Gogo Matamela Ramala (90) and her daughter, Martha Ramala (60), who were shot dead last Sunday night, were buried during an emotional funeral at Gogobole on Saturday.
The sound of hymns was overpowered by weeping and wailing during the first funeral of its kind at the village. "We have accepted what happened, although we know we will never get over it. The pain we experience as a family is more than words can express," said Mr Phineas Malema, spokesperson of the family.
"The deaths of the two had left family members traumatised and it will take a long time and specialised counselling for them to recover fully," he said. "We understand and accept that our beloved family members are gone forever, but it will be very difficult for us to live without them. However, it is also important to acknowledge the community and different structures' support since we were greeted with the bad news. God has done his will and there is nothing we can do because the situation is irreversible," he said
Makhado Mayor Samuel Munyai expressed his condolences to the family and said that their loved ones would always be remembered. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased during this time of grief," he said. "Their deaths have touched our hearts and we are united with the family and other stakeholders to make sure that the two receive a dignified burial."
Four suspects were arrested and were facing charges of murder when they appeared in the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate's Court last Tuesday. The case was postponed to today (Friday) for bail applications. Jeffrey Matshivha (46) of Magau village, Muraga Musenwa (24) of Gogobole village, Dakalo Makhavhu (35) of Tshiozwi village and Rodney Moekoena (28) of Magau village are in custody and one suspect is still on the run.