Vigilantes torch houses on sangoma’s notion
"Three sangomas were consulted. Another group of five residents went to a sangoma who could apparently reveal culprits who were involved in evildoings, through a mirror. After the consultations, a community meeting was held where a decision was made to torch the houses of those who were mirrored by the sangoma," a source told the newspaper
BURGERSFORT – The homes of three families were set alight by an angry mob, following the disappearance of a little boy, Dusa Mpheti (5), at Ga Mpheti Village on Monday.
A local sangoma allegedly identified the owners of the homes as suspects in the boy’s disappearance and some community members decided to take the law into their own hands.
Dusa went missing last Saturday while he was attending a cleansing ceremony and the unveiling of a tombstone. His body was found near a river a day after his disappearance. The community alleged that the homeowners were implicated in the death of the boy.
Sources revealed that the villagers suspected foul play in the death and decided to donate R10 each, in order to acquire the services of a sangoma who would presumably reveal the cause of death.
“Three sangomas were consulted. Another group of five residents went to a sangoma who could apparently reveal culprits who were involved in evildoings, through a mirror. After the consultations, a community meeting was held where a decision was made to torch the houses of those who were mirrored by the sangoma,” a source told the newspaper.
Mecklenburg SAPS spokesman, Sgt Kgalake Mampuru, revealed that the houses of Mr Wilson Mphethi (30), Mr Elmon Mphethi (61) and Ms Paulina Mphethi (58), were destroyed by the villagers.
“We are currently investigating cases of arson and malicious damage to property. This came after two houses were set alight and one damaged when it was pelted with stones. On Monday community members also barricaded the roads leading to the village with stones and rubble to prevent the police from reaching the crime scene. No one has been arrested yet.”
Mampuru revealed that nobody from the family made alarm about the missing child. He indicated that an inquest docket was opened at the station.
He condemned the incident and appealed to the residents to work together with the police in tracing the arsonists.
Mampuru said details regarding the cause of the boy’s death were not yet known as they were still awaiting the results of the post-mortem.
