A 51-year-old suspect, arrested for the kidnapping and murder of a 15-year-old girl from Khalavha village, appeared in a packed Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court last Thursday (14th).
More than a thousand angry residents from Khalavha and surrounding areas, along with organisations such as the Vhembe Gender-Based Violence Forum (GBVF), protested outside the courthouse. Some demonstrators called for the accused to be released without bail, so they could "deal with him" themselves.
Lawrence Mashawana Madega faces multiple charges, including two counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping, possession of an illegal firearm, and defeating the ends of justice.
The state alleges that Madega kidnapped 15-year-old Mukondeleli Manala on 12 November this year. He reportedly raped her before stabbing her to death with a sharp object. Madega is also charged with the kidnapping and murder of Mafeladzulo Dzulani on 25 September 2023, who was similarly raped and killed. In an effort to conceal evidence, he is accused of burning the body of one of his victims.
Madega was also charged with possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition at Tshikombani village.
During his court appearance last week, Madega abandoned his bail application. The large crowd outside the courtroom, openly calling for his blood, may have influenced his decision. His case has been postponed to 14 January next year.
The body of Mukondeleli Manala was found in the Khalavha forest in the Nzhelele Valley on Tuesday (12 November), two days after she was reported missing.
A family spokesperson, Mr Thivhulawi Netshivhodza, said Mukondeleli had been on her way to church on Sunday when she had allegedly been kidnapped by the suspect. When she failed to return after the service, community members held a meeting around 16:00. Shortly after, they received information that the girl had been forcibly bundled into the suspect's car.
"Together with members of the community, we went to the Siloam Police Station to report her as missing and shared information about Madega's involvement," he said.
Community members and the police then went to one of Madega's houses in Tshikombani village. Upon seeing them, Madega attempted to flee but was caught by community members. "They wanted to kill him right there, but the police intervened," Netshivhodza said.
While Madega was in custody, workers at a nearby tea plantation stumbled upon Manala's body, and the police were informed.
"We later learned that he took the police to the crime scene and admitted to killing another woman last year, leaving her body in the Thathe Vondo forest," Netshivhodza added.
Mukondeleli was a promising young student who excelled in her studies. She had recently been honoured as the best mathematics student at Dzata Secondary School. "She was incredibly intelligent and had a bright future," Netshivhodza said.
He concluded by saying that heartless individuals such as the suspect should not be dealt with by the courts but by the community itself.