By Palesa Matlala
- Vutomi Mathebula was reported missing in March before her family received calls from people demanding money for her return.
- Eight of nine women whose bodies were found in Ekurhuleni have been identified, while three people have been questioned over the killings.
The family of Vutomi Mathebula is heartbroken after her body was found months after she went missing.
The 28-year-old woman from Homu 14-A in Giyani, Limpopo, was reported missing in March.
Her family later received calls from people demanding money for her return.
But Vutomi never came home.
Her decomposed body was later found in Kempton Park in Ekurhuleni. She was among several women whose bodies have been found in the area.
Her mother, Emma Mathebula, remembered her daughter as a kind and caring person.
“Vutomi was a good person. She was always smiling, and respectful. She was supportive and took care of her child. She was disciplined,” Emma said.
The family is now preparing to say goodbye.
Family spokesperson Tiyiselani Maringa said Vutomi’s memorial service will take place on Wednesday.
She will be buried on Thursday at Homu 14-A in Giyani.
“Preparations are underway, we are asking for donations with food items for the funeral. We are expecting a huge number of people to attend the burial,” Maringa said.
Vutomi is one of nine women whose bodies have been found in the Ekurhuleni region on Gauteng’s East Rand since July.
Eight of the nine women have now been identified.
Three people have been called in for questioning over the killings.
The information was shared during a media briefing by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in Tshwane.
The investigation into the deaths continues as Vutomi’s family prepares to lay her to rest.
Pictured above: Vutomi Mathebula.
Image source: Supplied
