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Forensic examiners, photographed with Nyika's body at the scene where he was found murdered.

Bloodied body found

 

The gruesome discovery of a bloodied body at the bridge over the Mvudi river in Thohoyandou has brought fear to the nearby communities.

Residents of Muledane and Thohoyandou had a rude awakening on Sunday, when the bloodied body of a man was found. His clothing had been torn to pieces and he had several stab wounds on his body.

Mr Tafi Nyika (27) of Muledane, who is originally from Harare in Zimbabwe and a well-known ceiling master in the area, was coming from work at around 19:00 when he met his death. The circumstances surrounding his death are still sketchy, but his wife, Progress Gavaza, said he left for work on Saturday morning.

“Nyika made a living from making ceilings and had many clients because of his creative ceilings. He said goodbye to me and the two children, Shaun and Nicole, before going to work at Thohoyandou Block D on Saturday morning. That was the last we saw him alive."

She said he phoned her at around 19:00, informing her that his employer had dropped him at a nearby garage, but at 20:30 he had not arrived home. "That was when I started panicking,” she said.

She said she tried to phone him, but both his phones were off.

“I became very confused. He does not drink, but neighbours accompanied me to a nearby tarven just to check, but in vain. I went back home, but could not sleep. Early in the morning, people came and told me that a body had been found next to the bridge. I could feel that something bad had happened and my fear was confirmed when I arrived."

She said she was devastated. "He was everything to us and the sole breadwinner who provided for his family. We do not know what will happen now that he is gone,” said the grieving wife.

Nyika’s death is not an isolated incident at the bridge. Not long ago, two women who work in Thohoyandou miraculously escaped being raped and robbed when a wanted suspect accosted them and took them to the bushes next to the bridge. Fortunately, they managed to break free and called for help. The suspect, who had escaped earlier, wearing a police uniform, suffered the people’s justice before being arrested by the police.

Residents claim so many people have either been raped or robbed at the area, which has now become a hot spot for criminals.

Thohoyandou police spokesperson Major Mashudu Malelo confirmed the incident. "We initially thought it could be people from a drinking spree, but we found out that the man did not drink. We have since opened a murder case and we are making an appeal to whoever might have information about the event to please contact the nearest police station," he said.

The deceased's wife, Progress Gavaza, is led away from the crime scene by a relative.

Nyika's body is being taken to a mortuary van.

 

Date:07 November 2014

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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