Daily Sun (January 20 2015) - IT WAS a terrible Christmas Day for Fikile when her two year-old daughter died mysteriously.
But as if the death was not enough,
rumours, whispers and finger pointing have led to even more brutality . . .
PURSUED, ACCUSED AND BEATEN, A WOMAN IS NOW FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE IN HOSPITAL.
According to witnesses, Thabitha Mabogoane (38) from Lindelani near Benoni, Gauteng, who is Fikile Mathe's neighbour, was questioned and when she allegedly confessed, she was moered with fists, sjamboks, bricks and even pick handles. Her attackers then allegedly poured petrol over her but before they could set her on fire, she was saved by cops.
This happened after the family allegedly went to an inyanga who told them the neighbour was responsible for the child's death.
On Friday, when the people allegedly heard what the inyanga had said, they attacked Thabitha. She is now fighting for her life at Far East Hospital in Springs.
Daily Sun is in possession of a video showing the woman being assaulted and screaming for help.
Some neighbours said they want the family of the dead child to be arrested.
"Many inyangas are fake and they will do anything to get money," said a resident, Mazala Mazala.
"What if that woman dies?"
Family members have taken Thabitha's four children to a place of safety.
They have also knocked down her shack and moved it to the same destination where they are hiding.
Tryphina Mabogoane, Thabitha's cousin, said the family was disturbed by what had happened to her.
"We pray she will pull through.
"She has serious head injuries and her right hand is badly damaged," she said.
When Daily Sun visited the family of the dead child, Fikile (38) said her daughter, Akhona Mathe, became ill after eating pap with sour milk.
"I prepared the food for her before I left for work in the morning but she only ate it when I came back from work," said Fikile.
"I had some of the pap with her but later we both started vomiting. My child even messed her pants."
She took the child to her relatives in KZN the following day, where the child died on Christmas Day.
"I never thought that I should take her to hospital," she said.
Fikile denied consulting an inyanga.
"I never saw any prophets. When I came back I heard the neighbours saying that the woman had killed my child by poisoning the pap," she said.
"That's why we went to her and confronted her. She confessed and that's when people beat her."
Fikile's family said they are unhappy that cops arrested three relatives even though the woman confessed.
Warrant Officer Ramothakhi Maqabe of Benoni Cluster confirmed that three suspects were arrested for assault with intention to do grievous bodily harm and they will appear in the Benoni Magistrates Court.
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