LIMPOPO – Chaos erupted last Monday as the search continued for a missing man at Tshamulungwi village in Mutale outside Tshilamba.
Shumani Muzila (26) went missing last month.
According to the community, the search is still on for Muzila, while a relative of the family is suspected of being involved in his disappearance.
The Chairperson of the civic organisation in the village and a member of the task team heading the search, Azwihangwisi Nemufulwi, said the task team was asked by the community to summons the relative as they have questions that need answers.
A day later, the man had left the village with his mother and sister.
“We then, as the task team, took the matter to the chief of the village and requested the chief to write a letter to summons the man to come back as the community wants to question him,” said Nemufulwi.
The letter was sent to Hamakhuvha village where the relative is said to have fled to.
“The man then returned to Tshamulungwi escorted by his mother and another relative, where they had a conversation with the chief while the community gathered around and requested the chief to allow them to have a word in private.”
According to Nemufulwi, the situation got out of hand when the community questioned the man, who at this point had not been part of the meeting. He tried to flee the situation and was attacked.
“Another relative informed us that this suspect had visited a traditional doctor at Tshikundamalema village,” added Nemufulwi.
He further indicated that the community organised transport to Tshikundamalema and there they were told that two people took the suspect away, claiming to be his relatives.
The community had another suspect whom they accused of being involved, and when they came back from Tshikundamalema later that Monday, passed by his house and took him to the community who were waiting for those who were sent to Tshikundamalema.
Another suspect was also beaten and nearly got burnt. The police came later at night and used rubber bullets and teargas to disperse the angry community, Nemufulwi said
Provincial Police Spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, said five people were arrested and appeared in the Mutale Magistrate’s Court.
Their cases of kidnapping, murder, robbery and assault, will resume on 24 May.
