There are many facets to the African Ideal of Dominance Manhood, ranging from polygamy, an aspect of entitlement to sex; to rape as an entitlement to sex; to large family's where children are -- like in Haiti -- potentially saleable to future husbands, or as child slaves; etc. Another aspect of Occult African Manhood:
“The analogies between African Occult Ritual Slaughter and Sacrifice of Animals and Humans for Profit are direct: both involve (i) Bloodletting parasitism, i.e. the being is not humanely killed, but must slowly and painfully bleed to death; (ii) Terrorizing Torture, the being must suffer, and protest its suffering with fear and terror: the greater the terror and screams of the animal/human’s torture, the greater the muti’s potency, to allegedly ensure future financial profit, sexual prowess, or similar, for the Muti purchaser.”
“Furthermore in terms of African Occult Muti Harvest Human Sacrifice, the humans sexual organs are of great significance; and must be physically removed, while the human is still alive. This ensures sexual potency for the African Ideal of Dominance Manhood: the procreation of large families, with contemptuous disregard for loving and committed procreation family planning practices, or ecological carrying capacity principles (i.e. overpopulation colliding with scarce resources doctrines of sustainability). Children are procreated in terms of their financial, ego or sexual slavery worth; i.e. they are procreated not as individuals to love and cherish; but as possessions to exploit and abuse for profit.”
» » [Open Letter to FIFA 2010 World Cup Teams: God vs. FIFA: Do you have the Honourable Courage to be a ‘Flying Scotsman’?]
The death of Maanda Sendeza, a promising soccer star of Makonde Village, uncovered many mysterious cases of ritual murders which remain unsolved.
Article By: Wilson Dzebu, Zoutnet
Date: 16 December 2005
 One of the muti murder victims, the late Maanda Sendedza of Makonde. His brutal murder has unveiled more unanswered cases of ritual murders in the Vhembe area. |
Many people are losing their lives to ritual murder practices in the Vhembe area. Now the question remains – how many more must die as a result of ritual murder? How many will lose their lives to this barbaric practice in future?
The death of Maanda Sendeza, a promising soccer star of Makonde Village, uncovered many mysterious cases of ritual murders which remain unsolved.
According to the document prepared by the inhabitants of Thengwe, which is in possession of Limpopo Mirror, they want the Thohoyandou Serious Crime Investigating Unit to be deployed in their area, to review the following outstanding alleged ritual murder cases: Mbulaheni Bele of Vuvha Village, Nambeni Netshisaulu (Thengwe), Samson Mukosi, Phanuel Makhado (Lukau), Edward Rambofheni (Lukau), Thidziambi Masevhe (Thengwe), Adziambei Mudzielwana, Wilson Ndou, Phillip Sigodi, Maria Maluta (a female only known as Nyamuneiwa of Thengwe), four children from Mafukani and a 40-year-old male have all been discovered with missing body parts at Mafukani.
The Makonde community urged the police to arrest other known suspects who are also involved in the ritual killing of Maanda Sendedza. They also demanded that the case of the late Goya Rambofheni, who was found hanging from a tree in October 2001, at Makonde, should be reviewed and those who are suspected of murdering him for muti purposes be arrested and charged.
 Witchcraft, Power And Politics: Exploring the Occult in the South African Lowveld; By Isak Niehaus, Eliazaar Mohlala, Kally Shokaneo |
They also demanded that the case of a young girl, Ndidzulafhi Rasalanavho, who was found hanging from a tree in 1997, should be reviewed and the people who were allegedly behind her suspected ritual murder be arrested and charged. They further sent a strong warning to the SAPS to take their demands more seriously, failing which, more mass action would follow.
Four traditional healers have been charged with ritual murder and they are presently in custody. Their bail applications continue in the Thohoyandou and Mutale Magistrate’s courts. They are Shumani Dzebu (31) of Muledzhi, Mukondeleli Phosha (54) of Tshidzini, Tshimomo Munyai of Tshandama and Balanganani Munyai (84) of Khubvi. All are linked to a separate incident, the murder of a 40-year-old man of Mafukani, whose head, legs and ribs were missing. They cooperated with the police and retrieved the missing body parts at Tshidzini, on the banks of the Ngwedi River. Dzebu and Phosha are again implicated in the ritual murder and attempted murder cases, after they were allegedly found in possession of the late Maanda Sendedza’s missing private parts, tongue, clothes and cell phone. They were also allegedly found in possession of the surviving Nyelisani Sidimela’s removed lips.
After the brutal death of Maanda Sendedza and the arrest of the four traditional healers, community members and various institutions participated in a number of demonstrations to oppose bail and to beg the justice system to give the ritual murder suspects life sentences. They also urged the police to arrest and charge all suspects linked to the ritual murder cases in the Vhembe area.
Supt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi of the Vhembe police said the police are working around the clock to bring the ritual murder perpetrators to book. He said police investigations are continuing in various cases and urged the community to provide the police with information to make the investigations easier. He appreciated the cooperation from the community which led to the brake through in the arrest of the suspects in the ritual murder cases which are currently under investigation.
» » » » [Zoutnet (PDF)]
“Who murdered our son?”
