A DEADLY combination of drugs and Satanism is being blamed for horror incidents of murder and cannibalism in the Eastern Cape.
The man at the centre of the latest incident, Aphiwe Maphekula (23), died yesterday at Nelson Mandela Hospital in Mthatha.
Aphiwe died from the wounds he sustained when he tried to attack cops and was shot at the scene of the crime. Over the weekend, he slit 35-year-old Thembisa Masumpa’s throat before cutting off pieces of her flesh and eating them.
Aphiwe attacked Thembisa as she was leaving the yard of his neighbour and her employer in Mount Frere, where she had been doing laundry.
When cops arrived on the scene, Aphiwe continued eating his victim even after he had vomited. Shocked cops shot him in the arm, stomach and leg after he charged at them with a bloody knife.
Councillor Andile Mgangatho said the community sympathised with both families.
“We cannot run away from the fact that this has Satanism written all over it. As Christians, we need to pray harder to beat all this evil,” he said.
Umzimvubu mayor Bulelwa Mabengu promised to provide assistance in every way possible.
“I believe that drugs and substance abuse were a major contributing factor. I want to call on law authorities to show more visibility in our area,” she said. “The municipality will consult the family of the victim and the attacker to help them deal with this ordeal.”
