Baby dies after cleansing ritual
It is alleged that a two-month-old baby girl died after a cleansing ritual administered by a prophet in Tembisa on Friday morning last week.
Nonhlanhla Macuacua’s parents called the prophet to help the baby after doctors failed to diagnose her illness.
According to the baby’s father, Mr David Macuacua, Nonhlanhla had been sick for the past two weeks before the incident happened.
“We took her to the hospital for check ups but to no avail. We then called the prophet for help. When doing the rituals, the the prophet mixed magnesium, 1 litre of petrol, tubula, paraffin, and muthi. He also lit red and white candles that were put around the bath. A fire broke out from nowhere and my wife was burnt. Neighbours helped us with buckets of water to extinguish the fire,” he said.
The baby’s mother, Marry Nyoni (21), said she was hoping the prophet would help her daughter from her sickness.
“We took her to the hospital, but we were only given Panado,” she sobbed.
Mr Macuacua, who is not employed, is appealing to members of the community to help with financing for the burial of their baby.
“We do not have a single cent for the funeral,” he added.
The Tembisa North SAPS spokesperson, Constable Tebogo Sesing, confirmed that a case of murder was opened and the suspect was arrested.
