Human Heads Found With Traditional Healer in Limpopo, Linked to Murder of Woman and Child

• Four men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a 34-year-old woman and her 2-year-old daughter
• A 55-year-old man and a 38-year-old traditional healer have been arrested after police discovered the decapitated bodies of the victims
• The traditional healer faces charges for the possession of human tissue after police recovered human heads at Muraga village

Four men have been arrested for the brutal murder of a 34-year-old woman and her 2-year-old daughter, who were reported missing in Thohoyandou in May 2025.

Police arrest traditional healer

On Friday, 1 August 2025, police arrested a 55-year-old man in Hlabeni Block F and a 38-year-old traditional healer in Muraga village, where the victims' severed heads were allegedly found in his possession. This followed the grim discovery of the mother and child’s decapitated bodies on Wednesday, 30 July 2025.

Two suspects, Tshilidzi Phalandwa (43) and Balangani Sedzani Tshivhombedze (32), were previously arrested and appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 1 August 2025. They were remanded in custody, and the case was postponed to Tuesday, 12 August 2025, for further investigation.

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The 55-year-old suspect and the traditional healer are expected to appear in court on Monday, 4 August 2025, facing charges of murder. The healer will also face an additional charge of possession of human tissue. Police investigations are ongoing.

What happened to the woman and her daughter?

The Limpopo mother and her young daughter have been found brutally murdered. The 31-year-old woman and her 2-year-old daughter were last seen on 19 May 2025, prompting a missing persons alert from the Thohoyandou police.

Two suspects have since been arrested in connection with their deaths. Police also confirmed that one of the suspects is believed to be the boyfriend of the 31-year-old woman.

What you need to know about women being murdered in SA

• A woman from Phoenix in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, died while standing outside her house on 21 October.
• Madhumathie Bunwarie was tragically killed when a battery was thrown off a bridge onto her vehicle.
• Olorato Mongale was murdered, and her body was dumped hours after she went on a date with the man.
• Ithabeleng Motleleng, a 20-year-old from Protea South, was found dead under her boyfriend's bed after a four-day search by her family, sparking shock and heartbreak.
• Three relatives were gunned down in their home by an unknown assailant in the latest mass killing to rock Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape.
• Police have opened a murder case following the discovery of a woman dead inside her locked room in Siyabuswa.

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Mother and daughter found murdered after being reported missing in Limpopo

Woman found dead, buried in shallow grave

In a related story, Briefly News reported that KwaZulu-Natal police arrested a man for the murder of his subordinate, missing since Christmas.

An investigation led police to a 37-year-old suspect, resulting in his arrest on Saturday, 4 January. Ayabonga Mjilo, 21, was last seen on Monday, 23 December 2024, as the pair reportedly left Capello, a popular establishment in Umhlanga.

Source: Briefly News