LIMPOPO – The 45-year-old Philip Jomo Munzhelele of Tshino in the Vuwani area, who was arrested in December 2019 in connection with the murder of his 31-year-old girlfriend, Portia Ramakavhi of Ha-Mutsha appeared in the Sibasa Regional Court on August 2.
Munzhelele and Ramakavhi apparently had an argument, which resulted in her being stabbed with a sharp object. She died at the scene. A group of angry community members netted Munzhelele and assaulted him before the police arrived. He was subsequently admitted to Tshilidzini Hospital and kept under police guard. Ramakavhi was survived by two daughters, aged 10 and six. Munzhelele is the father of the youngest.
Prior to the incident, Ramakavhi had obtained two protection orders at the Vuwani Magistrate’s Court against Munzhelele. Her family expressed their disappointment when Munzhelele was released on R10 000 bail in January 2020. He had been out on bail since and only appeared in the regional court again on July 28.
Here, he pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody. The case was postponed to August 2, but sentencing was postponed to September 15. The chairperson of the Real Man Foundation, Surprise Nenguda said they were happy about the suspect’s admission of guilt.
“We are doing all we can to make people aware of the crimes that are happening in their midst. The police are doing their best to apprehend these criminals, but we seem to be fighting a losing battle, as people prefer to keep quiet.”
He said that they would continue to support the family. “We hope the court will give Munzhelele a stiff sentence,” he said.