Article By: Wilson Dzebu, Zoutnet
Date: 11 November 2005
 Joyce and Richard Sendedza, the parents of the muti victim, Maanda Sendedza, whose body was found with missing private parts, are still in the dark about the people who murdered their beloved son. However, they say they will not rest until the culprits are brought to book in a court of law. |
MAKONDE – The parents of Maanda Sendedza (25), a promising soccer star who was murdered for muti last month, say they will not rest until the killers of their son are brought to book in a court of law. Maanda was buried during an emotional, but well-attended, funeral service at Makonde village, north of Thohoyandou, last weekend.
A 27-year-old man was detained for questioning and later released, in connection with the incident.
In an exclusive interview with Mirror, Richard and Joyce Sendedza say their grief is getting worse because the private parts of their dead son, which were removed during the brutal murder, have not yet been found.
“We cannot understand why they murdered an innocent boy in such a brutal murder. The killers must be found and charged for their evil deeds. We cannot just wait and fold our arms because we are feeling the pain of the tragic loss of our beloved son…”
Richard remembers what the body of his late son looked like at the scene of the horrific murder. “He had gaping wounds to his head and his whole body was covered with blood. He had neither shoes nor trousers and his body was lying motionless in the bush. I don’t know why they removed his private parts, but this is the most brutal murder I have ever seen in my life.”
The dead man’s mother, Joyce, says she is still deeply and emotionally affected by the senseless murder of her son. “This thing has affected our lives at home and it is now very difficult to live without Maanda. Why did they take the life our beloved son away when we loved him so much? I pray every day that the killers of our child should be found and prosecuted. Maanda died a painful and senseless death and we feel that something must be done to prevent more ritual murders in the village…”
Insp Nkanukeni Raedani of the Thohoyandou SAPS said the police were still investigating a case of murder. He urged community members not to take the law into their own hands but to assist the police with evidence in the case. “We are about to make a breakthrough in the case and we urge the community to be patient. We are working around the clock to gather all evidence for prosecution. No stone will be left unturned and the law will obviously take its course…”
* Meanwhile, hundred of villagers gathered at the headman’s palace to register their anger about Maanda’s ritual murder. A drama unfolded when members of the SAPS were expelled from the royal palace because villagers accused them of dragging their feet in the case. Villagers said they were tired of the ritual murders in the village and said they would not rest until Maanda’s killers were arrested and charged.
» » » » [Zoutnet (PDF)]
» » [2004-11-05: Zoutnet: Muti Murder Victim Buried]
» » [2006-12-01: Zoutnet: Grieving Mother Talks for the First time to the Media]
Doctors of death?
Article By: Wilson Dzebu, Zoutnet
Date: 18 November 2005
 The two suspects, Mukondeleli Thosha (54), left, and Shumani Dzebu, middle, who were allegedly found in possession of the late Maanda Sendedza's private parts, tongue, cell phone and clothes. They were also found with the lips that were removed from Nyellisani Sidimela who is receiving treatment in Gauteng. |
The missing private parts of the late Maanda Sendedza (25), a promising soccer star of Makonde Village, were recovered during the weekend.
Thohoyandou Police made a huge breakthrough when they arrested two traditional healers for being in possession of the missing body parts, clothes and cell phone of the deceased.
News of the gruesome discovery spread like wildfire and hundreds of concerned Makonde villagers gathered at the headman’s palace on Sunday afternoon to discuss the issue.
Maanda was brutally murdered for muti purposes on 23 October and his mutilated body was found in the bush at Shadani, north of Thohoyandou. Next to his body was his surviving lover, Nyelisani Sidimela, whose lips were removed. Both Maanda and Nyelisani had gaping wounds to their heads and their bodies were covered with blood.
Supt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi of the Vhembe SAPS confirmed that police have recovered the private parts, the tongue of the deceased, his cell phone and the lips of the surviving victim.
“The suspects have been charged with ritual and attempted murder and we hope to make more arrests as our investigations are continuing. We will never leave any stone unturned and we will always update the community about new developments in the case, from time to time…” said Mushavhanamadi.
The suspects, Mukondeleli Thosha (54) of Tshidzini Village and Shumani Dzebu (31) of Muledzhi village, appeared in Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Monday. They were not given bail and their case was remanded to 23 November while they will be in custody.
According to the official police report, Shumani Dzebu was found in possession of the clothes and cell phone of the deceased on Thursday last week. He was immediately arrested and formally charged on Saturday. Police then proceeded to Tshidzini village where they recovered the missing private parts and tongue of the deceased in Mukondelili Thosha’s possession. They also recovered the lips of Nyelisani Sidemela, who is receiving treatment in Gauteng.
The father of the murdered muti victim, Richard Sendedza, told Mirror that he is relieved that the body parts of his late son were recovered at last. “We buried our beloved son without his private parts and tongue, but now that the secret is out, we hope the law will take its course. We will not rest until the killers of our son are prosecuted. They must rot in jail because what they did is inhuman and unacceptable,” said the angry Mr Sendedza.
Meanwhile, Headman Azwianewi Ravhura urged Makonde villagers to be patient and wait for the justice system to do its job. He also requested members of the community who have more evidence, to contact the police in order to assist in the investigations.
“We know people are angry about what happened. The police have already shown that they are working on the case and we need to give them a chance to conduct their further investigations…”
» » » » [Zoutnet (PDF)]
‘How are you the king of the struggle against ritual murderers?’
