Inyanga’s indumba burnt over PUDEMO man’s death
SITEKI – A consulting hut and two huts were on Sunday evening torched by an angry mob of Ndzevane, on accusations that the traditional healer had a hand in the death of People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) member Bongumenzi Matsebula. Reasons
(indumba) (inyanga)
Worth mentioning is that this arson attack happened against the backdrop of another attempt last Tuesday morning, where over 50 youth members of the community were stopped by police on their way to the homestead.
Matsebula (31), who was a University of Eswatini (UNESWA) graduate, met his death a fortnight ago, a day before his interview for a job at Eswatini Water Agricultural Development Enterprise (ESWADE) offices, situated at Ndzevane in Big Bend.
As a result, the inyanga has packed corrugated iron sheets that were spared from the arson attack and vacated his home for safety reasons.
According to Ndzevane Traditional Headman Samson Vilane , after the arson attack on Sunday, at around 7pm, soldiers and police officers were deployed at Ndzevane to maintain law and order.
He said the soldiers together with police officers from Lubulini and Big Bend assisted the traditional healer and his family to safely vacate the area, while ensuring that he took with him his essential belongings. The indvuna said he was called by the police on Sunday, at around 7pm, to inform him about the incident that had befallen the family.
“It was around 7pm when people saw a huge flame at the homestead and police were called to the scene. Household items were not spared from the fire, while an indumba that was roofed with corrugated iron sheets survived the flames. The family collected the corrugated iron sheets and other items saved from the fire and left the area to a safe place,” he said.
Vilane said he was not informed about their destination. He said the youth accused the traditional healer of having a hand in the death of their friend.
Abusing
“I think the sudden death of Bongumenzi shocked everyone in the community. He was a young man who was not even abusing drugs. He neither smoked nor drank alcohol like his peers. His death surprised and shocked everyone,” he said.
He heaped praises to the police for serving the community despite the current volatile political situation.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said a report of an arson attack at a homestead situated at Ndzevane had been reported to the police. “We have a report of an arson attack that police are still investigating,” she said.
Meanwhile, a 58-year-old traditional healer of Mvabuhlungu area under Gilgal Inkhundla was on Saturday evening shot dead and hacked several times, by a mob. Joseph Mbokodvo Gadlela was hacked and shot dead by a mob of over 20 people who are also residents of Mvabuhlungu situated at Hlutse under Gilgal Inkhundla.