Traditional healer jailed for life after tricking young boys into sexual contact
"It is very unfortunate that the complainants may be emotionally scarred for a very long time.”
A traditional healer who convinced a family that were bewitched and only ‘sexual penetration’ would heal their young boys was given five life sentences and an additional ten years.
The 30-year-old from Msinga, whose name was not released by Natasha Kara, spokesperson for the Director of Public Prosecutions in KZN for fear that it would identify the victims, appeared in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
The incidents all occurred between July and August 2015 when the healer approached the family, claiming he had received a ‘prophecy that they had been bewitched’.
To undergo healing, he convinced the family to allow to take their sons – aged between 15 and 20 – to his home where they were sexually assaulted as ‘part of their healing.
The family became suspicious and eventually called the police.
State Advocate Suhana Singh handed in a victim impact statement facilitated by Court Preparation Officer ,Thobekile Chuene, compiled by each of the complainants. They all told of the trauma they encountered during and after the ordeal. They said that they were teased by members of the community and felt depressed and alone.
They mentioned that they no longer socialised and felt suicidal.
He made them believe that the boys would die if he didn’t cure them. She said that the accused showed no remorse at any stage.
Adv. Singh, in aggravation of sentence, told the court that the accused used his position as a traditional healer to manipulate and instil fear into the complainants and their families. He made them believe that the boys would die if he didn’t cure them. She said that the accused showed no remorse at any stage.
The court sentenced the accused to five terms of life imprisonment for each of the rape (on diverse occasions) counts and 10 years imprisonment where the accused was convicted of a single act of rape against one of the complainants. The sentences will run concurrently with that of life.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Adv. Moipone Noko: “I find the sentence fitting and hope that it will have the necessary deterrent effect on sexual predators. It is disappointing to see how the accused betrayed the relationship of trust that he had with the complainants and their families. It is very unfortunate that the complainants may be emotionally scarred for a very long time.”
