By Elmon Tshikhudo and Silas Nduvheni
In one of the bloodiest weeks in Vhembe, a jilted man strangled his neighbour, stole his firearm and vehicle before fleeing the scene and going berserk by killing two more people before eventually turning the gun on himself. The incidents happened at Lwamondo and Mbilwi respectively on Thursday night, 23 March.
The movie-like scenes began to unfold when the man, Thinandavha Bravo Mulaudzi, attacked his 80-year-old neighbour, Mr Ngodiseni Samuel Shavhani, at Lwamondo Mutandani before stealing his firearm from the safe and his motor vehicle. He used the car to drive to Mbilwi village in Sibasa, where he shot and killed a man and a woman. The couple were identified as Mr Simon Ramutsindela Thifhelimbilu (49) and Ms Patricia Manavhela (48).
After the killings, Mudau reportedly fled to the nearby Mapate village, where he was spotted by villagers at a local liquor outlet. The police were called, but he managed to flee to nearby bushes, where he shot himself.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said three cases of murder and house robbery had been opened. Shavhani's firearm and vehicle were also recovered. "The motive for the incidents could not be established yet, but a love triangle cannot be ruled out," said Mojapelo.
Mulaudzi is said to have made his intentions known a few days before the incidents. On 7 March, he shared a post on his Facebook page where he said that he had to die, and that God must forgive him. He further urged everyone who still owed him money to pay him back.
Manavhela apparently also used Facebook as a mouthpiece. Apparently, she had shared a post on her Facebook page, where she pleaded with the community to help her, saying that her former lover (Mulaudzi) had bought a gun and that she was fearing for her life.
According to the family, Mulaudzi and Manavhela were lovers at one point, but Manavhela broke up with him. Mulaudzi, however, could not take no for an answer and insisted that they were in love.
Manavhela's younger sister, Ms Azwidohwi Manavhela, said the family was traumatised by the incident. "He (Mulaudzi) could not accept that they were divorced now. He sent pictures of his gun to my sister's phone and threatened to kill her one day," she said.
Patricia leaves three children behind, one of whom is disabled.
A funeral service will be held for Simon Ramutsindela on Saturday, 1 April, while Patricia Manavhela will be buried in Lwamondo village on Sunday, 2 April.