Tag: traditional healers

Witchdoctor accused of abducting youths

An Mpumalanga initiation school owner is accused of abducting and circumcising youths in Machadodorp.

Black initiation schools are run by witchdoctors, known as “traditional healers”.

This is in contravention of the Mpumalanga Ingoma Act which states that no person may be forced to attend initiation school against their will.

They use extreme intimidation on potential customers by claiming to have a mystical powers.

Affected parents say they fear for their children’s lives and that their children have been captured without their consent.

At least 30 initiates died in Mpumalanga two years ago due to circumcisions performed in dubious surroundings.

‘Mandela needs ancestors’ help’

A sangoma's bones
A sangoma’s bones

Traditional healers in Limpopo held a ceremony at the ANC’s offices in Polokwane on Thursday to pray for former president Nelson Mandela who is critically ill in a Pretoria hospital.

African National Congress Limpopo task team chairman Falaza Mdaka said the traditional healers had asked to perform a ritual at the offices, as it was Mandela’s “home”.

Mdaka said Mandela was a special person and the world still needed him.

“We are pleading for him to continue to be with us. We understand that he is old,” he said.

Tradition healers sang struggle songs and burnt incense, calling on the ancestors to heal the country’s beloved statesman.

“Mandela needs ancestors’ help,” said one of the healers, Sylvester Hlathi.

Mandela, 94, was admitted to the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria on June 8 for treatment of a recurring lung infection.

The presidency has said that his condition remains critical. – Sapa