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20 September 2013 Year 24 Vol: 03
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By Elmon Tshikhudo
Killed for stokvel money There seems to be no end to the killing and abusing of women and children in Vhembe. It is only a week after the commemoration of Woman’ s Month, where many functions were held in honour of women. Many campaigns were held to warn communities against abusing women and children, but women and children still continue to be victims of the scourge. Last Thursday, the rural community of Mphambo outside Malamulele learned with sadness about the stabbing to death of a young woman. Tsakani Maluleke (33), the mother of two children, met her untimely and gruesome death at her home, when her husband stabbed her 17 times. She was certified dead on admission to the local clinic. Realizing the damage he had caused, the husband, Mzamani Maluleke (35), ran to his home where he hanged himself. It is believed the tragedy was the result of an argument over club money that was entrusted to Ms Maluleke, who was treasurer of the Khomanani Club. The deaths have left the village in a state of shock and a dark cloud hanging over the village. Limpopo Mirror paid the family a visit on Friday. Relatives and neighbours were comforting the family, while other relatives were busy cleaning the place where the woman had been killed. The alleged killer’s relatives described him as a violent person and a wife basher who drank The dead woman, Ms Tsakani Maluleke, who and smoked dagga. “He used to demand money was stabbed 17 times.
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Family members clean the bloodied spot where Tsakani was killed. from his wife, despite the fact that she was not working,” said his aunt, Maria Manganyi. Maluleke was unemployed after the factory in Ellisras where he worked had closed down, due to a strike. He used to tell people he was still waiting for his retrenchment package. Manganyi said that the murdered woman had complained to neighbours that her husband had demanded money after seeing the bank book belonging to the womens’ club. “It appears he did not believe the story that the money was not
hers and he kept on demanding money from her,” Manganyi said. She said after his death, the bank book belonging to the Khomanani Women’s Club was found in his pocket and it had a balance of R51 000. Her death has devastated the members of her club. “We are greatly saddened as a club. Tsakani was a real people’s person; that’s why we entrusted our money with her,” said Ms Doris Manganyi, the club’s chairperson. She said she was also a good neighbour who was always ready to go an extra mile
and help other people. The chairperson of the Munna Ndi Nnyi Men’s Forum, Mr Bardwell Mufunwaini, said it was saddening to find that women were still subjected to all forms of abuse and killing during this time. “We are campaigning to make our communities aware of what women are going through. We would love to see a country where women and children are treated with respect and dignity,” he said. Limpopo Police spokesperson Colonel Ronél Otto said they had opened inquest and murder dockets.