The family of an 80-year-old traditional healer who was burned alive in Mbuzini want to see justice done.
Gogo Doris Bafunani Mahlangu was killed on January 9. She was buried over the past weekend.
According to his brother, Michael Mabila, Mahlangu had been practising as a traditional healer in the area since 1998. She was registered with the Traditional Healers Organisation.
“I was surprised when I was called by my nephew who told me that my sister had had been attacked by a group of people, some of whom were wearing T-shirts of a known political party in the area. “My sister was a known healer and had helped many people with different sicknesses for many years. We are shocked and saddened that she had to die like a dog with people accusing her of witchcraft,” he said.
Read: 80-year-old woman accused of witchcraft burned alive
“They alleged that they had seen her pouring muti at their home. She outran them before they could find her sleeping in her home. How can an old lady like her outrun such young people like them?” he asked.
He added that he was disappointed at the Mbuzini police’s response time to the scene. The family alleged they had reported the attack to the police around 21:30, but the SAPS only arrived four hours later. “We watched helplessly as our granny was assaulted and later burned inside her practising hut (endumbeni),” they said.
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Brig Leonard Hlathi, spokesperson for the police in Mpumalanga, said four suspects aged between 22 and 44 years were arrested in connection with the incident.
The Mpumalanga provincial commissioner, Lt Gen Mondli Zuma, condemned the incident. “It is disheartening that the elderly community often suffer such accusations from sections of the society.” He strongly warned people to refrain from such actions. As a result of this, Zuma has directed the police to work tirelessly to ensure that those arrested face the full might of the law. According to the SAPS, more arrests are imminent.