Threatened with death for 'making noise' about ritual murder
Article By: Wilson Dzebu, Zoutnet
Date: 25 November 2005
 The struggle continues... |
MAKONDE – A prominent community leader has received three death threats from unknown people for “talking too much” about the ritual murder case of the late Maanda Sendedza, whose private parts were removed after his brutal murder on 23 October.
Mr Marcus Malume told Mirror that he received three telephone calls warning him to be more careful with his life because he is making noise about the ritual murderers. “They can destroy my flesh, but they will never destroy the truth. We are tired of the ritual killings and we will never stop complaining about this. I would rather die for the truth than mislead my community by living for lies…”
Malume said the trouble started during the funeral service of the muti victim, Maanda Sendedza (25), on 29 October. “I spoke on behalf of the community and the royal council during the late soccer star’s funeral. I told the mourners that the community will never sit down and watch while our people die like flies. That was not my personal feeling because I spoke on behalf of the community whom I represented. I will never swallow my words because those are the feelings of the concerned community members who are tired of dying brutal and unacceptable deaths. No one has a licence to kill a human being and I will never stop telling the truth because we need the ritual killings to stop. We have discussed the matter at our Civic Association and the Royal Council meetings and we will be taking further steps in the near future,” said Malume, the Secretary of the Makonde Civic Association and senior member of the Ravhura Royal Council.
A geography teacher at Raluvhimba Secondary School, Malume said the anonymous callers accuse him of influencing the villagers to wage a war against the ritual killers. “The first call came shortly after the funeral of the muti victim. The call was a private number because the caller did not want to be identified. I was told that my days were numbered and I should be careful because ‘we are watching your e very step’. I also got some information from reliable sources that there was a group that gathered in a secret meeting at Thengwe who were discussing how they can kill me. I also got a call from somebody in Pretoria last week, telling me that I will die soon because of my involvement in the ritual murder issue. The first words from the caller were: ‘Hu ri’ni khosi ya Muzavhalazo wa Maviavhathu?’ (How are you the king of the struggle against ritual murderers?’). When I was still shocked, I was told that I only have a limited time in my lifetime. I then called the number back, but I realized that it was done from a public phone in Pretoria.”
However, Malume said he will continue working for the community despite the death threats. “I am in this world to serve the people and I will never stop speaking for the voiceless. Ritual murder is unacceptable and inhuman and we will never stop criticizing it.”
Insp Nkanukeni Raedani of the Thohoyandou SAPS advises Malume to report the matter to the police as a matter of urgency. “We take these death threats in a very serious light and we need Malume to register a case so that we may start with our investigations. It is against the law to threaten someone with death. We will do our level best to assist Malume if he comes forward to open a docket against the people who are threatening him.”
» » » » [Zoutnet (PDF)]
Muti murder aftermath - Trust fund for survivor
Article By: Wilson Dzebu, Zoutnet
Date: 23 December 2005
 The ritual murder survivor, Nyelisani Sidimela, at the scene where her lips were removed. The picture was taken on 23 October, before she was taken to hospital for treatment. |
It will cost more than R360 000 for the ritual murder survivor’s lips to be replaced with reconstructive surgery. Nyelisani Sidimela’s lips were brutally removed for ritual murder purposes and she was discovered lying helplessly next to her deceased lover, Maanda Sendedza, whose private parts and tongue were removed in October.
Two suspects, Mukondeleli Phosha of Tshidzini and Shumani Dzebu of Muledzhi, were arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder following the incident. They cooperated with the police and two more traditional healers, Tshimomo Munyai and Balanganani Munyai, were also arrested for allegedly taking part in the ritual murder of a 40-year-old man at Mafukani, together with Phosha and Dzebu.
However, the good news to Nyelisani Sidimela and members of the local community is that the South African Council of Churches (SACC), SABC Radio (Phalaphala FM, Munghna Lonene and Thobela FM), NAFCOC, the Office of the Premier and the Makonde community, launched a trust fund for Nyelisani’s reconstructive surgery at Polokwane last week.
Nyelisani is receiving treatment at a Gauteng hospital where her condition is improving, although there is a need to conduct the expensive reconstructive surgery to restore her lips.
The Sidimela family spokesperson, David Sidimela, said the family is very grateful after learning that community members are sympathizing with them. He said he is impressed by the overwhelming support the family is receiving since they were struck by the misfortune in October.
Makonde villagers have already started contributing R20 per household and R10 for employed and unemployed respectively, towards Nyelisani’s trust fund. The details of the trust fund are as follows: Account Name: South African Council of Churches (SACC) Emergency Relief Trust, Nedbank, Account No: 1979410526, Branch Code: 190805.
More information about the fund can be obtanined from Alunamutwe Rannditsheni (coordinator) at 082 558 3675, Mautjie Pataki (Limpopo SACC Secretary) at 082 852 6282 or Victor Ravhuanzwo (SABC Radio) at 082 413 1101.
» » » » [Zoutnet (PDF)]
» » [2006-08-23: News 24: Muti Victim Owes R200 000]
“I was not alone” says ritual murder suspect
Article By: Godfrey Mandiwana, Zoutnet
Date: 14 April 2006
 Villagers of Makonde and Khubvi protesting against ritual murders. Here they are, marching to the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s offices. The photo was taken during the appearance of Shumani Dzebu (31) and Mukondeleli Phosha (54) in court. |
A ritual murder suspect left everyone in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court astonished on Friday afternoon, when he refused to participate in the proceedings if his three alleged accomplices were not arrested as well.
