By Doreen Mokgolo
The residents of Mokomene in Botlokwa, Limpopo were shocked that the sangoma arrested for the murder and mutilation of Modjadji Thoka was consulted to help find her missing body parts.
He was also part of the community search party hunting for the suspects and encouraged residents to appoint a traditional healer to solve the case.
The 30-year-old healer, who cannot be named, was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning and pointed out to the police the site in the neighbouring village of Masodi where he had buried the 18-year-old’s head.
The teenager’s mutilated body was found with her head, breast, and legs missing in an abandoned house on 8 January.
She had been missing for three days after she reportedly left her home to buy airtime at a local tuckshop.
After hearing about the teenager’s horrific death, residents from various spiritual backgrounds offered their help to find the killer and the teenager’s missing body parts.
They donated R10 per household to appoint a traditional healer.
Speaking to Scrolla.Africa, resident Maria Mokoena said that the suspect was part of the community calling for a traditional healer to be appointed.
“Because he is alleged to be one of the strongest traditional healers in the community, residents appointed him but he declined the offer,” she said.
“We went to another trusted traditional healer who promised us that the suspect would be arrested before the end of the week.”
The chairperson of the Traditional Health Council, Muntu Segage, said the use of human body parts by traditional healers is associated with witchcraft to strengthen one’s home and businesses.
“It is wrong for human body parts to be used for these rituals. There are various muthis and traditional medicines and the client’s ancestors can be used to achieve the same results.
“As an organisation, we discourage this and call for the implicated healer to receive a long sentence,” she said.
The family has not buried Modjadji’s remains as they continue searching for her limbs.
Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the suspect is expected to appear before the Morebeng Magistrate’s Court soon, facing a charge of murder.
Pictured above: Sangoma in police custody.
Image source: Supplied
