Pastor hiding from villagers
2004-11-09 11:46
Malelane - A rural evangelical pastor is in hiding with relatives after his village accused him of witchcraft and torched his house.
Pastor Mphatsi Mazibuko of the First Apostolic church in Langeloop, south of Malelane in Mpumalanga, was attacked on Sunday, October 31.
He was accused of bewitching a 17-year-old girl who died of unknown causes.
A mob attacked his house while he was giving a sermon at his church, which is about 100m from his home.
Three residents were arrested, and have been released on a warning pending their next appearance in the Tonga magistrate's court on November 19.
Green Sibanze, 42, Joseph Mashaba, 67, and Juliet Mahlabane, 28, were not asked to plead to charges of contravening the suppression of witchcraft act.
In terms of the act it is illegal to label anyone a witch.
Two other suspects, a 17-year-old boy and Sibusiso Nkosi, 18, were acquitted of the charges because of insufficient evidence against them.
"But we are still investigating and expect to make more arrests, because many people were involved in the attack," said Tonga police spokesman Inspector Amos Mashele.