Sangoma out on bail after trainee ‘made to dance on hot coals’

A PORT Elizabeth sangoma who allegedly forced a trainee to dance on burning coals during an initiation ceremony was granted R300 bail when she appeared in court yesterday.

Nomathamsanqa “Ma Dlamini” Monize, 45, of Soweto, appeared in the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court on a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Bail was granted on condition that Monize refrain from making direct or indirect contact with the victim, Pumla Lugawu, 40.

The matter was postponed to October 19 for further investigation.

Lugawu spent three weeks at the Dora Nginza Hospital’s burns unit following the injuries she sustained during the bizarre ritual on July 8.

Lugawu, who was in the process of becoming a sangoma – known as ukuthwasa – said she was under duress when she was forced to dance on burning coals at her KwaNdokwenza home in Kwazakhele, despite her cries of protest.

When she tried to get off the coals, she claims, she was forced back on by a male sangoma acting on Monize’s orders.

The ritual is normally done under the watchful eye of an experienced sangoma.

Dora Nginza social worker Pamela Rubushe, who encouraged Lagawu to open a case against Monize, said she was shocked and that Lugawu had suffered a double tragedy.

She said Lugawu had paid Monize more than R4 000 on top of money she had paid for food and drinks for the ceremony.

“Is this culture or torture?” Rubushe asked.