Africa-Press – Eswatini. A liSwati sangoma and two South Africans have died after they were allegedly poisoned by another young Sangoma who was under initiation (litfwasa).
This incident is said to have occurred over the past weekend in the Mpumalanga Province of the Republic of South Africa at a place called Jeppes Reef. According to the deceased’s cousin, Thulile Dlamini, there was an initiation ceremony at the suspect’s homestead after she had undergone training conducted by the deceased Dumisile Shongwe. The relative, in an interview, stated that Shongwe, whose home area is Ndlalambi in northern Hhohho, was allegedly poisoned by the litfwasa. It is said that soon after completing her training and had to undergo her ‘graduation’ ceremony, the young girl was to be taken to her home area as per the custom of undergoing initiation for sangomas.
Water
Upon arrival at her home, when the process was just about to be finalised, Shongwe (gobela), reportedly requested water. It is said that the litfwasa brought her the water in a jar but she had allegedly put an unknown poisonous substance in it. “She gave my cousin the water to drink which she shared with other two people. They fell ill and were admitted to hospital but later died,” said the relative. Asked why the deceased could be targeted by her trainee, the relative explained that the girl had been allegedly paid by competitors of the deceased to kill her.
“It was difficult for her competitors to get close to her so they opted to use someone close to her,” she said. The relative said the deceased informed the other people present that she felt hot and needed help taking off her clothes to get fresh air after she had drink the water. “They took off some of her clothes and removed some of the beads. She then asked for cold water from the refrigerator and they gave her. They then took her back to her home and upon arrival, she slept. Her husband is said to have noticed that she was not well and asked what she had eaten and she told him that she had eaten nothing but only drank water,” said the relative.
It is said that the next day, her condition deteriorated and had to be rushed to a local hospital, where she was treated and discharged but later died. She said the bone of contention was that she had more clients and was viewed by her competitors as killing their business. The relative claimed that the sangoma had clients from as far as Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The relative claimed that the people of Jeppes were outraged by the alleged murder of the sangoma such that they confronted the suspect who is said to have confessed to poisoning the deceased. It is said that the people of Jeppes Reef, then threatened to also kill the suspect and wanted to feed her the poison which was allegedly still in her possession when they confronted her.
Mpumalanga Police Spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, when reached for comment over the matter asked to be given time to check with the Jeppes Reef police on what actually transpired. He said the unfortunate part was that yesterday was a Sunday so he could not get hold of the officers at Jeppes Police Station and, therefore, could have a detailed report of what happened today.
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