Shewula: The rural community of Shewula under Lomahasha Inkhundla is currently engulfed by witchcraft practices by traditional leaders. Making it worse two members of the inner council were caught in the act by residents.
The two leaders namely Mkhenke Maseko and Simon Tsambokhulu were caught separately performing witchcraft at two different homesteads owned by Thembinkosi Tsabedze and Sabelo Ngwenya. This follows several other different cases of witchcraft reported to the community leaders by residents besides Tsabedze and Ngwenya.
It is reportedly, the two leaders’ case has brought factions amongst the inner council members as it is said no one wants to be involved in discussing the matter of the two, while others feel to not discuss the issue will lead to the community losing confidence in them.
On the 26 August, one Mkhenke Maseko without any given authority entered Thembinkosi Tsabedze’s homestead at Mnyangombili, while Tsabedze and his family had gone to the nearest bush to search for firewood. He is said to have entered during the day at around midday, not knowing Tsabedze was just close by the bush which is a separate distance of 50metres from the homestead.
Upon arrival, Maseko went straight to a marula tree and unpacked his small black bag, and spilled around the tree a liquid substance. As he continues to spill, he was talking and murmuring. He then sat down, stretching flat his legs, and continued to murmur. As he did all that, Tsabedze claims to have been watching from inside the bush as it is close by.
When Tsabedze realized the man was preparing to pack and go as he seemed to have accomplished his mission, he then came out and confronted him.
Tsabedze made it known to Maseko that he has seen all which he has done. The shocked Maseko is said to have first denied having done any shenanigans within Tsabedze’s home. He thought no one had seen him while performing. Eventually, Maseko agreed to spray a liquid muti substance saying he was performing a ritual as per orders from his ancestors. He claims to have gone there to appease and fulfill a certain ritual as ordered by his ancestors.
Questioned why he did not ask for permission from the homeowner, he shifted blame to the ancestors for misleading him. The matter was reported to the area’s inner council where it was deliberated but no fine or verdict came out except for Maseko who apologized after admitting to the case.
He sat in the matter as an accused and a judge, as he also form part of the inner council members panel. That prompted Tsabedze to seek redress on the matter with the area’s induna as he felt justice was not served. “I caught that old man and reported the matter to Umphakatsi and what he did was to apologize and the matter was shifted aside just like that, but I have since moved it to another traditional structure.
I can sense these panel is afraid of him” commented Tsabedze.
He suggested, Maseko shouldn’t be let scot-free, according to his understanding he should have been evicted from the area or fined at least a cow or two. The issue is pending with Indvuna.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, another panel member of the inner council Simon Tsambokhulu was recently also caught by a resident Sabelo Ngwenya on 2 September naked, dancing and performing witchcraft at night. Ngwenya had to attend a whole night prayer in one of the local zionist churches, only to find the prayer to have been called off around 11midnight. He had to return back home. He claimed to be living alone as his wife left him.
Coming closer to his gate, he noticed there was someone singing inside his yard. Surprised, he opted to not open the gate but seek cover to properly check what was happening. Indeed, he secured a darkened spot and vigorously watch everything Tsambokhulu was doing inside his home. He says he was very shocked and angry as in where Tsambokhulu got guts to do as he pleases in his home.
Ngwenya decided to confront the man as he was heavily angered, he had the intention to beat him with a hardened stick, only for Tsambokhulu, through highly charged paces, bolted out such that even Usain Bolt would have stood no chances.
The matter has been reported to the very same council Tsambokhulu is a member of.
Shewula chief’s council when contacted on the matters had this to say “It is wrong for the inner council to act bias on such cases. It is the duty of councils to always stand and uplift fair and truthful justice even if it is against your friends, colleagues, or relatives. We await these matters to be brought to us if they are failing to deal with them. This is very wrong for a community leader to be found performing such compromising acts, this is uncalled for” lamented Babe Dladla on behalf of the council.
Shewula currently doesn’t have a chief after the demise of Mbandzamane Sifundza.
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