All charges against three traditional healers (sangomas) and their two co-accused, who had been arrested for allegedly kidnapping an 11-year-old boy, have been dropped.

The five once again appeared in the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate court last week, following the disappearance of Theophilus Tshivhi of Madombidzha Zone 2 in January this year. The five people who had to face charges of kidnapping were the three traditional healers, Mrs Elizabeth Ramaremela (60), Ms Alilali Ndou (81) and Mr Ntaku Ndou (32), as well as Mr Johannes Ramaremela (69) and Mr Sello Tlhaoele (21).

The director of public prosecutions in the Thohoyandou High Court decided to drop all charges as it was apparently felt there was not enough strong evidence to prosecute the suspects. This is despite the fact that the suspects admitted to taking the boy along with them to Maname in Nzhelele, where they had gone to collect traditional medicinal plants and herbs. The boy has since gone missing.

The suspects claimed that the boy had disappeared while they were in the bush. The five subsequently went to the Siloam police station where they reported the boy as missing. All this happened without the family's consent and knowledge.

The decision by the public prosecutor has angered the residents of Madombidzha, who are now saying that the suspects are no longer welcome in the village.  They were released last Friday.

The family of the missing boy is also furious and blames the police. The father of the boy, Mr Takalani Mabushe, said he was very worried and he felt discouraged by the decision to drop the case. He added: "They can't say there is no evidence against the suspects, whereas the suspects confirmed taking the boy to Maname without the family's consent."

Mabushe said that he had also lost confidence in both the department of justice and the police. The family has written a letter to the MEC for Safety and Security, Mr George Phadagi, stating that the investigation officers in the case should be replaced.

When contacted for comment, the senior manager in the office of MEC Phadagi, Mr Victor Mufamadi, said on Tuesday that he had forwarded the letter to the provincial commissioner of the police, Brigadier Mpembe, for his attention. "We have since been waiting for the provincial commissioner’s response," said Mufamadi. He promised that the provincial commissioner would respond in two weeks' time. Mabushe said that he needed clarity and an explanation as to why the case had been dropped.

Meanwhile, Col Mohale Ramatsiba of the provincial police said that the case would remain open until such time that more evidence came to the fore.

Attempts to reach any of the five accused were unsuccessful.