Some community leaders and civic organisations in the Vhembe district, Limpopo, are concerned over a number of unresolved kidnapping and missing person cases. They are decrying what they call a “spike of missing person incidents” in the region.
In August two years ago, Rudzani Muhanelwa from Mavhunga Village near Louis Trichardt disappeared. She was on her way to a local store. An extensive search by the community and police for the then-8-year-old was futile. “We are not happy that the child has not been found, even though there have been arrests. It doesn’t sit well with us because there are other kids in this area. It is painful to us, even to the residents. We are going up and down. The court case always gets postponed. But they have evidence. It would be better if they disclosed the evidence. We want the child.
Mukwevho’s kidnapping enraged community members who shut down services in the village. Police investigations led to the arrest of three men who were Mukwevho’s acquaintances.“This is the most painful experience we have ever encountered as a family. It is quite stressful and traumatising. We are trying but when it comes to the family… when they try to think of their father and come to me and ask me questions, as to when he will be found or when this matter will be settled. It’s quite stressful.