Bertasi Maunya (23) left his home in Ngovhela Tshirembe on Saturday afternoon, 3 June, just as he had done on many Saturdays before. However, this time was different because he never returned. His lifeless body was discovered a week later, floating in the local Phiphidi Dam, a few kilometres from his home village.
Local residents who were boating on the dam made the gruesome discovery on Saturday, June 10. Bertasi's body showed signs of bruising, and stones were found in his pockets. That he had been murdered was evident, a fact that caused shock and disbelief throughout the communities of Phiphidi and Ngovhela.
An executive member of the Phiphidi Civic, Mr Rudzani Jonathan Mathelemusa, expressed the community's anger about the incident. "We are deeply disturbed as a community. Just imagine how heartless people can be, killing someone and weighing down their pockets with stones to ensure the body does not float. The killers wanted the body to be submerged and disappear completely, denying the family the opportunity to even bury their loved one. Consider the pain the family must be enduring," he said.
Mathelemusa conveyed his displeasure, mentioning that this was not the first time a body had been dumped in the dam. "It seems our dam has become a dumping ground for corpses. This must stop. The water is no longer clean, and we do not even know how many bodies are submerged here. With water being a scarce resource in this area, the community relies on this unclean water from the dam. We are also concerned that this incident further tarnishes the reputation of our village, which is already associated with crime," Mathelemusa added.
Mr Wamashudu Muhali, the leader of the Ngovhela Civic and spokesperson for the Maunya family, expressed the devastating impact on the family. "Our hearts are torn apart. As a family and as a community, we are deeply wounded inside. Bertasi was a good young man who did not deserve to be brutally killed."
According to Muhali, Bertasi seemed to have known his killers as he had confided in the family about a plot against his life before his death. "There are inconsistencies in this incident that need to be addressed, and as a community, we will come together to discuss and gain a clearer understanding. The truth must be revealed, so that the family can find closure," he stated.
Sergeant Vuledzani Dathi, the acting spokesperson for the Vhembe SAPS, confirmed the incident and stated that a murder case had been opened. "No arrests have been made yet, but we urge anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators to come forward," he said.