Nkandla mother, pastor arrested for murder of two young girls
The beatings were reportedly the result of an exorcism attempt
TWO young Nkandla girls were reportedly brutally beaten to death by family members and their pastor in an alleged exorcism attempt.
On Sunday, police officers were led, through an anonymous tip-off, to the scene of ‘something sinister unfolding’ at a house in Ezimambeni.
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According to police records, when they arrived on scene, they were greeted with hostility by the family members.
On entering the house, police found two girls, both aged nine, who had been severely beaten.
‘One of the girls was already deceased and the other unconscious,’ said SAPS provincial spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbele.
The unconscious girl was rushed to hospital where she succumbed to her injuries a few days later.
‘Upon questioning the family members on the girls’ injuries, they alleged that the girls had been attacked by evil spirits.
‘The family further alleged that the young girls had been complaining that the evil spirits were beating them up and instructing them to drink blood.
PHOTO: SAPS
‘In response to the girls’ attack by the evil spirits, the family also beat up the girls as a form of exorcism.
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‘A local pastor was called in to pray for the girls, and he also allegedly joined in the beating of them.’
Prior to the police’s arrival, the family had reportedly taken the now deceased girl to a traditional healer, after beating her.
‘Thorough investigations conducted by Nkandla detectives, coupled with medical reports, pointed to the fact that the young girls were subjected to severe beatings, which was the cause of their death.
‘Further investigations revealed that in 2015, another girl from the family died under mysterious circumstances and was buried a day after her death, without the family informing any authorities.
‘It is suspected the same was going to happen to these young girls.’
The mother, another family member and the pastor were yesterday (Thursday) arrested on two counts of murder and are expected to appear at Nkandla Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The investigation is ongoing and police will also probe the death of the girl in 2015.
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