Celani Sikhakhane
When the police discovered the body of a 17-year-old girl, badly beaten and covered in injuries, the pastor whose care she had been under said she died of “natural causes”.
In reality, he had allegedly beaten Thozama Sonjica to death because he believed she was possessed by demons.
For a number of weeks, Thozama’s parents had taken the grade 11 pupil out of her class at Bheki High School in KwaNzimakwe Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal, so that the pastor could perform exorcisms on her.
Thozama was one of five teenage girls who was subjected on a regular basis to the pastor’s exorcisms in which he is alleged to have tied them up, beat them and poured salt water over them.
Scrolla.Africa understands that before her death, Thozama was fetched from her home on the order of the 40-year-old pastor.
Her sister Phindile Jula said they went to check on her. When she saw her sister had been tied up and severely beaten, she went to get help.
“I came home to report the matter but no one assisted her,” said Jula.
Thozama’s mother was allegedly present for these exorcismes on several occasions. She even went to the school to tell her teachers that her daughter wouldn’t be available for class because she was having demons cast from her.
The school deputy principal Nawe Mavundla said they were shocked by these claims because Thozama was just like any other teenager her age.
The pastor, whose identity is known to Scrolla.Africa, allegedly hid the cause of Thozama’s death and told the police she died of natural causes.
Brigadier Jay Naicker said at first they opened an inquest but they have now changed the charges to murder and attempted murder. He confirmed that the pastor has since been arrested.
The four remaining victims were taken to a local clinic before being transferred to a place of safety by the Department of Social Development.
The mother of the dead girl said she regretted her decision to allow her to be exorcised.
KZN MEC for Social Development Nonhlanhla Khoza visited the family and thanked the nurses at the local clinic for treating the other victims.
