MATSULU – His mother, Nomzamo Thabede, is accusing Ghanaian prophet, Nana Poku of ripping her off with money after he failed to assist her in finding her son.

She spent three weeks in Rustenburg in the North-West after seeing the prophet “perform miracles” on television.

To her disappointment, Poku has not been able to help her. Nine-year-old Thanduxolo had just gotten back from school after he changed clothes and went to play on January 30, when he was last seen. He was suspected to have drowned in the Crocodile River.

READ: Missing Matsulu boy suspected to be in the Crocodile River

The police diving unit conducted a search several times, to no avail. “Three weeks ago I saw Poku on television and I thought it would be a good idea to visit, hoping to get a lead on where my child might be. I asked my neighbour to accompany me to Kingdom Prayer Ministries, led by Poku, and we attended the services for two weeks until I got the opportunity to have a one-on-one session with the prophet, for which he charged R2 000.

“He did not even attempt to give a prophecy, but only requested that I bring a picture of Thanduxolo and another R2 000, even after I explained that I had come from another province and did not have any more money.”

Thabede further said he agreed that she could come back the next morning when he informed her that he could not locate her child in his spirit.

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“He literally told us he could not see him and he was tired. There were many others who were waiting to see him, while some were demanding their money back,” she said.

She also mentioned her suspicions of the people who had come to see the prophet, saying she thought they were working with him and were paid to lie to congregants about receiving healing from him.

Asked why she resorted to seeking help from the prophet, she said she has not received any feedback from the police.

The day her son went missing, it was two days after she had started her new job, but she has since resigned to focus on finding him. “I feel as if the police are failing me and dragging their feet with this case.

“How can they tell us to give them whatever information we get, even if it’s from a traditional healer or prophet? What are they doing? They have all the resources, yet they have not come forward with anything?

“His absence is affecting all of us and our home is cold and lonely without him. I miss him every day and I will do anything to get to the bottom of this, I even had to quit my job. I will not stop searching,” she ended.

Response from Kingdom Prayer Ministries:

Mpumalanga News contacted the church to inquire about the matter with the spokesperson, but a woman who answered the phone said they did not have a person who liaises with the media before hanging up.

The second call was answered by a lady who introduced herself as Tshegofatso, an employee of the church.

She said it was not possible to respond to questions, and the only way to speak to the prophet was by going to the church from 06:00 with an amount of R2 000 for a one-on-one session, a bottle of judgement water and holy oil for personal use.

Response from police Matsulu police spokesperson, Constable Nkomozakhe Khumalo said there has been no update or arrests made yet.