The suspect, Shumani Dzebu (31), told a packed court that he would never continue with the proceedings until three accomplices, with “whom he committed a ritual murder” were arrested. He said he gave the list of their names to the police a long time ago “and they ignored my testimony. Today I hope you, the magistrate, will do something about it. Why should I suffer alone while my accomplices are walking free on the streets? I will not die alone, because I did not commit this crime alone.”
Mirror is in the possession of the list of ritual murder suspects and amongst them is a so-called prophet, a relative of the deceased, and two unemployed men. All of them are residents of Makonde.
Dzebu and Mukondeleli Phosha (54) are in custody and are facing murder and attempted murder charges, following an incident that took place at Makonde-Shadani on October 23, last year, when a promising soccer star, Maanda Sendedza, was found murdered with his private parts and tongue sliced off. His girlfriend, Nyelisani Sidimela, was also found next to him with her lips sliced off.
Dzebu and Phosha were arrested last year for being found in a possession of the missing body parts from the deceased and the surviving Nyelisani Sidimela, as well as the clothes and cell phone of the deceased.
During their court appearance last Friday, a large crowd of angry community members participating in an demonstration outside the court demanded that the suspect be locked up until the surviving Nyelisani Sidimela had recovered and was able to testify about the gruesome murder and the assault on her.
The magistrate postponed the case until May 3, 2006.
Captain Mashudu Malelo of the Vhembe SAPS said the police were still investigating if the three names mentioned have been involved in this ritual murder case. If found to have been involved, they will be arrested, he said.
» » » » [Zoutnet]
Bishop appears on ritual murder charge
Article By: Wilson Dzebu, Zoutnet
Date: 28 April 2006
 Bishop Joseph 'Ramafamba' Tanzwani of the Holiness Apostolic Church appeared briefly in the Thohoyandou Magistate's Court, facing ritual murder, attempted murder and robbery charges. His case was postponed to 3 May for a bail application. |
A prominent Limpopo bishop of the Holiness Apostolic Church briefly appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court last week. He was charged with ritual murder, attempted murder and robbery, following an incident that took place at Makonde-Shadani on 23 October last year. He was arrested at his home two weeks ago, following an intensive investigation by the police.
Bishop Joseph Tanzwani, commonly known as Ramafamba, of Makonde village, is alleged to have taken part in the ritual murder case of a promising soccer star, the late Maanda Sendedza, whose private parts and tongue were sliced off. His girlfriend, Nyelisani Sidimela, was left helplessly beside his body and her lips were removed. Sendedza’s trousers and cell phone were missing when he was discovered.
Ramafamba has joined his two accused in the same case, Mukondeleli Phosha (54) and Shumani Dzebu (31), both traditional healers, who were arrested in November last year. Phosha and Dzebu were allegedly found in possession of Maanda Sendedza’s private parts, tongue, cell phone and trousers. They were also found in possession of Nyelisani Sidimela’s removed lips. Nyelisani is presently receiving treatment at a Gauteng hospital.
A large crowd gathered at the court to have a close look at the man of the cloth, who is in his early seventies, during his appearance in court. The case was postponed to May 3 for a bail application. He will be appearing together with Phosha and Dzebu. Phosha and Dzebu have applied unsuccessfully for bail several times in the same court.
The same court nearly turned into a circus when Dzebu and Phosha appeared for the same case two weeks ago, barely three days before the bishop was arrested. Dzebu refused to continue with the court proceedings, unless three more people, with whom he claims to have committed the ritual murder, were arrested. He also handed over the names of the three people to the magistrate. Mirror is in possession of the names of the three people implicated by Dzebu.
Dean Alunamutwe Rannditsheni of the South African Council of Churches said he was shocked by the arrest of the bishop and condemned his behaviour, if it is true that he engaged himself in a ritual murder. “He is definitely not one of us, because our mission is to save life, not to kill people for muti. We respect men of the cloth and believe that they should lead by example, but we are speechless about this matter. If he is found guilty, he needs to spend his entire life in jail, because there would be no more room for him in society.”
» » » » [Zoutnet]
'Let's use muti, not human flesh'
Church leaders, sangomas in court over deaths
7 May 2006
Riot Hlatshwayo & Wilson Dzebu, City Press
 |
THE court appearance of two church leaders and two sangomas on muti-murder charges this week has alarmed the South African Council of Churches (SACC) and Traditional Healers Organisation (THO).
The four men appeared in two different courts in Limpopo for separate muti-murders.
"Real traditional healers use herbs to cure the sick, not human flesh," said chairperson of the Vhembe THO , Mbulaheni Neluvhola. "This organisation will disown any members who use human muti because they are a disgrace and have no place in society."
He supported Limpopo Premier Sello Moloto's calls for the public to help police clamp down on the trade in human muti. Moloto said a special police task team was dealing with some 50 unsolved ritual murder cases that date back to 1994 in the province.
Dean Alunamutwe Randitsheni of the SACC in Vhembe said the law must follow its course. "If these men who claim to be men of God are found guilty, the courts should send them to jail for the rest of their lives ," he said.
