Chieftainship feuds in the Vhavenda traditional leadership has reached boiling point as the newly installed Vhakoma (petty headman) in Malamangwa-Tshamutavha village in Limpopo was shot dead two days after his installation.

Villagers in Malamangwa-Tshamutavha, Gondeni-Sterkstroom and surrounding communities including Malavuwe and Matsika are still coming to terms with the news after newly installed leader David Netshamutavha was gunned down last Monday, just two days after his installation in Tshamutavha village.

Netshamutavha, from Gondeni-Sterkstroom village, was about to relocate to Tshamutavha village to take over as chief.

According to Vhembe police spokesperson Sergeant Vuledzani Dathi, the police in Thohoyandou opened a murder case and a manhunt was launched after Netshamutavha’s body was discovered at his house. He had been shot, and no empty cartridges were found at the scene.

“The deceased was identified as David Netshamutavha (46) who stayed alone in his room next to his spaza shop. The window next to his bedroom was also broken.”

Dathi confirmed that no arrests have been made yet, and the police are calling on anyone with information to contact detective Sergeant Mpho Gethe on 079 380 1132 or 015 960 1000.

Family spokesperson and the half-brother of the deceased, Pono Netshamutavha said the family was saddened about the incident, as they were happily celebrating his installation as petty headman of Tshamutavha, a sub-section of Malamangwa village, succeeding his late father William, the petty headman who died in 1983.

He said the family will work with the police in bringing the perpetrator(s) to book.

Vhamusanda Mmbangiseni Nemalamangwa, who installed Netshamutavha, said he was shocked about the incident.

“The sub-village of Tshamutavha was without someone to look after them and I decided to put him on the throne. Little did I know that he would be killed.”

The deceased was buried at Gondeni-Sterkstroom village on Saturday.