Angry residents of Vondo, a rural village near Murangoni and Maranzhe outside Thohoyandou, marched to the Thohoyandou Police Station on Monday, 7 July, demanding justice for Emmanuel Muremela, who went missing in October last year.
The group, which marched from Graceland Lodge to the police station, carried placards reading "Justice for Manu" and accused the police of dragging their feet in the investigation. Muremela had travelled to Halambani village to begin training as a traditional healer but never returned. His family and community say they remain in the dark about what had happened to him.
"The residents of Vondo village have a problem with how the police are handling the case," said community leader Mr Avhapfani Nevondo, who handed over a memorandum to Col Nditsheni Ramatsitsi. "We reported the matter, but no arrests have been made, even though the suspects are known to the community. People are being threatened, and we live in fear."
Nevondo said several search operations had been conducted in the surrounding mountains, but nothing had come of them. He added that residents suspected Muremela might have been killed in a ritual murder as others had gone missing in the past under similar circumstances - some later found with body parts missing.
The memorandum demands that police provide answers within 14 days. Ramatsitsi promised to prioritise the case and urged the community to assist investigators.
A family member, Mr Thizwihangwi Nemutshetoni, said: "It's been more than eight months since Emmanuel went missing. We are traumatised. Some witnesses have come forward with information, but the police have not taken their statements."
He added that Muremela had reportedly been struggling with mental illness at the time of his disappearance, compounding the family's distress.