Bishop Joseph Tanzwani, who heads the Holiness Apostolic Church in Thohoyandou, as well as sangomas Mukondeleli Phosha (54) and Shumani Dzebu (31), were not asked to plead to murder, attempted murder and robbery when they appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
They were remanded pending their next court appearance.
Tanzwani is scheduled to appear on Wednesday for a formal bail application while Phosha and Dzebu are scheduled to appear on May 31 .
The three men were arrested following an attack on a couple, Maanda Sendedza and his girlfriend, Nyelisani Sidimela, on October 23 last year.
Sendedza died after his genitals and tongue were removed , while Sidimela survived although her lips were cut off . She is still receiving medical treatment at a Gauteng hospital.
Sendedza's mother, Joyce, said she was still struggling to come to terms with her son's death.
"My only hope is that the law will take its course, although it will not bring him back."
David Sidimela spoke on behalf of Sidimela's family and said her medical bill had amounted to R360 000, which includes the reconstruction of her lips.
He thanked the Limpopo Premier's Office, the SABC in Limpopo, SACC and members of the Makonde community for raising funds for her treatment.
* On Friday, another church leader, Shadrack Mandiwane (28) of the Apostolic Church in Mandela Rivercross village near Burgersfort, appeared with two men in the Tubatse Magistrates' Court for a separate muti murder.
Mandiwane also practises as a sangoma. He and his two co-accused were arrested last month after a man's body parts were found buried in and around the church.
They were not asked to plead on charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice and were all remanded until they appear again later this month.
Police have identified the victim as Hendrik Jakobus Myburgh. -- African Eye News Service
» » » » [City Press]
Bishop granted bail in ritual murder case
Article By: Wilson Dzebu, Zoutnet
Date: 26 May 2006
 Laughing like never before ... Bishop Tanzwani Ramafamba was the happiest man on earth after he was granted R5 000 bail by the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. |
Amid protests from the angry crowd that demanded that he not be granted bail, the 73-year-old Bishop Tanzwani Ramafamba, facing charges of ritual murder and attempted murder, was granted R5 000 bail in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Bishop Ramafamba of the Holiness Apostolic Church was arrested last month at his home in Makonde village for his alleged involvement in the much-publicized case of Maanda Sendedza and Nyelisani Sidimela. Nyelisani Sidimela narrated her ordeal to police investigators from her bed at George Mkhari hospital, Gauteng, where she is still receiving treatment. She allegedly told investigators that Bishop Tanzwani was the one who cut off her lips in the bush at Makonde-Shadani.
Magistrate Adreen Geldenhys granted Bishop Tanzwani bail after explaining that the evidence presented by the investigating officer is not enough to keep the bishop in custody. Besides that, the bishop did not have any previous convictions and there is no indication that he would run away.
However, the bail conditions for the bishop are strict, as he has to report to the nearest police station at 06:00 and 18:00 on a daily basis. He is also not allowed to move from the district where he lives, after being granted bail. He is also not allowed to make any move that can interfere in the investigations of the case.
Angry demonstrators outside the court vowed that they would not rest until justice prevails. There were dramatic scenes outside the court. Protestors who had used hired taxis and buses were escorted from the vicinity of the court by the police.
Representing the Sidimela family, Mr David Sidimela said: “We are totally disappointed by the way the state handled the bail application of the bishop. How can the court grant bail to that man facing such serious charges while our child is still lying in pain in hospital? Nobody is safe now because the law is failing every community member. We thought the law would issue a strong warning to the public by not giving bail to the bishop, but now we are powerless. Everyone is now a potential victim of ritual murder because the law is very soft on killers…”
Mr James Delekisa, the Provincial Organizing Secretary of Sanco, said: “The court has failed us because we never thought that a man charged with such a serious offence could be granted bail. We have been demonstrating outside the court for many days, and have handed over memorandums, but our pleas were never heard. This is the time to start our own defence units and task teams because the state is failing us. How many more must die of ritual murder before the state does something? The law has totally failed us and the granting of bail to the bishop sends a bad message to the public. Everyone in the country, including young kids, was against the bail of the bishop, but it pains us to note that our pleas fell on deaf ears. We will consult other stakeholders and see what we can do because this bail needs to be challenged.”
* Bishop Tanzwani joined two traditional healers, Mukondeleli Phosha (54) and Shumani Dzebu (31), who were arrested last year, and charged with murder and attempted murder in the same case of Maanda Sendedza and Nyelisani Sidimela which continues to make headlines countrywide. Dzebu and Phosha are still in custody after they were denied bail. Police arrested them after they were allegedly found with the body parts, clothes and cell phone of the deceased, Maanda Sendedza.
Bishop Tanzwani, Mukondeleli Phosha and Shumani Dzebu, will appear in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court again on May 31, for a High Court date.
» » » » [Zoutnet (PDF)]
Baying for blood ... Muti murder suspects charged
Article By: Wilson Dzebu, Zoutnet
Date: 02 June 2006
 Mukondeleli Phosha, front, hides from the camera, while he and Shumani Dzebu, in red shirt, are escorted back to the holding cells by a police officer after their appearance with Bishop Ramafamba at the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. |
Thousands of angry demonstrators bayed for the blood of three suspects who appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday in connection with a notorious muti murder that took place in the region last year. Bishop Tanzwani Ramafamba (73) of the Holiness Apostolic Church, Mukondeleli Phosha (54) and Shumani Dzebu (31), both traditional healers, were formally served with seven counts which range from murder, robbery, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder and possession of human body parts.
