A family from Gumbo village, who were the targets of a mob attack two years ago, believe they are still being victimised. This time, the acting local traditional leader refused them permission to bury a loved one.
The family had to approach the court for assistance, and the burial was eventually conducted under police supervision.
The ordeal began in February 2023, following the death of the local traditional leader, Vhamusanda Vho Takalani Andries Gumbu. Some residents believed Gumbu had been assassinated, and after his funeral on 18 February, they set out in search of suspects. A mob quickly formed, running amok, causing havoc, and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
When the dust settled, nine families from the village, accused of being involved in the traditional leader's assassination, were left homeless. Their properties - including cars, businesses, and homes - were burnt down. The Mukwevho family was one of the targets.
For two years, tensions simmered as the families tried to rebuild their lives. On Wednesday, 26 February, one of their members, Rofhiwa Mukwevho, passed away. The family began preparations for the funeral.
Family spokesperson Mahwasane Mudzweda said the trouble started when they reported the death and burial plans to the acting traditional leader.
"We were met with a cold shoulder as the acting traditional leader refused to have anything to do with the burial. We had no option but to approach the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court for a protection order. It was only granted late on Saturday, so we could not bury her. Instead, we buried her on Sunday, accompanied by police," he said.
Mudzweda said the actions of certain community members had come as a shock to the family. "How can normal African people mock a corpse? They haunted her in life and have now followed her in death. This is a cultural shock," he said.
He added that angry community members had vowed not to allow the family to bury their loved one at the local graveyard. "This was a nasty experience. We were accused of killing the traditional leader, but police investigations proved otherwise," he said.
Mudzweda said three suspects had been arrested in connection with the traditional leader's death. "Surprisingly, the accusations against us have not stopped. They continue making our lives miserable," he said.
Another family member, Joel Thivhafuni, said he was shocked to see community members mocking the deceased woman as her hearse passed by on the way to the graveyard.
"People are heartless. How can you laugh and mock a corpse? I was also disturbed to see the late traditional leader's mother pointing at me and accusing me of killing her son. This is very upsetting because police have arrested three men in connection with the murder, yet we are still being accused of something we know nothing about," he said.
Khotsimunene Vho Johannes Gumbu discounted the version of the family saying he told them that, as the royal family, they do not take decisions on their own, but with the community. "I told them that we would need to call a community meeting, but they did not buy the idea," he said. He also pointed out that the protection order brought by the police was incorrect, as it referred to him as "headman Joseph Gumbu".
"We have not yet installed a chief here and I could not give them permission," he said.