On Saturday, 28 March, residents of Makhuvha Mbuyuni outside Thohoyandou were met with the grim discovery of a man’s body hanging from a tree, leaving many with questions.
The discovery quickly drew scores of stunned residents to the scene. At the time, the identity of the deceased was unknown, deepening fear and anxiety in the normally quiet village.
Local traditional leader Vhakoma Vho Thivhilaeli Mathode said he was alerted to the incident and rushed to the scene. “Shocked residents were already gathered there, but no one could identify the man as he was not from this area. It was only later that a family member came forward and confirmed he was their relative from Tswera village,” he said.
Mathode expressed deep sadness over the incident, describing it as a tragic and avoidable loss. “This is not an isolated case. A few years ago, a woman was also found hanging under similar mysterious circumstances,” Mathode said.
Mathode urged residents to seek help when faced with personal challenges.
“We encourage our people to seek professional help or approach community leaders when facing difficulties. These are irreversible decisions, and as a community we must work together to prevent such tragedies,” he said.
Vhembe police spokesperson Captain Vuledzani Dathi confirmed the incident, saying the man was found hanging from a tree with a rope tied around his neck. “The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday, 28 March, at around 14:30,” he said.
Dathi said the deceased was later identified as Vincent Hlungwani, from Tswera village. “He was identified by his sister. It is alleged that he had visited her but left the residence the previous day and did not return,” said Dathi.