Man cuts off and eats 6-year-old’sfinger in attack

IN what Vhangani village, Elim, residents are calling a satanistic act, a 79-year-old man allegedly cut off a six-year-old girl’s finger, sucked the blood, and later ate the finger last Wednesday.

According to the girl’s mother, the child, who is in gr. 1 at Shandukani Primary School, was on her way home from school when she was allegedly lured into the elderly man’s home. He apparently tried to tempt her with food, which she refused. The mother said the man covered her head with a blanket and put her into a drum of water. She was screaming for help as her finger was cut off, her mother related.

Neighbours who heard the screams rushed to her rescue and entered the suspect’s home by kicking the door down. One of the neighbours took the girl out of the drum of water, and an ambulance and the police were called.

According to eye-witnesses, the suspect was licking the girl’s blood from his lips when the police arrived. On being asked where the girl’s finger was, the suspect allegedly responded that he had eaten it.

The mother of the victim said the family was still in shock over the incident. She said she hoped the department of justice would make an example of the 79-year-old man.

The victim’s older sister said it was horrific seeing the elderly man licking her sister’s blood from his lips. “His lips were smeared with blood and he was enjoying the taste of it. He wanted to kill my sister. I won’t be happy if he is released from custody,” she said.

Vuwani police spokesperson, WO Elijah Malatji, said the man appeared before the Vuwani magistrate’s court last Thursday. He will remain in custody until his next appearance on March 4.

“This is the first case of its kind here. There is a strong police presence in Vhangani village just to make sure that there is peace,” Malatjie said.

Traditional leader, Elizabeth Sinthumule, said the incident had marred the village’s image. She said it was not the first time the suspect had been involved in alleged criminal activities.

“We can’t tolerate this behaviour and we are going to gather to discuss the matter.

“We don’t want to see him anymore. We are going to write a letter to the senior magistrate of Vuwani in this regard,” Sinthumule said.
South African Traditional Healers head in Limpopo, Mbulaheni “Mbilivhili” Neluvhola said the suspect seemed to be driven by evil forces. “Most of those involved in horrible things like that will say they were ordered by their gods to do so. Law enforcement should deal with him seriously,” Neluvhola said.