A GOGO asked a sangoma to do a cleansing ceremony at her house – and it led to misery.
Now her 15-year-old granddaughter is said to fear for her life after allegedly being raped on 26 January at the gogo’s Empangeni home.A local leader, who is letting the girl stay at his house, said she told him about the rape the next day.
“I took her to the police station. The sangoma was arrested the same day,” he said.
“When he was released on bail two weeks ago, the girl stopped going to school and she left her gogo’s house.”
 |
| Girl Raped By A Sangoma Now Fears For Her Life |
“She said the sangoma told her that her safety is hanging by a thread and she will regret sending him to jail,” said the leader.
He said the incident happened after the sangoma allegedly claimed the girl needed ukugcaba (traditional cuts) to get rid of her bad luck.
“He said the cutting had to be done in a dark room and that’s where he got a chance to lock the door,” said the leader.
He said the girl needs counselling and doesn’t get any support from her 66-year-old gogo, her only relative.
He said it seemed the gogo didn’t believe the girl’s story that she had been raped.
The gogo told the SunTeam her granddaughter needs to come back home.
But the leader said he didn’t think the gogo can protect her.
“I reported the matter to social workers, who promised to visit the girl.
“The investigating officer is aware of the threat posed to her and has promised to investigate the matter further before taking action,” he said.
- Major Thulani Zwane said a 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a traditional healer in Empangeni.
“A 47-year-old man was arrested and released on bail.
“He will appear again in court on 16 March,” said Zwane.
