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Police have sent a stern
warning to members of the public advising them to desist from
labelling people witches or wizards, or insinuating that they
possessed supernatural powers to cause illness or at times death.
The police Public Relations Officer, Vusie Masuku, sounded this
warning after a Mbuli family from Sigwe in the Shiselweni region, had
its homestead destroyed by an incensed mob that was accusing them of
dabbling in the occult.
The family, with the assistance of the area’s traditional authorities
eventually took refuge at the Hluthi Police Station where they
departed later this week, after the traditional authorities had
ordered the mobsters to refrain from persecuting the family, or face
dire consequences, moreso because proving witchcraft was not easy.
They were warned not to take the law into their hands, but approach the
authorities who would make a final ruling over such matters, and if
that took long, they should make constant follow-ups.
John Mbuli, the patriarch of the persecuted family, explained early
this week as to how he was attacked by the mob, comprising young
people from the area, after one woman, a mother to some forming part
of the mob, died.
Mbuli, who stated he was not sure about his age, explained that it was
not the first time such accusations were levelled against him, and had
even paid a goat, as a fine, a few months back, in a bid to keep the
peace.
“This happened at the local chief’s residence, at Qomintaba, where I
made it clear that I was not a wizard, but I was fined the goat
nevertheless, and I paid it thinking it would help restore the peace
between me and the Jele family which is peddling such unfounded
rumors,” Mbuli said.
He said after that, peace reigned for sometime, until Jele’s wife
passed away on Thursday two weeks ago, and the rumourmill began
grinding on overdrive, resulting in the attack on his home, earlier
last week.
buli continued that before this, the Jeles had at times insulted him
saying he milked his herd of cattle to feed his zombies, (Imikhobo)
milk.
“They even invited me for a witching (Umkhaya) something that never
took place as they could not raise the money to undertake such. I had
not refused because I knew that I was no witch, but the death of
LaJele has resulted in me becoming a refugee in my own community,” he
lamented.
Meanwhile, the Police PRO, when sought for comment reminded Swazis
that the Witchcraft Act of 1889, was still valid and currently the
force was investigating the issue with an intention to effect arrests
over the contravention of Act No 8 of the 1889 Witchcraft Act.
“Besides that, we are also investigating a case of malicious damage to
property at Mbuli’s place. Once that is complete, we will effect
arrests,” he said.
He closed by warning the public to desist from making such
pronunciations against people, let alone taking the law unto
themselves.
He then disclosed that according to the law, any person found guilty of
contravening the said act faced a fine of E1000 upon conviction or
imprisonment not exceeding five years.
He closed by stating that as far as he knew, a number of people have
been convicted of such a crime in the country, which meant that the
law was still valid.
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