The survivor of a ritual murder attack, Nyelisani Sidimela, and her family received a visit from the Women's League of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) at Makonde last Saturday.
Nyelisani's lips were cut off by the ritual murderers. During the incident, which took place in October 2005, her boyfriend, Maanda Sendedza, was killed and his private parts and tongue were removed.
The aim of the visit was to encourage community members to support Nyelisani while she is still recovering. The visitors also want community members to make financial contributions towards Nyelisani's medical costs. Her multiple surgeries to replace her lips will need approximately R500 000, but so far only R160 000 has been raised.
Nomusa Sebata, SACC Limpopo Province Women Ecumenical Fellowship president, said: "As Christian women, we feel the pain the woman endured and we decided to do something for her and her family. We have to practice what we preach, which means giving love to the neglected and comforting the grieved," she said. She said they would like to see the family get over their ordeal once and for all. "We know that what happened to the woman was evil and a violation of the human being, but there has to be a way that the family can be helped to get over it. We hope that this can be achieved through the support of all of us," she said.
Family member Mr David Sidimela said the family was overwhelmed by the generosity shown by South Africans in their time of need. "We were stranded and we did not know what to do, but people from all corners of the country embraced us with all their warmth," he said. Even though he was thankful for the help they received, he made a special plea to the nation to continue assisting them as they are still in need.
Suspects were arrested in connection with the case and were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment and one of them has since died in prison. Nyelisani is speaking with difficulty and it was impossible for her to comment, as she is still in pain.