Cops mum on snake victim's ID
2004-07-07 14:33
Riot Hlatshwayo and Victor Hlungwane
Polokwane - Limpopo police have declined to say if they've identified a snake-bite victim who may have been a human flesh hunter when she was still alive.
The woman is believed to be one of three snake-bite victims who died at Elim Hospital in Limpopo on June 26.
She is suspected of leading a muti attack on a woman in Hluvula Baji section of Tiyani village near Giyani earlier that day.
Her victim, Beauty Mashimbye, narrowly escaped having her eyes, genitals, breasts and lip harvested when the snake struck her attacker.
Provincial police spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Motlafela Mojapelo, declined to say if police had taken Mashimbye to Elim Hospital to try identify her attacker.
Organised muti syndicate
"We don't want to say too much about our investigations, as it may jeopardise our chances of catching the three men who were with the suspect," he said.
Police are convinced the gang was part of an organised muti syndicate as Mashimbye said that the woman had made a phone call to someone she called "boss" and was instructed to cut off Mashimbye's private parts, nipples, lower lip, tongue and hair.
She was to do this while Mashimbye was alive to ensure the muti was potent.
Thulamahashe sangoma, Daniel Ngobeni, is opposed to the use of human body parts for muti and said he was once offered a human hand.
Brain and eyes make people intelligent
"They said I could sell it to a businessman and that if he smeared herbs over it and then waved it over his products every day, his business would boom," said Ngobeni.
He claims to have tipped off the police, but that the muti sellers disappeared.
He said he's also heard that parts such as the brain and the eyes are believed to make people intelligent.
Meanwhile, provincial health spokesperson Phuti Seloba said it was not unusual for there to be so many snakebite cases in one day, even in the middle of winter when snakes usually hibernate.
"This region is relatively warm even during winter. The number of cases, though relatively high, is not alarming," he said.
Local snake expert, Donald Strydom of the Swadini Reptile Park, said winter was also the mating season for some snakes, like the puff adder, making them more active at this time of year.
He said unseasonably warm days could also lure snakes out from hibernation.
Snake acted in 'self-defence'
"Just two days ago it was very hot and now it is very cold. This gives snakes the illusion of summer and winter, which means they may come out," he explained.
He said development of an area could also disturb snakes, which would leave their holes to find new homes, even in the middle of winter.
He said the snake that bit the suspected muti hunter may have been disturbed where it had been hiding under a rock, as snakes are sensitive to noise.
According to police, the suspect had been sharpening a knife on a rock just before she was bitten.
"Snakes don't just bite anyone," added Strydom. "But if disturbed they attack to protect themselves."