The family of Funanani Patience Mbedzi clapped hands spontaneously inside the courtroom when Avhapfani Eric Mundalamo’s bail application was denied by the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court last Friday morning. Mundalamo is accused of shooting and killing his estranged wife while she was busy worshiping at the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ Church at Makonde Shadani.

Residents of Makhado were left wondering what was happening at the newly opened Crestcare Zoutpansberg Private Hospital in Louis Trichardt the past week, after a notice issued by the hospital was circulated on social media stating that their casualty department would be closed from 1 July until further notice. It turned out that they had nothing to worry about.

The family members of Grammy Mthombeni (30) from Xitlhelani village in Malamulele are struggling to come to terms with her death after she was stabbed by an unknown suspect or suspects on Saturday evening.

A very popular gospel musician from Vhembe believes he did not experience warm, godly love when he made an impromptu appearance at the youth conference of the United African Apostolic Church (UAAC) on Sunday. He reckons he was shown the door in what he describes as religious jealousy by archbishop David Mureri.

A prominent local legal representative earned himself the wrath of a High Court judge last week for failing to pay money received from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) to his client. He was told to make plans to pay the R12.62-million within 48 hours or face imprisonment.

Eleven suspects who were arrested last Friday (28^th) for illegally mining sand at Matangari village appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court late on Monday. The suspects did not appear in court at the same time, but in batches of two, six, and three.

The grieving family of the murdered Ms. Pfano Mpofu praised the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court when bail for Avhurengwi Mukhwathi (36), her alleged killer, was refused.

After serving as Bishop-elect for the past 12 months, highly respected Musina man of the cloth Matimba Christopher Mbekwa was finally ordained as Bishop of the Tabernacle of Worship (TOW) church on Saturday, 31 May. Mbekwa was presented with the Bishop Ordination Certificates by Archbishop Dr Mmbangiseni Ratshitanga, who conducted the consecration ceremony.

The selection of finalists for the Indoni My Heritage My Pride pageant was held on Thursday, 20 June, in Shayandima Zone 1, where 25 participants from across the Vhembe region competed for top honours.

More than six months have passed since Nthuseni Muvhulawa, a chemical engineering student at Vhembe TVET College, was crowned Miss Venda Pride Queen of the Plus Size at the White House in Tshirolwe Nzhelele, and she has since become an inspiration to many.

On Sunday, 23 June, around 17:20, two robbers severely underestimated the resolve of the Thohoyandou Block F community. The outcome was the death of both suspects in what appears to be a case of mob justice.

The Chauke family in Jerome, outside Malamulele, received the shock of their lives when their peaceful sleep was disturbed by a loud bang early Saturday morning. When the dust had partly settled, they realised that a bakkie had driven through the wall of the house and into their living room.

The brutal murder of Dumisani Mabobo in the early hours of Sunday morning (23 June) has sent shockwaves through the Elim community. Dumisani (21) was stabbed to death and robbed of his laptop by an unknown man near the Elim Shopping Complex, as he returned from Gauteng at around 01:00.