'The spirits have taken her'

2006-11-30 14:08

Orlando Chauke and Neville Maakana

Giyani - Plans to raise a woman from the Letaba River on Saturday after she disappeared 50 years ago, failed.

Modjadji Shivambu's family paid R25 000 to various sangomas since January last year to draw her out of the underwater world.

One sangoma was Dennis Maceke from Mozambique, who performed the ceremony on Saturday.

When it didn't work, he said he would have to consult his ancestors some more and try again this coming weekend.

Shivambu's family, who live in Nwa-Maranga village near Giyani, believe she was taken by river spirits to be trained as a sangoma.

"If it is true that she was taken by river spirits, she is dead now," said chairman of the Limpopo Traditional Healers Association, Hitler Letsoalo.

He said some members of his association were trained in the underwater world. He said they only spent one or two months in the water.

Chairman of the Mopani Traditional Healers Association, Rexon Ndlovu, said that when a person was taken by river spirits, a resurrection ceremony must be conducted as soon as possible.

"It is too late to save this woman. She will never come out," he said.

Shivambu's family refuses to give up.

"We are not giving up because we know that my cousin is in that river," said family member Jackson Shivambu. "She was pregnant when she disappeared. We also know that she has since given birth to a son who has now grown up and was also trained as a sangoma under the water."

Local villager Khensani Khosa said she has been coming to the river to witness the ritual since January last year.

"I want to be there when she comes out. It will be the biggest miracle in the whole world," she said./NewsFirst

- African Eye