The village of Tshaulu Tshilaphala, outside Thohoyandou, and especially the Netshilaphala family, has been plunged into mourning with the death of one of its well-known and successful cattle farmers.
Thifhelimbilu Netshilaphala, 61, left his home on Friday, 28 February, to check on his cattle at Manghena village in the Saselamani area. According to available information, he arrived in the area, parked his car, and walked into the bush - but never returned.
After two weeks of searching by police and community members, Netshilaphala's burnt body was found in the bushes at Ximixoni village in the Saselamani area on Saturday, 15 March. The discovery came after two suspects, arrested in connection with his murder, led police to the scene where they had dumped the body.
Ironically, Netshilaphala is the second member of his family to mysteriously disappear while herding cattle in the same vicinity. On Saturday, 27 May 2023, the family and the village were left with many unanswered questions when seven-year-old Rilise Munyai vanished while herding cattle with his grandfather - Netshilaphala himself.
Netshilaphala had left the boy to tend the cattle on the other side of the Luvuvhu River, but when he returned, the child was nowhere to be found.
The boy's disappearance sparked violence in Tshaulu Tshilaphala, with some community members accusing Netshilaphala of being involved.
Netshilaphala's sister, Shonisani Nemakhavhani, said that on the day he had gone missing, he had received a call about a stolen cow. He rushed to Manghena village, only to find that the thieves had already chased the animal into the bushes and fled.
"My brother went into the bush to check on his cattle, but he never returned. We did everything to find him, but in vain. The discovery of his body is a relief in some way because now we can give him a proper send-off," she said.
"We are grief-stricken and devastated, but at the same time, consoled that we finally found his body. We have been praying for this moment. Remember, we still have the little boy, Rilise Munyai, who disappeared while herding cattle with his late uncle. He has never been found, and to this day, we do not know what happened to him. We hope the arrest of these two suspects will shed light on his disappearance because we believe the incidents are connected."
Nemakhavhani said her brother was passionate about cattle farming.
"I have no doubt he was killed by jealous people. They have had issues with him for years, and he even obtained a protection order against them - but we never thought it would end this way. My wish is that the law takes its course and that the killers pay for their brutal deeds," she said.
Vhakoma Gilbert Netshivhambe of the local royal council in Tshaulu said the village was shaken. "As a village, we are in deep pain, but we find solace in the fact that his body was found. We just hope the police will work harder to find the missing boy because we feel these cases are connected," he said.
Vhembe SAPS spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi confirmed that the missing man had been found. "Yes, we can confirm the incident. While police were investigating, two men, aged 21 and 31, were arrested. They cooperated with investigators and led them to the body at Ximixoni. The body was badly burnt. We hope the arrests will help unravel the mystery of the missing boy," he said.
The two suspects are expected to appear in the Malamulele Magistrate's Court soon. The police have urged anyone with information to contact Saselamani station commander Lt-Col Phumudzo Manyuha at (082) 565-8510.