Raped and strangled

A young resident of the Golgotha residential area in Thohoyandou, Tshililo Ndou (9), was raped and strangled to death on Freedom Day. She is the niece of former world boxing champion Phillip “Time Bomb” Ndou.

Young Tshililo was found dumped behind a vehicle in a yard in Golgotha, not too far away from her home at around 22:00. According to the spokesperson of the police at Thohoyandou, Const Avhafarei Tshiovhe, the family reported Tshililo missing with police at around 10:00 on the same day. She was a Grade 4 pupil at Tshishonga Primary.

According to Ms Azwidowi Mashamba, principal of the school, Tshililo was playing with friends in the street next to her home when an unknown man came and sent her to buy something from a local spaza. “When she came back, he gave her R2 and sent her to buy bubblegum for herself. After realizing that she was not coming back, her friends went to inform her grandmother, Margaret Nemukula, and a search was started,” explained Mashamba.

A report was made to the police and the search continued until Tshililo’s body was found. “There were no visible marks of injuries to her body, except phlegm that was coming from her mouth. It was also established Tshililo had been raped and strangled,” says Tshiovhe, who also confirms that no arrest had been made at the time of our going to press.

During an emotional funeral service held at home on Saturday morning, speakers spoke fondly about young Tshililo. Mashamba described Tshililo as a respectable young girl. “She was wise, very clean and committed to her school work. She was young but responsible and always wanted to help other learners,” says Mashamba.

Former Vhembe Executive Mayor Florence Radzilani and a former MEC for Safety and Security told mourners that the ANC Women’s League urged community members to expose criminals, especially rapists The mayor of Thulamela Municipality, Cllr Grace Mahosi, promised to put pressure on the police to make sure the culprit is arrested. “We are concerned about this barbaric behaviour. It is worrying that some men are more dangerous than animals. In Thulamela there are many churches. We hope they will play their role and help to encourage these evil men to reform,” said Mahosi.

Tshililo is one of six children of Azwimpheleli Ndou and Nndavheleseni Malatji. Her father, Azwimpheleli, the elder brother of boxer Phillip Ndou, says he was planning to buy his daughter a new cell phone at the end of the month. “She worked very hard at school. Last December she was in the 16th position and she was now in third place.”

Although there is no lead in the rape and murder case that has been opened at the Thohoyandou police station, Phillip Ndou believes there will be an arrest. “I am calling upon whoever is responsible to surrender to the police as soon as possible, before God works His wonders against him. We believe in God and there is no way that He will disappoint us,” says Ndou.

Date:09 May 2014

By: Ndivhuwo Musetha

Read: 4666