SHE was found naked in one of the oldest cemeteries in the Vaal, south of Joburg, on Tuesday, 21 September.
And she had nothing on but beads on her wrists and a sharp okapi in her hand.
The community of Hlala Kwabafileyo squatter camp near Sharpeville, then mistook the 30-year-old for a witch. But the thwasa’s 72-year-old mum said she was not a witch.
She said her daughter had ancestral issues as her intwaso journey wasn’t fully completed.
When Daily Sun visited the family, the thwasa, who was wrapped in her sangoma cloth, was visibly shaking and wordless.
The mum said she woke up around 2am to pee and found her daughter sitting on the floor.
“We sat for a moment and I dozed off. When I woke up to check on my daughter, I found her missing from her bed and the door was slightly opened,” she said.
She said she knew something was wrong when she got a call from her older daughter.
“My older daughter said she received a call from people who knew her and they told her that her sister was found naked with a knife.
“A taxi gave me a lift to the cemetery where I found my daughter blubbering things and threatening to kill people we couldn’t see,” she said.
According to the family, this was not the first incident.
“The ancestors are angry that she couldn’t complete her processes and that’s because we only survive on my grant money,” said the mother.
The family asked for financial help so the thwasa can finish her training.
Sangoma and traditional expert Langalibalele said the thwasa was bewitched because of her gift.
“People who did what they did to her were punishing her gobela for the way he performs his rituals.
“Equally so, they chose or targeted the child because they see her future prosperity and gift. She is not a witch, but bewitched.
“Her gobela can work out this animal given to her. Certain rituals should be performed like taking her to the river and washing her. People must understand that there are such things and not everyone found naked with beads is a witch,” she said.
The gobela who visited the family following the incident, explained what bothered his 52nd thwasa.
“The reason she is having these encounters is because she hasn’t completed some of her rituals and fully graduated.
“I will take her and plead with her ancestors to reduce the whipping because this is now bad,” he said.
Resident Duduzile Hadebe (30) said she was waken up by loud noise on the streets.
“I don’t stay far from the graveyard. All I heard was noise coming from that side. When I went out of the house, I saw the shock of my life. She was naked and had a knife.,” she said.
