LIMPOPO – She went missing after leaving her home in Khalavha in search of divine healing from a prophet, on 27 December.
A prophet hailing from Zimbabwe, Richard Mlambo, was arrested after police investigations linked him to Mandebvu’s disappearance.
Lufuno Mandebvu disappeared shortly after Christmas. Remains suspected to be that of Mandebvu, were pointed out to police by a prophet.
He subsequently pointed out to police where her body had been buried.
Spokesperson for the Limpopo Police, Capt Maano Sadiki, confirmed that Mlambo pointed out the spot, where they found a mutilated body that had been burnt.
Mlambo appeared in the Mutale Magistrate’s Court on 16 January and he refused to apply for bail. Mitigations will resume on 2 March in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court.
Meanwhile, the remains were sent to Pretoria for forensic testing.
The President of the Vhembe Traditional Medical Practitioners, Mbulaheni Mbilivhili Neluvhola said Mandebvu first consulted a bishop before being referred to a junior prophet.
“We must also blame the traditional leader in the area for offering a stand to a foreign prophet who doesn’t have South African documentation,” he said.
• In another incident, a 16-year-old girl went to the traditional healer’s home at Ga-Marishane village in Burgersfort for a traditional medical consultation in early January. As part of the consultation, she was given traditional medicine. She subsequently felt dizzy and was then raped.
Provincial Police Spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, said the traditional healer, thought to be 50 years old, disappeared after the incident and was later arrested.
He appeared in the Nebo Magistrate’s Court on Monday on a charge of rape and was denied bail. The case was postponed to 13 March for bail application.
