Foul smell wafted out of hut
Human arm looked like it belonged to a child
GRIPPING tales about flesh-eating humans are usually shared around campfires and sleepovers, but the horror stories that have emerged about cannibals on the prowl in the dusty rural village of Esigodlweni, Estcourt, have left locals numb with fear,
Missing persons reports and dug-up graves added to their angst and have prompted residents, especially school children, to be on the lookout for “ama-zimu zimu” (cannibals) in the area.
A week has gone by since five suspects, Nino “Mkhonyovu” Mbatha, 32, Sithembile Sithole, 31, Lindokuhle Masondo, 32, Lungisani Magubane, 30, and Khayelihle Lamula, 32, were arrested.
The five face charges related to the possession of human body parts and murder.
They appeared in the Estcourt Magistrates’ Court on Monday and the matter was postponed to tomorrow for bail applications and further investigation.
It all started when Phakamile Shabalala, 25, went to borrow a phone charger from her neighbour, Mbatha, a traditional healer.
A foul smell that wafted out of his rented hut had bothered Shabalala for days, but when she entered Mbatha’s house the smell was overpowering.
Shabalala said that when she questioned Mbatha about the smell he told her it was the aroma of intelezi (herbal concoction).
However she continued to pester Mbatha, nicknamed Mkhonyovu, which means corruption, about the smell.
He eventually showed her a black suitcase in which there was a human arm.
In spite of the shock that pulsed through her body, Shabalala took a closer look, to check that it was not a doll.
“The hand was still fresh, it looked like it belonged to a 10-year-old child.
“He said now I have seen the secret of his (Mbatha’s) father, Sosobala, he claimed I would become crazy if I told anyone about it,” Shabalala said.
Mbatha became an instant hit among locals when he first arrived in the area two months ago because he claimed to be the son of the late Sosobala, a well-known, rich and powerful traditional healer.
“I tried to remain calm as I wanted to leave the room withouting him hurting me,” said Shabalala.
She left the room feeling light-headed and her heart was racing.
The image of what she had seen kept playing in her mind and she told her brother, Mdu Mchunu, about her grisly find.
“I have never experienced such trauma in my life,” she said.
“My thoughts were with the young child, the pain and suffering he or she must have endured.
“I thought of the parents who were probably looking for their missing child. The guilt was going to kill me, so I had to tell my brother.
“My brother and I planned on how we could report this man to the authorities.
“My brother wanted to see for himself before he could tell the police,” said Shabalala.
The following day, all hell broke lose when Mbatha went to Mchunu’s room to buy beer.
That was when Mbatha was asked to leave his room, but he refused.
An argument between the two men.
Mchunu threatened to report him to the police if he did not leave. Mbatha went to his room and left with only his backpack.
He returned a few hours later with police, having told them he was tired of eating human flesh and needed help because Mchunu was a traditional healer who had forced him to eat people.
Mchunu claimed police assaulted him and he sustained bruises and injuries.
“I tried to explain to the police that Mbatha was the traditional healer, but they ignored me and beat me in front of Mbatha.
“I cried and pleaded for mercy, but they just kept beating and kicking me,” Mchunu claimed.
Mchunu, who was held in custody overnight, said that if he had not threatened to report Mbatha, the traditional healer would not have handed himself over to police and would have continued to silently kill people.
When police searched Mbatha’s house they allegedly found more human remains and Mchunu was released.
“They even found a pot on the stove with human ears and body parts stuffed in containers,” Mchunu claimed. ensued