SEBOKENG. – A Zone 6 family was left astonished over the weekend after death threats were scrawled on the walls of their home. This was apparently done by a ‘tokoloshe’ that has been threatening the family for some time now. Sangomas and traditional healers from different locations in the Vaal, some with snakes, were called to help but this was all in vain as nothing could be found. The four-hour search for the ‘tokoloshe’ in the house left many in the community baffled and afraid.

Mother-of-two and widow Dikeledi Carodia (60), a Muslim, said that her family’s lives have been miserable for the past three months. The culprit was “something frightening, breaking items and stealing money in the house.” Surprisingly, all this happens during the day. On Sunday the Carodia family woke to see a death threat written on their wall. The message read: Dikeledi, I am coming to hunt you. I will not hesitate to take your children. You know that you must settle your problems.”

“The fighting with the creature or tokoloshe starts when I am alone in the house. I don’t see anything, just signs of action with objects moving by themselves. We have no peace at all. My husband was shot dead 24 years ago. Ever since then I have been living in peace with my children,” said Carodia. One sangoma who was on the scene told Carodia openly that she will have to go to be cleansed at Tite River near Meyerton as bad luck was all over her life. By the time Sedibeng Ster left, nothing sinister had been found.

In African belief a tokoloshe is a dwarf-like creature. It is considered a mischievous and evil spirit that can become invisible. Its power is said to extend to causing illness or even the death of the victim. It is said that the creature might be banished by a witchdoctor, who has the power to expel it.