The three were arrested following the incident at Makonde village, outside Thohoyandou, on 23 October last year. A 23-year-old soccer star, Maanda Sendedza, was found dead with his tongue and private parts cut off. His girlfriend, Nyelisani Sidimela, was lying helplessly next to him with her lips sliced off. She is at present recovering in a hospital in Gauteng.
Senior Magistrate Raphalalani Mantsha said the case against the three will be heard at the Thohoyandou High Court from September 4 to 15. Phosha and Dzebu are still in custody, but Ramafamba is out on R5 000 bail.
In the High Court, the three will be appearing with Balanganani Munyai and Tshimomo Munyai, both traditional healers, who are also facing the same charges. The two Munyais, Dzebu and Phosha are implicated in the case where a human body without the head, legs and ribs was discovered at Mafukani Village. The suspects cooperated with the police and pointed out where they had buried the skull, ribs and legs on the banks of Ngwedi River. The Munyais are also in custody.
Ramafamba’s legal representative made an application that his bail conditions be relaxed. When he was given bail last week, he was ordered to report at the nearest police station on a daily basis at 6:00 and 18:00. He was also not allowed to move from the district in which he is based. The senior magistrate did not have an objection to the applications and as such, Ramafamba was ordered to report to the nearest police station between 06:00 and 18:00 on Mondays and Fridays only. He was also not only confined to the district in which he is based, but he is also allowed to move around the province. He may not leave the province without the required permission.
Although Phosha was denied bail more than three times by the same court, his legal representative made another bail application based on new facts. The court gave June 8 as provisional date for Phosha’s bail application.
The court nearly turned into a Hollywood movie when the angry crowd booed the magistrate for not giving Dzebu time to give more names of people who he claims are also involved in the ritual murder. “There is no use booing at me, because I am trying to help him with the procedures that he must follow to voice his grievances. He should direct his concern to the prosecutor or investigating officer, because I am working on the information that has been provided to me,” said Senior Magistrate Raphalalani.
Dzebu told the court that he could not understand why Ramafamba was granted bail whereas he and Phosha were sidelined. “We are not the only ones involved and there are other people who have not yet been arrested,” said Dzebu, while holding a list in his hand.
The magistrate said he couldn’t explain anything about the previous bail applications because they were heard by different magistrates.
After the court proceedings, Dzebu refused to go back into custody unless other people, who he claimed helped him commit the ritual murder, were arrested. He was escorted back into custody by police officers.
Before the court proceedings, the furious marchers, led by the Makonde Royal Council and Sanco, handed a memorandum to the senior magistrate, Azwihangwisi Ramavhale.
Amongst other things, the memorandum demanded that the investigating officer in the case be kicked out and that he be investigated because he was not doing his job properly. They also demanded that Bishop Ramafamba’s bail be withdrawn and no further bail should be given to the ritual murderers. Ramavhale said he would forward the grievances to the relevant authorities.
Limpopo Sanco Organizing Secretary, James Delekisa, said the community was angry and disappointed about the way in which the court handled the case. He said that , by relaxing the bail conditions of the Bishop, it meant they are giving him more freedom, while the surviving victim, Nyelisani Sidimela, was lying in pain in hospital. “There is obviously something fishy about this case and we will never keep quiet until the truth comes out. These people should never be given bail because that is what we are crying for every time we hand them memorandums. Why are they going to hear Phosha’s bail application again, because it has been rejected several times?”
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Muti murder survivor “going home”
Article By: Wilson Dzebu, Zoutnet
Date: 09 June 2006
 Nyelisani Sidimela at her hospital bed at George Mukhari Hospital. She has been kept at a secret place for her own safety. |
The only ritual murder survivor in the history of Limpopo (if not in South Africa), Nyelisani Sidimela (18), was discharged from George Mukhari Hospital on Monday. She spent eight months in hospital where doctors were trying to reconstruct her lips that were sliced off during a ritual murder attempt on 23 October last year at Makonde village. Her boyfriend, Maanda Sendedza, was murdered during the incident. His private parts and tongue were cut off.
Nyelisani is being kept in a secret place for her own safety. Medical experts say it will take years before she fully recovers and leads a normal life. She has so far undergone eight operations and it is expected that she will undergo more in the near future. A sum of R360 000 is needed to conduct plastic surgery to replace her lips. Approximately R140 000 has been raised so far.
In a TV programme (Third degree on Tuesday evening) that shocked millions of viewers across the country, Nyelisani explained how she and her boyfriend were attacked last year. “I know my attackers and I even recognized another one who stays at Makonde village. He stays on the southern side of my father-in-law’s house. I want my attackers to be arrested and punished for what they did to me. It is painful when your body parts are removed while you are still alive,” she said while trying to hold back her tears during the TV programme.
Nyelisani’s mother, Gavhaza, said: “I was expecting a lot from my daughter but these cruel people crushed her dreams. I believe the incident has highly disturbed her and it will affect her for the rest of her life. How can they do this to my beloved daughter?”
Maanda Sendedza’s mother, Joyce, says she wants the people who murdered her son to be punished. “My son was a great soccer player and the future looked bright for him. I was shocked when he did not return home the day of the in-cident. The murderers must be punished and feel the pain that I am presently encountering. It is very painful to loose a loved one due to cruel people who think they can become wealthy by using human flesh.”
