A senior National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) official, who is also one of Limpopo’s most celebrated long-distance runners, has appeared before the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on a charge of malicious damage to property following a family dispute involving his elderly mother.
Tshinyadzo Meshack Mudau (53), an occupational health and safety manager at the NPA head office and a renowned ultra-marathon athlete from Tshidzini Mutshetoni village, was granted bail of R2,000 after his arrest by Tshaulu police on 27 May.
According to the NPA’s regional spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi, Mudau is accused of partially demolishing an outside room that was under construction at his mother’s homestead following a family disagreement.
Confirming the arrest and court appearance, Malabi said the State did not oppose his release as he has no previous or pending criminal cases. However, a protection order was applied for and granted against him. As part of his bail conditions, he may not enter the complainant’s homestead and may not interfere with State witnesses.
Mudau’s case was postponed to 21 July for further investigation.
The complainant, Ms Munzhedzi Khorommbi, who owns the property where the incident allegedly took place, said tensions within the family escalated after her daughter returned home following a divorce in December last year.
According to Khorommbi, her sons had previously built her a house but later locked her out after she accommodated her returning daughter.
“I am deeply saddened. These are my sons, but what is happening is unheard of. They built me a house but ended up locking me outside. I moved back to my old one-roomed house, and when I started building another room for myself, it was demolished. This is my stand and I have nowhere else to go. My son is well off and has his own double-storey house. I do not understand why he is after me,” she said.
Mudau, however, maintains that the property at the centre of the dispute legally belongs to him and says he has ownership documents to prove it.
“The problem started when my sister, whom I helped through school, divorced and returned home without my consent. I told her that if she wanted to stay there, she needed to ask for permission while making arrangements to build on her own site. Instead, she forcefully moved back,” he said.
According to Mudau, he objected when his sister began constructing structures on the property.
“I told her not to build anything on my yard, but she continued. I even escalated the matter to the traditional leader, who issued her with a letter instructing her not to build on my site. I have proof that the stand belongs to me,” he said.
Mudau denied having any conflict with his mother and said he had always supported her.
“My mother was staying on another site with my grandmother. When I built a new house and moved, I brought her to this stand and even built a house for her. My elder brother and I have been taking care of her,” he said.
He expressed concern about the protection order granted against him, saying it makes it difficult for him and his brother to continue providing support.
“I do not know how we are expected to assist her with a protection order in place. What I know is that she is being influenced by other people,” he added.
Mudau is well known in athletics circles and made history as the first Venda athlete to earn a World Marathon Majors medal after completing six of the world’s most prestigious marathons, including Berlin, London, Chicago, Boston, New York and Tokyo. He is also a veteran participant in the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons.
The case against Mudau has attracted widespread attention due to his high-profile status in both public service and athletics.