Community in fear after woman gets killed in bushes

The mysterious death of a 60-year-old woman from Hamanavhela has left residents in fear, wondering where the killer or killers could be lurking. Other women from the area have also been discouraged from venturing into the bushes where the naked body of the woman was found.

What exactly happened last Thursday (4 April) is unclear. A local community leader, Mr Jeremia Murovhi, said that Ms Rosina Ramasimu and another woman from the village had gone to the nearby bushes to collect firewood. This was something Ms Ramasimu had been doing for years, especially after the death of her husband in 2019. Some of the wood would be used at their home, while she also sold some for extra income.

Late that afternoon, at around 18:00, one of the women returned in a state of shock and confusion. She talked incoherently and could not recall exactly what had happened to her friend. “That is when the community sprang into action and ventured into the dark to search for Ms Ramasimu. Following the description by the other woman, the naked body was found next to the river. Police were summoned, and they arrived with emergency personnel, who declared her dead at the scene. The following day, the community decided to go back to the bushes to search for her clothing. They eventually found them burnt on top of a rock not far from where the body was found. Only the porridge they had taken along was left, indicating that the incident happened before lunch,” Murovhi said.

Murovhi added that the woman seemed to have been killed by suffocation as she had a cloth in her mouth. She was clearly dragged to where she was found, and her body had lots of bruises. He said that the incident had caused panic as the safety of women had never been a serious issue in the past.

“We managed to hold a community meeting on Saturday, where we decided to assist and support the family with the burial. We are also making a call to the women not to venture alone into the bushes to collect firewood,” Murovhi said.

A family member, Mr Khathutshelo Ramasimu, said he was traumatised by the killing. “She was the sole breadwinner, and I do not even know what will become of the five children she was taking care of. She had just started receiving her old age grant, and she confided to me that she was just finishing orders she had and would no longer have to go to the bush as the money the government was giving her could at least help support the children. I am in grief but just grateful for the support we are getting from different quarters,” he said.

Limpopo police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba confirmed the incident, saying they had launched a search for the killers. “The victim was found naked, with no visible injuries but a cloth was tightened around her mouth,” he said.

Anyone with information that can help solve the case must please contact the investigating officer, Sgt Muthelo Meregi, on 082-7556895 or the detective’s standby number 072-1495581 or the Crime Stop number 08600 10111.

Date:12 April 2024

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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