The cruelty of domestic violence came to light again this week when the lifeless bodies of a couple were found at Dzwerani Mirenzheni, a village near Thohoyandou. It appears that the man had first killed his girlfriend before hanging himself.
The bodies were discovered on Monday at around 11:00. The spokesperson for the Vhembe SAPS, W/O Vuledzani Dathi, said the police were alerted by members of the community. Upon arrival, they found the body of a woman lying face down in a pool of blood, while the man's body was found hanging from a rope inside the same room.
"The man was identified as Livhuwani Munyai (37), and the woman as Ntshengedzeni Mahodze. Both bodies were slightly decomposed," Dathi said.
Munyai's mother, Ms Khathutshelo Ramathavha (62), was still in a state of shock earlier this week. She said she had tried to contact her son for several days, but he had not answered his phone. She eventually asked her grandson to visit the couple.
"Upon arrival, my grandson said he was surprised to see flies swarming around the two-room house where the couple were staying," she said. The grandson then made the gruesome discovery of their bodies.
Ms. Ramathavha said the incident had come as a great shock to the family. The couple were unemployed and did not have any funeral policies. She expressed concern as she relies on her meagre pension and cannot afford the funeral costs.
The Vuwani police are investigating a murder case and have opened an inquest docket. Anyone with information that could assist the police is urged to contact Det-Sgt Mabasa Matimba at (082) 436-4825.
At the time of our going to press, funeral arrangements were still being finalised. Anyone wishing to assist the family can contact Ms. Ramathavha at (079) 867-9054 or Rabelani Ramathavha at (076) 326-9937.