Banished over threats to kill
THE residents of Phalaubeni village near Giyani recently banished a woman from the village for threatening to kill Community Policing Forum (CPF) members who were involved in the arrest and handing over of her son to the police.
THE residents of Phalaubeni village near Giyani recently banished a woman from the village for threatening to kill Community Policing Forum (CPF) members who were involved in the arrest and handing over of her son to the police.
The woman’s son was allegedly part of a gang that broke into the local school and stole computers and feeding scheme food.
According to Risimati Mabunda, the headman of the village, the woman had threatened to kill five people belonging to the CPF and a task team that had been chosen by the community to help the CPF.
“After the incident we called a community meeting where she was asked to explain her threats to kill these people. She said she was sorry; she hadn’t meant it, and it had been a ‘slip of the tongue’,” Mabunda said. He added that the community had given her two days to pack her things and leave.
Mabunda said on hearing this, the woman, Misola Zitha who is well-known as “N’wanyaweni” in the village, apparently sent her sons to collect some soil from the community gathering’s spot with the aim of having a curse put on the spot, which would make them change their minds.
Zitha then left the village to consult with someone at another village.
According to the CPF chairperson, Vincent Mabunda, some residents realised what was happening, and took her children hostage to ensure she returned.
“On her return, she told us that she did not find the man she went to see, but we cannot be sure of this. What we’re sure of is that she came back with the soil she had taken from the gathering spot,” he said.
She was rescued from the residents’ wrath by the police who took her to a place of safety.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi condemned the community’s actions in banishing the woman. “We strongly condemn the community’s action, and we’re going to investigate further to find out where the allegations that led to them to taking such action came from, because we’re totally against a situation where one person would influence others to make witchcraft allegations,” he said.
