Maluleke family buries their own after months of waiting
Victor Maluleke's DNA results were finally released on July 17 after he went missing in July last year.
LIMPOPO – The Maluleke family of Tshikhwani was delighted that businesspeople and the community could finally come together and bury the remains of their beloved family member, Victor Maluleke (40), whose DNA results had been awaited for nearly seven months.
The funeral at Tshikhwani (Rathidili) last Saturday was attended by villagers, Judge Joseph Raulinga and family members, and was held with the assistance of Mosefuwa Consultant, Raulinga, Godfrey Phathela and Eric Ramurembiwa.
Hundreds of mourners paid their last respects as Maluleke’s body was lowered down into his final resting place.
His DNA results were finally released on July 17 after he went missing in July last year.
The bodies of a man and a woman were exhumed at different locations at Gogobole and Rathidili (Tshikhwani) in the Sinthumule area on January 29, after five members of the Western Vhukovhela security unit, who were arrested for terrorising the local communities, had pointed out the spots to the police and they admitted to the murders.
Read more: Bodies of missing man and woman found in shallow graves
The managing director of Mosefuwa Consultant, Reuben Mosefuwa, said when they heard about the plight of the family, they had gone to the victim’s home to assess the situation.
“We found the situation wanting. This is poverty at its worst and we decided to assist the family to bury their loved one with dignity. We are not in this village only to make a profit, but to assist and bring about change where possible.”
Raulinga warned communities not to take the law into their own hands, but to hand criminals over to the police so that they can be tried in a court of law.
“If a crime is committed, the community should call the police and let the officers do their jobs. People should take into consideration that taking the law into their own hands is a downright criminal offence.”
Maluleke’s sister, Salphina Maluleke, thanked the company for their assistance. “We have many businesses in the area, but they turn a blind eye when it comes to helping the poor.
“Our wish is that whoever was involved in his death should face the full might of the law and pay for their sins.”
