The police have made a breakthrough by arresting a suspect for the murder last month of a schoolteacher from Tswinga. The suspect, however, has links to the controversial Sibasa prophet Phathutshedzo Sikhubu, better known as Prophet Muritho.
Ndinainwi Mabuke (26), a primary school teacher from Tswinga, was gunned down at close range as she boarded a taxi at Thengwe Matshetshete in the early hours of 11 October. She had just left an all-night prayer session when an unknown gunman emerged and opened fire.
She died on the scene. A 55-year-old taxi driver and a 69-year-old woman escaped with serious injuries.
Mabuke was scheduled to appear in the Cape Town Regional Court on 17 October to testify in a rape case against Sikhubu. She lay charges of rape against the controversial prophet and, from what could be established, refused to withdraw these even after being pressured to do so. She was killed less than a week before she could testify.
Closer to home, the 40-year-old Prophet Muritho is also facing rape charges. He was denied bail after allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl in an office at his church in Sibasa on 9 July. He also stands accused of raping a 20-year-old woman in 2024, during a braai at his house in Tswinga.
After Mabuke was assassinated, local community members spoke in low tones, believing her murder is linked to the pending rape case in Cape Town.
Soon after the shooting, an intensive manhunt for the killers ensued. The hunt paid off when the Vhembe Task Team detained a man on Friday, 21 November, in connection with the incident.
News of the breakthrough started doing the rounds that very afternoon, but the police could not confirm any arrest. It was only on Sunday, 23 November, that they confirmed that a man had been charged with Mabuke's murder.
The suspect, Andani Madzhie (27), appeared in the Mutale Magistrate's Court on Monday, 24 November, and was charged with murder in respect of Mabuke and two counts of attempted murder in respect of the taxi driver, Mr Colbert Ndwambi and the granny, Ms Livhuwani Marema (69).
During Madzhie's appearance, he was asked which legal representation he would prefer, but he opted to enlist the services of a private lawyer. The case was postponed to 2 December to afford him time to get a lawyer.
Although not much could be divulged about the case, Vhembe police spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi was comfortable in confirming that more arrests are expected.
With the arrest being effected, the big question remains: Could this murder be linked to the pending rape case the late Mabuke had laid against Prophet Muritho or was everything just a coincidence?
Dathi could once again not comment, other than saying that investigations were still ongoing.
When the Limpopo Mirror visited the area and inquired about the suspect, not much could be learned about Madzhie. Locals only knew him as someone staying at Muritho's house at Tswinga. Whether he is a relative to the self-proclaimed prophet or an employee is not clear. It was said that he worked as a Bolt driver for Sikhubu.
What had happened on the night of the murder may be more revealing.
The night before the murder, Mabuke attended an all-night service at the local House of Cana Prophetic Church. The all-night prayer was hosted by Prophet Wesly Rolindela, a known close friend of Sikhubu's. It is also alleged that, during the course of the evening, the host prophet introduced her to the congregation as an important guest.
Allegations are that on the night before the incident, the arrested suspect went to the church with two other men to point out and identify Mabuke to his assassins. The suspect is apparently very familiar with the murdered woman as they stay in the same village.
It is alleged that the suspect had arranged the hit telephonically, speaking to the prophet while the latter was still in jail. Allegations are that, after the execution of the hit, he had received a congratulatory call from the prophet for a job well done and was given instructions to destroy the phone that was used in the planning, but he never disposed of it.
Mr Bennedict Nalana of the Mutale Human Rights for All, an organisation fighting for the rights of the community, commended the police for a job well done.
"We had said all along that this murder has to do with the rape case involving Muritho. This man did not act alone, and we urge police to arrest the outstanding suspects. They should also investigate how the phone used entered the prison cells. All the crooked wardens should be held to account," he said.