Residents of a Limpopo village went on the rampage yesterday, looting and burning down taverns following the discovery of the mutilated body of an 18-year-old woman.
The roads in Tshidzini, near Thohoyandou, were barricaded with rocks and burning tyres by protesting residents.
Schools were closed yesterday as pupils stayed home as part of the protest.
The mutilated body of Ntshengedzeni Mabunda was discovered by villagers in the bushes on Wednesday afternoon.
The Grade 11 pupil's body was found with her left breast and flesh from her entire left leg missing.
She is the third victim of suspected ritual killing reported in the Vhembe area this year.
In June, 47-year-old farmer Alfred Mudau's body was found in Tshaulu with his private parts missing. In July, 23-year-old Dakalo Bulannga's body was found dumped in an orchard with several body parts missing.
"As a community we believe that the young woman was ritually murdered because some of her body parts were missing," community leader Fhatuwani Tshamano said. He appealed for calm.
Last year eight people accused of committing ritual murders were placed under police protection after angry residents of Mbilwi village threatened to kill them. M ore than 3000 residents brought business activity in Thohoyandou to a standstill when they marched against perceived police ineptitude in solving ritual murder s in the area.
Yesterday Thohoyandou police spokeswoman Avhafarei Tshiovhe said they were still waiting for post-mortem results to determine the cause of death.
She said an inquest docket had been opened and they were investigating.
A recent study conducted by academics at the University of Venda fingered business people, politicians, church and traditional leaders as well as traditional healers as the perpetrators of ritual murders.
The study also revealed that some ritual murders were carried out by people within police ranks. This made it difficult for police to crack such cases.
Tshiovhe said ritual murder cases in the Vhembe area were handled by a special task team .
Sowetan has learnt that there have been no arrests or prosecutions in the three previous cases which had subsequently led to the outbreak of violence.
Chairperson of churches forum in Tsianda, Prince Ramahala, condemned "the killings of innocent people for ritual purposes. No one has the right to take another person's life. No one can become successful by using other peoples body parts. It's all a myth," he said.
newsdesk@sowetan.co.za
Protests after ritual killing
Residents of a Limpopo village went on the rampage yesterday, looting and burning down taverns following the discovery of the mutilated body of an 18-year-old woman.
The roads in Tshidzini, near Thohoyandou, were barricaded with rocks and burning tyres by protesting residents.
Schools were closed yesterday as pupils stayed home as part of the protest.
The mutilated body of Ntshengedzeni Mabunda was discovered by villagers in the bushes on Wednesday afternoon.
The Grade 11 pupil's body was found with her left breast and flesh from her entire left leg missing.
She is the third victim of suspected ritual killing reported in the Vhembe area this year.
In June, 47-year-old farmer Alfred Mudau's body was found in Tshaulu with his private parts missing. In July, 23-year-old Dakalo Bulannga's body was found dumped in an orchard with several body parts missing.
"As a community we believe that the young woman was ritually murdered because some of her body parts were missing," community leader Fhatuwani Tshamano said. He appealed for calm.
Last year eight people accused of committing ritual murders were placed under police protection after angry residents of Mbilwi village threatened to kill them. M ore than 3000 residents brought business activity in Thohoyandou to a standstill when they marched against perceived police ineptitude in solving ritual murder s in the area.
Yesterday Thohoyandou police spokeswoman Avhafarei Tshiovhe said they were still waiting for post-mortem results to determine the cause of death.
She said an inquest docket had been opened and they were investigating.
A recent study conducted by academics at the University of Venda fingered business people, politicians, church and traditional leaders as well as traditional healers as the perpetrators of ritual murders.
The study also revealed that some ritual murders were carried out by people within police ranks. This made it difficult for police to crack such cases.
Tshiovhe said ritual murder cases in the Vhembe area were handled by a special task team .
Sowetan has learnt that there have been no arrests or prosecutions in the three previous cases which had subsequently led to the outbreak of violence.
Chairperson of churches forum in Tsianda, Prince Ramahala, condemned "the killings of innocent people for ritual purposes. No one has the right to take another person's life. No one can become successful by using other peoples body parts. It's all a myth," he said.
newsdesk@sowetan.co.za
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