MEYERTON. – A 23-year-old Gobela remains behind bars after allegedly raping a thwasa in Meyerton.
According to the mother of the 15-year-old, the incident happened on the 27 of April when the traditional healer took his initiate to the town and later assaulted her in a bush on their way home.
Following the incident, the lover of the alleged perpetrator reported the incident to the mother.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, the mother, whose name is known to the paper said she was summoned by the gobela’s partner to her workplace.
“The woman told me how she couldn’t withhold the secret anymore and confessed what she knew. She told me that she enquired with my daughter about the incident after her alarming behaviour,” she said.
The visibly distraught mother explained to the paper how her daughter crossed paths with the Gobela.
“My daughter was undergoing her ancestral journey as a thwasa when she fell ill. We met the gobela’s partner at hospital when she suggested my daughter finish her rite of passage with her partner. All I wanted was my daughter to finish her journey,” she said.
The partner, who spoke to Ster in anonymity said “When the thwasa was behaving in a rather unnormal way, I accosted her and made her confess what had happened to her. She told me what transpired and how my man promised that she would finish her training quicker if she slept with her.”
“I kept the news to myself until I couldn’t anymore. I told the matter what had happened,” she said.
On Tuesday, May 21, several traditional organizations packed the Vereeniging Magistrates Court as the accused appeared in court in support of the young thwasa.
Appearing briefly at Regional Court 3, accused Steven Maketekete’s case was remanded till May 28 for a formal bail application.
Speaking on the sidelines during the appearance, Dr. Gabriel Ramodibe – Branch Manager at Our Faith and Traditional Health Practitioners Organisation condemned the incident.
“Rape incidents are becoming popular now inside rites of passages and that continue to dent our role in societies. People with calling and families of minors are now going to fear letting their children come out and overcome their callings because of these unscrupulous incidents that continue to occur,” he said.
Gauteng provincial police spokeswoman Captain Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed a rape case has been opened and a suspect is behind bars.
