A 39-year-old traditional healer has been condemned to life imprisonment and a further 10-year jail term for rape and sexual assault of two underage girls by the Nebo Regional Court yesterday (September 3).

The traditional healer, who cannot be named to avoid secondary victimisation of the girls, as he is known to them, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He committed the crimes on February 10 last year in Mogaladi Village. The Nebo Regional Court, which delivered the hefty sentence on Tuesday, heard that the man visited the girls’ home, claiming that the victims were possessed by evil spirits and a cleansing ritual needed to be performed.

He raped a 16-year-old girl and sexually assaulted a 14-year-old victim, touching her inappropriately during the so-called ritual while their mother was sent to fetch water.

When he heard the mother’s footsteps returning from fetching water, he stopped.

The mother alerted the police after the girls reported the incident to her, and the traditional healer was subsequently arrested.

State Advocate Shumani Martin Tshishonga stressed that no substantial or compelling circumstances warranted deviation from the mandatory life sentence.

The NPA welcomed the sentence. Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Ivy Thenga, said, “Sexual violence violates the constitutional rights to dignity and privacy. The NPA remains steadfast in prosecuting such cases with unwavering resolve.”