The Malamulele Regional Court in Limpopo has sentenced a 44-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of his 17-year-old biological daughter at Matiyani village. The horrific crime occurred after the father took his daughter to a graveyard under the guise of performing rituals at her grandfather's grave.
Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, detailed the events leading up to the crime. On 20 September 2023, at approximately 5 pm, the victim was at home with her parents when her father decided to take her to the graveyard.
To protect the identity of the abused child from secondary victimisation, the name of the rapist father is being withheld.
"On their arrival at the graveyard, the accused (father) performed the rituals and finished in the evening at about 21:00. Afterward, the duo retreated to their residence, and while walking in the bushes, the accused grabbed his daughter and suddenly raped her," said Ledwaba.
Following the brutal assault, the father threatened his daughter and instructed her not to disclose the incident to anyone.
The abused teenager remained silent for nearly a year before finally confiding in her uncle's wife in February 2024.
The incident was promptly reported to the local police and immediately transferred to the Giyani family violence, child protection and sexual offences (FCS) unit.
"Sergeant Nomsa Katekani Macevele was assigned to investigate the matter, and through her indefatigable efforts, the 44-year-old male accused was apprehended the next day on 20 February 2024," said Ledwaba.
Sergeant Macevele successfully opposed bail for the accused, ensuring he remained in custody until the Malamulele Regional Court handed down the life-term imprisonment sentence on Tuesday. Police in Limpopo have welcomed the harsh sentence, praising the diligent work of the investigating officer.
The case comes amidst growing concern about ritualistic crimes and child abuse in South Africa. Last month, reports highlighted the prevalence of child mutilation and abuse cases, where body parts, particularly those of children, are used in brutal rituals purportedly to enhance wealth or bring good fortune. In some instances, children are sexually abused as part of so-called rituals falsely believed to provide healing or prosperity for the perpetrator.
Traditional healers, commonly known as sangomas, are often implicated in these heinous acts. Some have been arrested by the South African Police Service, while others have been attacked by community members when such incidents come to light.
In August last year, IOL reported that two additional suspects, including a sangoma, were arrested for the brutal murder of a 34-year-old Limpopo mother and her two-year-old daughter. The pair had been reported missing in May, triggering an extensive search.
In response to these concerns, IOL travelled to Ekangala and spoke to sangoma Mandla Lekhuleni, popularly known as Prof Lekhuleni, on the sidelines of a traditional celebration attended by healers from South Africa and Mozambique.
"Speaking the truth does not break any friendship or a spaza shop. Those people using body parts of children or albinos — that is a crime. There is no such thing. Since I started practising, I was never taught that if you want money or your business to grow, you must kill someone or use human blood. That is 100% criminal," he said.
He rejected claims that human sacrifice or abuse of women and children forms part of African traditional healing.
Traditional healer Mandla Lekhuleni, condemned muthi murders, ritual killings and the abuse of women and children, saying such acts have no place in African traditional healing.
"I hear people saying sangomas use human sacrifices to make people rich. That is not what I learnt or what my gobela taught me. I was taught to go to the mountains, to rivers, to dig and collect medicine from nature — herbs that help uplift a person who is down," he said.
Traditional medicine and rituals are widely believed across South Africa and in Africa to help cure illnesses or improve people’s livelihoods. Lekhuleni, who has a large social media following, regularly shares content about traditional healing practices.
"In my indumba (traditional room where a sangoma practices), you will never find even a small human bone. Killing someone to make another person rich is not African traditional medicine. African traditional medicine uses herbs, sometimes combined with iziwasho," he said.
"That is pure criminality, and I am willing to assist the police. Wherever such so-called traditional healers are found, I will work with the police to ensure they are arrested and never practise again. They must never see the light of day."
Lekhuleni said traditional healers across the Southern African Development Community were increasingly alarmed by the rise in so-called muthi murders and were working together to combat the practice. The life sentence handed down in the Malamulele Regional Court serves as a strong message that such crimes will not be tolerated and that perpetrators will face the full force of the law.
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