The Mufamadi family of Madodonga village, in the Kutama area, was relieved after DNA tests finally confirmed that the decomposed body found in a mealie field in Tshiozwi on 11 April this year was that of 26-year-old Susan Mainganya Mufamadi.
Susan went missing on 6 April this year after her boyfriend called her to his place in the same village. She was never seen alive again. A few days later, her father, Mr Joseph Mufamadi, received a call from the police, who informed him that a body had been found in the mealie fields. He was asked to go and identify the body to determine if it might be his missing daughter. However, because of the advanced stage of decomposition, he could not identify the face or the clothes. Therefore, the police arranged for DNA tests to be conducted. Her body had been in a cold mortuary fridge ever since as the family waited for the results that would confirm the family's relationship with the deceased.
On 26 June, the DNA results were released, confirming that the body was indeed Susan's. The family is happy that they can now begin making funeral arrangements to give their daughter a dignified burial.
Mufamadi said that the death of his daughter had created a significant void in the family, and they still found accepting the nature of her death difficult. "Life has been very difficult while we waited for the DNA results, but now we can make peace with it and give her a proper burial," he said.
Another case related to Susan's is that of 15-year-old Lungisani Phosa, a Grade 10 learner at Maneledzi High, whose body was also found in a field in the area on 23 January this year. No one has been arrested in either case.
Vhamusanda Vho-Ntanganedzeni Kutama said that the community shared the family's pain and hoped that God would help them remain strong during this difficult time. He urged people to provide information to the police in cases such as these to bring the criminals to justice. "We are doing all we can to make people aware of the crimes that are happening in our midst. The police are not doing anything to apprehend the criminals. We seem to be fighting a losing battle because people prefer to keep quiet," he said.
Susan will be buried on Saturday, 1 July, at Madodonga. The service starts at 06:00.