Venda king wages war against ritual killings
Venda King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana says he is meeting with senior traditional leaders, police and Pastors Forums in the Vhembe District to wage a war against the escalation in ritual killings.
LIMPOPO – He said he doesn’t understand why some people still believe that human body parts can make them rich.
“You can’t get rich by taking other people’s lives. Those involved must stop this cruelty with immediate effect. We cannot tolerate it and people who have information about the suspects must inform the police. Remember fighting crime is the task of both the police and the community,” he said.
“Vendas are known as a peaceful tribe, but what is happening now dents the image of Vhembe. I heard of a young woman, Lufuno Mandebvu, who was ritually murdered in Mutale when she was consulting a foreign prophet. The prophet is still behind bars and the law must take its course.”
Last month, Kenneth Mukhari, of Muledane, was also a victim of a ritual murder and his body was found near a soccer field.
In April 2016, Frans Madzive (59) and his accomplice, David Mnisi (31) were sentenced in the Makhado Magistrate’s Court for the ritual murder of Philip Chabeti Benzani in May, 2012.
Benzani’s body was discovered with his private parts missing, after he had gone to fetch wood on the Mununzu-Henning farm near Mutonga village in the Elim area.
The body parts were found wrapped in a plastic bag not far from where the murder was committed.
Spokesperson for the Limpopo Police, Col Moatshe Ngoepe, said the body of Mukhari was found with multiple stab wounds and the nose, lips and both ears had been removed.
“Police are doing their best to fight ritual killings and other types of crime,” he said.
