On 22 April this year, hawker Tshisitshau Mudzanani, 38, of Vhurivhuri Ngwenani outside Thohoyandou, left her home for the nearby town. That was the last time her family saw her alive.
She did not return home that day, and her lifeless body was found at her gate on 23 April at around 06:10, with multiple wounds to her head and side. She was buried on 1 May.
The family of the mother of three is left with many questions by her mysterious death. They are still waiting for the police to arrest the killer to gain closure.
Family spokesperson and international disabled wheelchair tennis star Ronewa Mudzanani said the death had left them with "bleeding hearts."
"My aunt was dear to all in the family, a workaholic who provided for her family and ensured they never went hungry. We are so heartbroken as a family, looking at how her life was taken away," he said.
Mudzanani said no one deserved to die like that. "She was a single parent working hard to support her three children through selling fruits. It pains us that, after so many months, no one has been arrested."
He added that there were strong leads in the case. "We are not pointing fingers, but there is a man she was seeing, who was the last person to be seen with her. He told the police that he had left her on the main road at 21:50 on 22 April," he said.
According to Mudzanani, it is surprising that the man felt it proper to leave her on the road at such a late hour, only for her to be found dead the following morning.
The family has urged the police to do all they can to arrest the killer.
Vhembe SAPS spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi said a murder case had been registered at the Makuya SAPS. "The suspect or suspects in this case are still at large and no arrest has been made yet. Police investigations are continuing," he said.