My continued incarceration is prejudicial - inyanga accused of rape
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MBABANE – The 18-yearold woman who was allegedly raped by a traditional healer had purportedly approached the inyanga for assistance after being struck by bad luck.
This is according to the traditional healer, Bhekinkosi Dlamini (34). He denied having sexual intercourse with *Dudu on May 7, 2023 at Sithobela in the Lubombo Region.
In his application for bail, Dlamini said he was innocent of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act No.15/2018 charge preferred against him.
“I will plead not guilty to same as I did not have sexual intercourse with the complainant,” he told the court.
Dlamini told the court that he met Dudu on May 7, 2023 at Nkonjwa, Siphofaneni, where there was a lobola ceremony.
“The complainant, whom I share a surname with, is well aware that I am a traditional healer. She confided in me that she was struck by bad luck in her life and needed to be cleansed.
“The complainant thereafter requested for my services and I duly agreed. The complainant and I, thereafter, went to my sacred healing room, where I cleansed her with traditional muti,” alleged Dlamini.
Dudu, according to Dlamini, then requested a ride home as he was travelling to Sithobela to refuel his motor vehicle and he duly agreed. He told the court that it would not be in the interest of justice to deny him bail.
The traditional healer pointed out that his continued incarceration was prejudicial to him and his clients, since he had accumulated a large clientele.
He also submitted that there was no likelihood that if he was released on bail he may endanger the safety of the public or commit a similar offence.
He further told the court that there was no likelihood that, if released on bail, he may attempt to evade trial. The inyanga said he would not intimidate witnesses as they were unknown to him because he was yet to be furnished with a summary of evidence containing the list of witnesses.
Bail
High Court Judge Khontaphi Manzini heard the traditional healer’s application for bail. Dlamini was represented by Sibonginkhosi Jele of Phakathi Jele Attorneys.
The court granted Dlamini’s bail application and fixed his bail amount at E50 000. He was ordered to pay E5 000 in cash and provide surety for the balance.
Dlamini made his first court appearance at Siphofaneni Magistrates Court last Friday.
According to the charge sheet, the charge was accompanied by aggravating circumstances as envisaged by Section 185 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act No. 67 of 1938 in that the accused person abused his authority as an adult by coercing the complainant into his rented flat as well as committing the offence precluded by virtue of sharing the same surname.
Dlamini has also been accused of allegedly having unlawful sexual intercourse with the complainant without using any form of protection, thus exposing her to sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV and AIDS, and further inflicted mental and physical lifetime trauma to her.
Principal Magistrate Joe Gumede remanded him back to custody pending the committal of the case to the High Court. He is expected back in court next week Thursday.
The inyanga is alleged to have advised Dudu, when she went to consult him, that in order to get the assistance she was seeking and for the muti he would use on her to be effective, he had to ingest it first and then have sexual intercourse with her so that she could be cured. Dlamini is said to be renting a flat at Sithobela, where he was conducting his traditional healing business.
It was established that the traditional healer proceeded to allegedly have sexual intercourse with Dudu despite that she had indicated that it was not appropriate to do so because they shared a surname, even though they were not related.
“The inyanga relocated at Sithobela from Nkonjwa on the basis that Sithobela is a busy community and he was going to get more clients for his traditional healing business.
“Dudu went to seek help as she was experiencing abdominal pains that have not stopped after visiting the clinic.
“The inyanga took advantage of the young woman and told her that she would be cured if he ingests the muti and then he sleeps with her. The community is still shocked about his act,” alleged a source.