Ritual killing fears spark protest over Limpopo man’s disappearance

Quick read 

• Residents from Vondo marched to the Thohoyandou Police Station last Monday, demanding justice for missing man Emmanuel Muremela.

• Muremela (from Vondo) disappeared in October 2024 after reportedly travelling to Halambani to train as a traditional healer.

• Community members say police have made no progress and suspect ritual murder, citing similar past cases.

• Protesters carried placards reading “Justice for Manu” and warned of potential vigilante action due to police inaction.

• They also demanded that relatives of suspects leave the village, claiming intimidation and threats.

• A memorandum of grievances was handed over to Col Nditsheni Ramatsitsi by community leader Avhapfani Nevondo.

• Police were given 14 days to respond; Ramatsitsi promised intensified investigations.

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LIMPOPO – Angry residents from the mountainous village of Vondo near Murangoni and Maranzhe just outside Thohoyandou, took to the streets last Monday, marching from the Graceland Lodge road to the Thohoyandou Police Station to hand over a memorandum of grievances.

Their primary demand is to get justice and answers in the case of Emmanuel Muremela, who has been missing since October 2024.

Muremela had reportedly travelled to Halambani village to start training as a traditional healer, but never returned home.

Since his disappearance, his family and the community say they have received no clarity or progress from authorities, and now fear the worst.

Carrying placards reading ‘Justice for Manu’, community members accused police of inaction and warned that continued delays could spark vigilante justice.

They demanded that intimate relatives of suspects should no longer be allowed to stay in the village, claiming they feel intimidated and threatened by their presence.

Community leader Avhapfani Nevondo, who handed over the memorandum to Col Nditsheni Ramatsitsi at the Thohoyandou Police Station, voiced concerns that Muremela might have fallen victim to a ritual murder, as other residents in the past have gone missing and were either never found or discovered without some body parts.

“We reported the matter, but police are dragging their feet in arresting known suspects. Some community members who came forward with information are now being threatened. We are living in fear,” said Nevondo.

The community has given the police 14 days to respond to their demands.

Ramatsitsi assured the community that investigations will be intensified and appealed for community cooperation in gathering evidence and testimonies.

Family spokesperson Thizwihangwi Nemutshetoni shared the family’s emotional toll, saying it has been over eight months of trauma and unanswered questions.

“Some witnesses have come forward, claiming to know what happened to Emmanuel, but the police haven’t taken their statements seriously,” he said.

Nemutshetoni added that Muremela had a mental health condition, making the situation even more distressing for his loved ones.

Acting Vhembe police spokesperson, WO Vuledzani Dathi, confirmed that a missing person case had been opened but said no new developments have emerged.

“We will follow up and update the family as soon as new information becomes available,” he said.