Mkhwanadzi (20), Lesley Meshack Malange (21), Reynie Abraal (31) and David Mnisi (27).

They allegedly removed the victim's pubic hair and testicles and set him alight afterwards on the farm grounds.

The Limpopo provincial police spokesperson, Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi, mentioned that the police had so far found a plastic bag, which the suspects allegedly used to carry the parts. "The police investigations to find the removed parts are at an advanced state,” Mulaudzi said.

According the deceased's wife, Ms Maria Chambedi, her husband had gone out to collect some timber at Mununzu farm with his two dogs. By 20:00, Bendzani hadn't returned, which was uncommon because he usually returned before 19:00. Soon afterwards, Maria noticed that the dogs were moving around at home, but her husband was nowhere to be seen.

She then went to inform Bendzani's younger brother, Simon Sihlangu. Sihlangu and Maria, together with other family members and relatives, then went to Sweetwaters farm to look for Bendzani. “It was a long way up there,” she said. “I felt weak. I felt that something bad had happened to my husband. I fell down many times on the way and decided to return home with a few others.”

However, those who continued with the search were met by a most horrible sight. "Fresh blood and traces of human footprints were visible on the ground," said Maria. A pair of shoes, which belonged to the deceased, were also found on the spot.

“At first we saw nothing else,” said Simon. “But when we looked further ahead on our left, there was a fire burning. We went closer. Our brother Phillip was covered with thick, black plastic bags and burning. I've never seen anything like this in my life.”

Following the horrendous discovery, the police were alerted about the incident and their investigations led to the arrest of the six. The preliminary investigation suggests that the suspects tried to cremate the victim in order to conceal the act of ritual murder after removing his body parts.

When Limpopo Mirror visited the family of the ritual murder victim on Friday, there was a palpable silence in the village. School chidren were walking along the steep, dusty streets on their way from school. In the household, the deceased's family members and friends gathered in the shade cast by their RDP house, talking in hushed tones.

“My husband didn't deserve to be murdered like this,” said a dejected Maria. “He was a carpenter and builder, who worked hard to support his children. It's hard and painful to think that your own neighbour can do this kind of unimaginable viciousness to you.”

She was referring to one of the suspects, the sangoma, who is the victim's next-door neighbour.

The president of the Vhembe Traditional Health Practitioners, maine Vho-Mbilivhili Neluvhola, said that their organisation did not support acts of ritual killing as parts removed from human beings cannot make muti. "Killing people for muti purposes is uncalled for," he said. "Healers who are involved in ritual murder cases are not even registered with our organisation. We've got rules and values that govern us as vhomaine (traditional practitioners)." He then called on all vhomaine around Vhembe to come and register their names to show that they are traditional practitioners.

Bendzani is survived by his wife, five children and a granddaughter. He will be laid to rest at Magulula tomorrow (Saturday).

News - Date: 30 May 2012

Peter Muthambi

Peter Muthambi graduated from the University of Venda with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies. He started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror as well as national papers in 2006. He loves investigative journalism and is also a very keen photographer.

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