The rural village of Matangari-Tshiumoni, outside Thohoyandou, was left mystified when a disabled man's mud house burnt down on Friday night, 15 October, killing him in the process.
Ms Tshavhungwe Munyai, the mother of the deceased, 66-year-old Aifheli Munyai, only discovered his body inside the burnt hut the next day when she paid him a visit.
The family spokesperson and younger brother of the deceased, Mr Kenneth Mukhetho, said the family members were still baffled about the fire. "There was no electricity in his hut, and he didn't use candles. He used the light from a small radio charged with solar. We suspect foul play as he had no arms or legs when his body was discovered. It might have been a ritual killing, [with] his body dumped back into his hut and the hut set on fire. However, we are not pointing fingers at anybody, as we didn't see anyone," said Mukhetho.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed that the police in Mutale have opened an inquest docket. They are making an appeal to the community at large to assist the police with any information regarding the incident that might help them with the investigation.
Aifheli was buried on Wednesday, 20 October, in the Matangari-Tshiumoni graveyard.