Residents of Tshikhwani in the Sinthumule area received an unwelcome shock when the body of a 60-year-old man was found in nearby bushes under strange circumstances.
According to the police's spokesperson in Limpopo, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo, some of the residents were collecting firewood in the nearby bushes on 7 March when they discovered Daniel Sadiki's lifeless body. The police were immediately alerted.
Mojapelo told the media that, when the police team arrived at the scene, a man was found tied to a car. The car's door was open, and the victim's head was tied to the door handle with a rope around his neck. His head was facing upwards, while the rest of the victim's body was lying on the ground. He had a chain around his neck as well and blood on his T-shirt from a stab wound to his upper shoulder. A panga was lying next to the victim, and the steering wheel had been removed from the car.
Nobody has been arrested yet in connection with the murder, but the police are investigating the matter. The actual cause of death is yet to be determined.
Mr Evans Sadiki spoke on behalf of the family and said that they were devastated over Sadiki's death. "As a family, we are still wondering and trying to figure out what had happened. He was still strong as he could till the fields. We never thought his life would end this way."
Evans told Limpopo Mirror that many similar incidents had happened in the area. He expressed the family's hope that Sadiki's killer (or killers) would be arrested and brought to justice, as too many men and women were killed for nothing, while their killers got away with it.
Vhamusanda Vho-Mbulaheni Ramabulana said that the traditional council was worried and hugely disturbed by the fact that so many people were found dead in the area. "This is not the first incident in the village. Not long ago, another man was killed and dumped in the bushes. We are tired of this. We urge everyone to stand up with us, so that we can fight this curse that is threatening to wipe us out together," he said. He further sent his heartfelt condolences to the Sadiki family.
Sadiki will be buried on Saturday (13 March) at the Madombidzha Cemetery. The service will start at 05:30.