Allegations of human sacrifice against church

Allegations of human sacrifice arose from an incident during which a woman reportedly set herself alight in the vicinity of a church congregating under a tree in Disteneng on the outskirts of Polokwane on Saturday. The occurrence seemingly led to Zimbabwean congregants in the area and another nearby congregation being chased off by community members that afternoon. Ironically a Zimbabwean national was found dead in the settlement the next morning after allegedly being assaulted.
At this stage the two incidents are not being linked and the Police attributed the woman’s alleged attempted suicide to domestic trouble. Westenburg Police spokesperson Naphuri Segobola said according to their investigations the woman allegedly had personal problems which resulted in her seeing no way out but to take her own life early Saturday morning. “We also heard rumours of human sacrifices by churches in the area which might have led to the woman’s actions, but after investigations we can rule that out of future investigations,” Segobola mentioned. Segobola confirmed that the woman was still recuperating in hospital.

According to her the Police had addressed the community of Disteneng on Sunday to get to the bottom of the story and it became clear during the interaction that no ritual sacrifices were made.
She confirmed the discovery of the remains of a Zimbabwean national on Sunday morning after allegedly having been assaulted. “The man has not been identified as yet and the cause of death is still to be investigated, but it was reported that the man might have been assaulted.”
While at Disteneng on Saturday afternoon members of the community informed Polo­kwane Observer that the woman of Zimbabwean origin was a member of the church and was terrified of a prior arrangement for her to become a human offering. Polokwane Observer was informed that the woman was witnessed approaching the church situated on the far side of the settlement while accompanied by her two young children – a daughter on her back and an older boy held by the hand – between 09:00 and 10:00 that morning. According to eye witnesses she had disappeared into the bush and upon re-emerging was on fire. A community member explained how she heard someone scream while doing laundry outside her dwelling opposite the road and upon turning around noticed the woman on fire.
She was subsequently assisted by neighbours who have gathered around, some pouring soil and water over her after she doused herself in paraffin and set herself alight. It was learnt that her son ran off in search of his dad, identified as a South African citizen, while his little sister looked on in a confused state. She was transferred to hospital by ambulance.
The victim reportedly tried to kill herself after telling members of the community that she could not sleep at night out of fear of being sacrificed. Saturday’s date was seemingly set aside for her killing. Community members alluded to the fact that she allegedly received a visit from men in camouflage who were armed with a knife and a firearm the previous night reminding her that she was going to become a human offering on Saturday.
Polokwane Observer was advised to leave the area while planning was taking place among community members.
At the time the members of the woman’s congregation and that of the nearby congregation gathering further up along the main road to Seshego were nowhere to be seen.
A visit to the shack of the victim’s family yielded no results.

Story and photos: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com
RC Myburgh
>>rc.observer@gmail.com

Featured photo: The congregation under a tree in Disteneng, to which the victim was allegedly on her way, is in session on Friday afternoon.