The unresolved case involving the killing of a Grade 6 pupil from Ramantsha in Sinthumule sparked public outrage on Tuesday, 15 April, as angry residents took to the streets and marched to the Tshilwavhusiku Police Station. The D3715 and D959 roads were blocked from early morning, causing widespread disruption.
No schooling took place in Ramantsha and surrounding areas on Tuesday, and public transport was unavailable until the roads were reopened at around 07:00.
Residents voiced their frustration over what they described as a lack of progress in the police investigation into the death of 11-year-old Adivhaho Mulamavu. Adivhaho, a Grade 6 pupil at Manau Primary School, was reported missing on 15 September last year. She had left home around 09:00 to sell tomatoes in the village but had not returned by 14:00. Her family began checking with friends and relatives, and only the following morning were they informed that she had been found dead – hanging from a rope in a maize field.
Community leader Mr Innocent Rapalo said the family and other residents had provided the police with the names of individuals they believed may have been involved in the killing, but no arrests had been made.
"We have all along suspected that she was raped and murdered, and we even told the police the names of the suspects, but they have not done anything to arrest the culprits," he said.
Police spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi confirmed that a 45-year-old man had been taken in for questioning, following the incident, but was later released. Police are still waiting for DNA results to determine whether the suspect can be linked to the crime.
He said preliminary investigations suggested the girl may have been raped before being strangled.
After receiving a memorandum from the protesters, the station commander of Tshilwavhusiku SAPS, Col Tshililo Mukoma, promised that the police would respond to the community within seven working days.