* Two traditional healers and a bishop of the Holiness Apostolic Church were charged with murder, attempted murder, robbery and conspiracy to murder following the incident. Mukondeleli Phosha, Shumani Dzebu and Bishop Joseph Ramafamba’s case will be heard in the Thohoyandou High Court from September 4 to 15. Dzebu and Phosha are still in custody while Bishop Ramafamba is out on R5 000 bail.
* Last week, the Sidimela family, led by David Sidimela, forwarded a complaint to Vhembe Area Commissioner, Joseph Maepa. The family says they are not satisfied with the way in which the state is handling the case.
Amongst other things, they demanded that other suspects who were implicated in the Nyelisani – Maanda case be arrested with immediate effect. They also demanded that the investigating officer be discharged of his duties because he is incompetent. They also prayed for Nyelisani’s safety after her being discharged from the hospital.
In response to the letter, S/Supt Shiyani Mashaba, the coordinator for the task team to look at the unresolved ritual murder cases in Vhembe, said the area commissioner’s office has arranged a meeting with the family to discuss their grievances. He gave the assurance that Nyelisani will be placed in the witness protection programme for her own safety.
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» » [2006-08-23: News 24: Muti Victim Owes R200 000]
Case of “Muti 5” heard in High Court
Article By: Wilson Dzebu, Zoutnet
Date: 08 September 2006
 Two of the ritual murder suspects, Shumani Dzebu, left, and Edson Tshimomo Munyai head to the police van shortly after their apperance at Thohoyandou High Court on Monday. |
The Thohoyandou High Court nearly turned into a protest field when hundreds of angry demonstrators bayed for the blood of four traditional healers and a bishop of the Holiness Apostolic Church, who appeared there briefly on Monday. They are implicated in two ritual murder cases.
The formal proceedings for the case against Shumani Dzebu (31), Mukondeleli Phosha (54), Edson Tshimomo Munyai (45), Balanganani Munyai (85) and Bishop Joseph Ramafamba (72) were supposed to have started on Monday. Judge Ephraim Makgoba said the legal representatives of the suspects had requested more time and they needed at least two days for consultation with their clients.
The four traditional healers will remain in custody, whereas Bishop Ramafamba is out on R5 000 bail. Fifteen witnesses were called, but they did not testify, due to the postponement. The trial started yesterday (Thursday).
Amongst other charges, the suspects were charged with ritual murder, attempted murder, robbery and trading in human body parts, following the incidents that happened at Makonde-Shadani on 23 October 2005 and at Mafukani village on 30 November 2004 respectively.
A promising soccer star, Maanda Sendedza, whose private parts and tongue were sliced off, was found dead and his girlfriend, Nyelisani Sidimela (18), lay helplessly beside his body. Her lips were sliced off. Sendedza’s trousers and cell phone were also missing. Phosha and Dzebu were allegedly found in possession of Maanda Sendedza’s private parts, tongue, cell phone and trousers. They were also allegedly found in possession of Nyelisani Sidimela’s removed lips.
In another case, the headless body of a 40-year-old unknown man was discovered at Mafukani, outside Thohoyandou, in November 2004. After an intensive investigation, the traditional healers cooperated with the police and dug up the skull and ribs at the banks of Mbwedi River in Tshidzini village.
Angry demonstrators handed a memorandum of their demands to Adv Bethuel Manyuha, the Director of Public Persecutions in the Thohoyandou High Court. Led by the South African National Civic Organization (Sanco) and the South African Council of Churches (SACC), the demonstrators demanded that the suspects should be given heavy sentences.
“We have noted what is in your memorandum and we will allow the law to take its course,” said the DPP when receiving the memorandum.
Pastor Thivhileli Nedohe of the SACC appealed to the law enforcers to apply heavy sentences for ritual murderers. He also urged community members to come up with evidence for easier prosecution of the ritual murderers.
Limpopo’s Sanco Organizing Secretary, James Delekisa, said: “As community members, we need to stand up and fight against this mentality of ritual murder. Ritual murderers are evil people who must be removed totally from our community.”
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» » [2006-08-23: News 24: Muti Victim Owes R200 000]
Justice done! Bishop walks from court a free man in muti murder case
Article By: Wilson Dzebu, Zoutnet
Date: 22 September 2006
 The joyous Bishop Ramafamba shortly after he was acquitted on all charges by the Thohoyandou High Court on Monday. |
The high-profile ritual murder trial finally came to an end when acting judge Ephraim Makgoba passed down harsh sentences in the Thohoyandou High Court on Monday. The joint sentence of the four traditional healers amounted to three-life sentences and 70 years imprisonment, while Bishop Ramafamba was acquitted in all charges.
Accused no 1, Shumani Dzebu (32), was found guilty on six counts and was sentenced to two life sentences and 17 years imprisonment. The sentences will run concurrently. He was found guilty of murdering Maanda Sendedza (life sentence), trading in Sendedza’s body parts (1 year), attempted murder of Nyelisani Sidimela (10 years), robbery of the late Maanda Sendedza’s clothes and cell phone (5 years), murder of an unknown man at Mafukani (life) and trading in body parts of the unknown man (1 year).
