Suicides blamed on witchcraft

2004-08-23 17:20

Brilliant Mthembi

Tzaneen - A Mozambican-born man has been chased out his village in Limpopo after neighbours accused him of using witchcraft to drive three people to suicide.

But a week after he was banished from Rhulani village near Tzaneen, another villager tried to hang himself, making the community think twice about their actions.

"We blamed the Mozambican for the first three suicides, but now we don't know what is making our people want to kill themselves," said resident Mkhombo Mashele.

The Mozambican following three suicides in four weeks.

Cliff Twala, 23, was found hanged inside a toilet; Freddy Matjukudja, 32, was found hanged from a tree in his yard and George Mashele, 31, was found hanged in his house.

Speaking at Mashele's funeral, village induna Thomy Shipalana said the witch who was behind the three deaths had to leave the village before sunset.

After the funeral, a group of youths marched to the Mozambican's house and asked him to leave the village.

"He didn't deny that he had bewitched them," said Bongani Nkhwashu.

"He said he was hired do to it by some villagers, but refused to name them.

"He said they used money and goats to pay him."

But a week after the Mozambican man had left the village, Jafta Shipalana, 21, wrote a suicide note and was about to hang himself, but neighbours broke into the house and saved him. - NewsFirst

- African Eye