Killer blames demons for vicious attack

ONE of the four women on trial for the murder of a 14-year-old girl they had accused of being a devil worshipper told the Durban High Court yesterday they were possessed by a demonic spirit when they committed the crime.

Fundiswa Faku, 33, Lindelwa Jalubane, 38, Nokubonga Jalubane, 22, Minenhle Jalubane, 19, allegedly killed Snethemba Dlamini suspecting her of being possessed.

The accused are all Dlamini’s relatives. The fifth witness, Nonhlanhla Mdletshe, also a relative, has turned state witness.

Accused three and four have yet to testify while the first accused refused to testify.

Yesterday, state advocate Sithembisile Mazibuko during cross-examination asked Lindelwa why at some stage during the alleged cleansing ceremony she was able to stop Faku from hitting the deceased but failed to stop her from pulling out her intestines.

Lindelwa, had previously testified that Faku had assaulted Dlamini and instructed her to remove the spell she had cast.

She also testified that she then realised that they were possessed by a demonic spirit that made them do whatever Faku told them to do.

“All I wanted was for the child to be saved. I thought the ritual was going to help the child,” she explained.

It also emerged yesterday that the deceased had tried to flee the ordeal but Lindelwa and Faku gave chase and brought her back.

She was then stripped naked and forced to lie down, facing upwards before they cut her genitals with scissors and a knife.

The accused then allegedly pulled out Dlamini’s intestines, leading to her death.

Lindelwa testified that the deceased and Faku at some stage had danced together naked. Asked by Judge Phillip Nkosi whether she did not see that Faku’s behaviour was devious and strange, Lindelwa said: “She [Faku] told us that God was with us.”