Accused no 2, Mukondeleli Phosha (54) was found guilty on five counts and he was sentenced to one life sentence and 32 years imprisonment. His sentence was broken down as follows: Murder of Maanda Sendedza (life), acquiring and trading in human tissue (1 year), attempted murder of Nyelisani Sidimela (10 years), murder of unknown man at Mafukani (20 years), trading in body parts of the unknown man (1 year). The sentences run concurrently.
 “The myths and legends which were part of Africans traditional beliefs, were twisted by communism, to turn the traditional African Ancestral believer into a terrorist striving for communist goals. Daneel describes how the myths of the Zimbabwean hunter that killed a giant rhino was transformed into a new hunter that hunted Europeans, not with spears, but an AK 47” “In the process the traditional beliefs were transformed into a method of ethnocultural terror, by the guerrila movements in Southern Africa. The terror was aimed at colonialists, and against white landowners, and particularly white farmers. In the process the Marxist perspective that property owners of land are the enemy, as they are responsible for all the evils of the workers oppression, were impregnated into the traditional belief structure of Africa.” “Normal black people were intimidated by the national liberation movements to support the terrorist organisations, to ‘liberate’ Black Africa. In the process black Africans were also liberated of other things, such as their limbs, lives, ears and lips.” |
Accused no 3, Tshimomo Munyai (54) was found guilty on two counts and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment. For the murder of an unknown man at Mafukani, he was sentenced to 20 years and an additional one-year sentence for trading in the body parts of the unknown man. His sentences also run concurrently.
Accused no 4, Balanganani Munyai (85), was only found guilty on one count, that of trading in body parts of the unknown man. He was sentenced to one year imprisonment, of which six months is suspended for five years. The judge said there was not sufficient evidence to link Munyai with the actual murder of the unknown man. “Despite your advanced age, we have also taken into consideration that you have already spent ten months in prison. You must consider yourself very lucky, because you could not be linked to the actual act of murder.”
When acquitting the bishop, Acting Judge Makgoba said there is not sufficient evidence to link him with the ritual murder of Maanda Sendedza and the removal of Nyelisani Sidimela’s lips. This was also confirmed by the fact that Nyelisani failed to point out the bishop in court.
While raising his fist to demonstrate victory, the bishop said shortly after his acquittal: “I knew God would fight for me because I was framed. I will go back to my community and concentrate on my life and congregation. This was just meant to destroy my good image in the community. My God is the God of Power who always protects me from the power of jealous people. Malofha a u dodzwa ha fari (smeared blood will never stick)”.
When handing down the sentences, acting judge Ephraim Makgoba said the judiciary had concluded the verdicts in the interest of society and the seriousness of the offences committed by the four accused traditional healers. He added: “What you have done is cannibalism at its worst and none of you showed any remorse during the trial. You committed the crimes out of greed and the court will be forced to disregard all mitigating factors. It is the duty of this court to assist the community in removing dangerous criminals from society. Your sentences should serve as a strong warning to other would-be ritual killers that the law will not tolerate the maiming of innocent people for your own selfish reasons.”
Meanwhile, the Premier of Limpopo, Mr Sello Moloto has joined citizens of the province in welcoming the judgement. Upon learning of the decision, the Premier expressed his gratitude to the community for volunteering information which led to the arrest of the four accused and their subsequent prosecution and sentencing by the Thohoyandou High Court.
“Finally, justice has been done. We believe these sentences will serve as a good deterrent to other ritual murderers who may have similar intentions to prey on the lives of unsuspecting innocent people,” said the Premier.
He further stressed that the set Task Team on ritual murders was in need of similar cooperation from members of the community in order to ensure successful prosecution of the more than 50 outstanding cases since 1994.
 Witchcraft, Violence and Democracy in South Africa; By Adam Ashforth |
Mautjie Pataki of The South African Council of Churches in Limpopo Province says they have welcomed the sentence with open hands. “After all the pain and agony that the affected families and communities were subjected to, we can only give thanks to God that, at the end, justice prevailed as the accused failed to prove their innocence. As we thank the police for swift arrests and thorough investigations, we also appreciate the level of cooperation received from community members who acted as witnesses against the accused. We are convinced that this case has proved that our judiciary has the necessary grinding teeth never to tolerate injustice to prevail in this Province.”
Divid Sidimela, who represented Nyelisani’s family, said: “We are happy because the law has taken its course, but we are still concerned about the safety of our child. She is still in pain and we cannot raise the money for her plastic surgery. There are still other suspects who were mentioned in the lower court and they are still roaming freely in the streets. We are not free because we know that some of her attackers are there within our community. However, we welcome the sentences for the four traditional healers.”
Dr Mmbulaheni Neluvhola of Mbofho Traditional Healers’ Organization welcomed the sentences. “This will be a lesson to other traditional healers who might be tempted to kill people for muti purposes. We are happy and we praise the initiative by the court for imposing the harsh sentences.”
Progress Kutama of the South African National Civic Organization (SANCO) echoed Neluvhola’s sentiments: “SANCO welcomes the sentences although there is still much to be done to resolve ritual murder cases. The sentences will obviously be a lesson to other would-be killers and we are happy because this will help in decreasing ritual murder cases in our area.”
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» » [2006-12-01: Zoutnet: Convicted Muti Murderer Passes Away]
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