According to Themba Mbokane, owner of the house, he was awoken after hearing footsteps and funny noises outside his yard.
“When I peeked through a window, I saw something walking next to my car, which walked like a four-legged animal. When I took a closer look, I realised it was a human being. What looked surprising was the way he was walking,” said Mbokane.
Mbokane said he then rushed out to wake his neighbours to come and witness what he was seeing.
“When we questioned the man, he told us that he fell from a skin he was travelling with. He said he was there in my yard looking for it,” added Mbokane.
He said he did not know the man, but some residents who had gathered around his home said he was from Bourhill, a settlement near Emjindini Trust.
They claimed he was a witch.
When the Barberton Times reporter tried to speak with the man, he couldn’t respond and was chewing tree leaves.
Some residents who had gathered around the Mbokane’s yard suggested for the man to be beaten so that he can tell the truth as to what he was doing there.
According to Mbokane, for the past few months, his life has been clouded with misfortune.
“Few months ago I was bitten by a snake here in my house. Recently, a swarm of bees nearly stung me here in my yard. Just last week, I was stabbed in the hands by some violent thugs. And while I was driving myself to Barberton General Hospital to get medical attention, I got into an unusual car accident. My car bonnet opened while the car was in motion and cracked my front windscreen, before colliding with another vehicle as I could not see where the car was moving to,” said Mbokane.
He said after all these incidents, he consulted a traditional doctor about all the misfortunes.
“The traditional doctor told me that everyone who was behind my misfortune will be seen in public. I don’t know if this man is the one behind all my troubles or not. I’m not saying he is practising witchcraft but one is an African with many beliefs,” he said.
Police came to the man’s rescue. They took him to Barberton General Hospital for mental observation.
Capt Jabu Ndubane, Barberton police spokesman, said no case was opened.
