Enraged community members of Shimawusa village outside Giyani turned their wrath on an elderly woman and set Mrs Nkuna Mamaila (71) alight on Sunday. This follows after allegations of witchcraft surfaced in the village.

Riots erupted after the body of a man, Blondie Maswanganyi (23), was found hanging from a tree in the bushes last week. After the discovery of the body, community members embarked on a mission to find the alleged culprit. They allegedly went to the headman to seek approval to consult the local sangoma, arguing that there had been many mysterious deaths in the village. The village's headman apparently denied them permission to do so.

In spite of this, almost 700 community members regrouped and, after consulting with a local sangoma, decided to torch Mrs Mamaila’s house. The sangoma allegedly said that a man and a woman were behind the mysterious deaths of people in the village. The group of villagers was apparently then convinced that the old woman was responsible for the suicide of Mr Maswanganyi.

The angry mob went to the house of the Mamaila family and set it on fire. Fortunately, the six family members who were inside survived the dreadful incident.

Mrs Mamaila apparently went to the Maswanganyi family and asked if they believed that she was responsible for their son's suicide. When she was on her way back home, community members allegedly poured petrol over her body and burnt her to death. She died instantly and the culprits fled from the scene.

"We initially arrested 12 people later that evening and seven more the following morning. They were all charged with murder, arson and public violence," said Limpopo SAPS provincial spokesperson Col Ronel Otto. All 19 suspects briefly appeared in the Hlanganani Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. The sangoma who was allegedly consulted was among them.

The case was postponed and the suspects remain in custody. They will appear again in court next Thursday (February 20).

Blondie Maswanganyi was buried on Tuesday.