25 in court after burning of houses in ‘muti’ mystery

RESIDENTS of Mninginisi village in Giyani gathered at the Giyani magistrate’s court last Tuesday, in support of 25 villagers, including a pregnant woman, who had been arrested in connection with the torching of several houses in March.

According to a community representative, Agreement Shirinda, the houses were torched after residents blamed the owners of these houses for the ritual killing of a woman who went missing on February 20.

A close relative to the missing woman, Rosy Matsimbi, told CV that the family believed the missing relative’s dismembered body was found by another woman who went to relieve herself among the bushes on March 28. She said body parts were found scattered around.

“What is even more painful to the family is that the head that was found with the body was not hers,” she said.

She said they believed the body belonged to their missing relative because her clothes and cell phone were found placed neatly next to the body. She added that no autopsy had been done to prove that it was indeed the woman’s body.

Following this gruesome discovery, infuriated villagers reportedly torched the houses of the people they suspected were responsible for the ritual killing of the woman. Ritual killing was widely believed to be practised in order to enhance businesses several villagers, including Shirinda, confirmed.

“When the first tavern in our village opened, an old man disappeared and he was later found dead with his private parts missing. At the time, we (the community) kept quiet. When a second tavern was opened recently, another person disappeared and was found dead with missing body parts,” Shirinda explained.

“We want to deal with the suspects ourselves because the police are not doing enough,” Shirinda said, adding that the wrong people had been arrested and killers had been left to go free.

“If they don’t release them today we will do more damage. We will hunt down the suspects ourselves and deal with them.”

The 25 suspects were released on R500 bail each and their case was postponed to June 6.

The woman’s death is still under investigation by police according to WO Thomas Makhubele, Giyani police spokesperson.