LIMPOPO – According to police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, police received information about people dealing in human body parts, in the area around Tshitavha village, and subsequent investigations led them to graves which were violated in the cemetery.
Police then exhumed the first body, last week, where the headless body of a man, who was buried in July of 2016, was found in one of the graves.
The second exhumation was conducted on Tuesday, 5 September, where the remains of a man who was buried in 2007, were found missing from the grave.
“The police have therefore launched a provincial task team, led by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Crime Detection, Major General Bafana Linda, to investigate cases of ritual murders in the Vhembe District,” Mojapelo explained.
As a result, police are looking for 23-year-old, Daniel Nephawe, from Tshitavha village, who is believed will assist in the investigations of these cases.
“We are also looking for a Sangoma/traditional healer called Eric “Mapepe” Kwinda, of Tshikonelo village, whom we also believe will assist in these investigations,” Mojapelo said.
Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, has condemned action taken by the community of Tshitavha village, who went on a rampage in the area by blocking roads in the village with rocks.
The community acted in anger after the second exhumation confirmed that the man’s body was stolen from the grave and a one room house, belonging to one of the villagers, was torched on Tuesday night.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the police’s toll free crime stop number 0860010111 or the nearest police station.
