Strange noises, then suicide

First he heard voices and strange people were calling him to join the dead, and the next thing the man was found hanging from an avocado tree at his home.

Two years ago, Mr Mbulaheni Nemadzadze told his family that voices kept calling him to join his ancestors. He also told them that he saw people, some of whom had passed away a long time ago.

Today, the 28-year-old Nemadzadze of Lwamondo is dead after allegedly committing suicide. He was found hanging from a tree early last Thursday morning. This was the second tragedy to befall the family in a short space of time. A week ago, they buried their uncle who died after being stabbed with a knife.

Some residents believe that there is a demon that is causing all the misery in the community. Well-known cleric Pastor Mungoni Muhali of the Jesus The Word Of Life Ministry Church at Lwamondo, who visited the family, said they could not rule out the possibility that evil spirits were taking people at random in the village.

The uncle of the deceased, Mr Ndoweni Makhavhu (48), said that the behaviour of Nemadzadze had changed from two years ago. “He used to tell us that he was hearing strange voices and seeing strange people. Everything changed and he was a better person who made a living out of piece jobs. He would go out and work and never complained about anything, and we are surprised to learn that he had hanged himself. He left us with sore hearts and many questions that need answers from him,” he said.

The local headman, Tshililo Robert Nthangeni Khobo, said the loss of young people was devastating. Vuwani police spokesperson W/O Elijah Malatjie said they had opened an inquest docket. “As police we also appeal to people with problems to seek professional help,” he said.

Date:09 July 2015

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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