The brutal murder of two elderly people at Tshifulanani outside Thohoyandou has sparked an outcry from members of the local community. The victims, Mr Khorommbi Nevondo (74) and his partner, Ms Mercy Maphaha (58), were discovered in their bedroom by relatives on Tuesday, 4 July. They were lying in pools of blood with several deep stab wounds on their bodies.
Preliminary police investigations revealed that the killer had gained entry to the house by breaking a security gate and forcing the door open. They also established that Nevondo's social grant card and identity book were stolen during the incident. Immediately after the incident was reported, a team of special investigators, comprising members from different units, was assembled to trace and arrest the suspect.
The incident took a shocking turn when Nevondo's biological son was arrested for both murders. According to Limpopo police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba, the 38-year-old man, who cannot be identified as he is yet to appear in court, was arrested at the deceased couple's home on Tuesday, 11 July. He is expected to appear in the Vuwani Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 13 July, on two counts of murder, housebreaking with intent to commit theft, and theft.
Community leader Mr Khathutshelo Ramukosi of the local SANCO branch said that neighbours of the elderly couple had noticed no movement in the house and that a curtain had remained open the whole of Monday, 3 July. The murdered couple were only discovered at around 11:30 the next day. "We are deeply shocked. We have never experienced something like this in our community. We are used to petty crimes like cable theft, burglaries, and theft of water pipes. This incident has raised the issue of safety here, and during a community meeting, we have resolved to revive patrols, which we used to have," he said.
The chairperson of Munna Ndi Nnyi Men's Forum, Mr Bardwell Mufunwaini, who also visited the family, expressed his shock over the spate of killings around the Vhembe region. "This is uncalled for, and it is time the real men, who can value and protect their loved ones, show themselves. We need to bring back morals among our men; only then can the world be a better place for all, because what's happening here is really disheartening," he said.
This case, however, is not an isolated one in Limpopo, where family members are killed by their own relatives or children. In another recent incident at Breda village, in Gilead outside Mokopane, a 27-year-old man was arrested after allegedly killing his mother (59), sister (19), and 10-year-old nephew on Monday, 10 July.
Both incidents were strongly condemned by Limpopo Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Radebe.