Life for two elderly women from Tshikuwi Ramalamula village in Nzhelele have become a nightmare. Instead of relaxing in the comfort and safety of their own homes, these two grannies now have to seek refuge at the Mphephu police station. Their houses have been burnt down by angry community members, following witchcraft allegations.

The two neighbours, Mrs Phophi Mulwela (72) and Mrs Mushathama Makushu (84), were chased out of the village on 11 January this year. The police had to move in and rescue the two elderly ladies, as their lives were in serious danger. Outraged community members even took to the streets and barricaded the main road to Wylliespoort with heavy stones and burning tires in an effort to stop the police from rescuing the women. 

The unrest in the community apparently flared up after a 14-year old girl went missing for a day. When she returned, she alleged that she had been kept by “zombies”. The young girl allegedly told community members that she had been kept in the Madimbo area and had been forced to get married to a member of the village who had died a few years previously.

Angry community members then opted to take out their wrath on the two elderly women and burn their houses down. Were it not for the intervention of the police, the two women might have died as a result of the attack.

Mrs Phophi Mulwela was still very traumatized when Limpopo Mirror visited the Mphephu police station this week. “It is painful to be accused of things you know nothing about,” she said. So far, the two women have survived, thanks to the food parcels their relatives deliver daily to the police station. A tent was erected to provide a temporary home for the grannies.

Mrs Mulwela’s three grandchildren, who were staying with her at the time of the incident, are staying with her relatives. “My eldest daughter's children are staying with my child in another homestead at the same village,” she said.

Mrs Mulwela alleged that before the actual incident occurred a young boy in the village assaulted her eldest daughter and accused her of bewitching his young brother.   

Mrs Makushu said she had lost many of her belongings that had been destroyed when the house was set alight. “We understand and believe that as elders we should not be treated in this manner. Even today I don’t remember people being engaged in such evil deeds,” said.

The police have thus far arrested more than 20 people from the village for arson. The police spokesperson, W/O Lazarus Netshidzati, said the damage to the houses was estimated at around R164 000. He said they were still investigating the incident and the police were also appealing to those who had run away to Gauteng to hand themselves over to the police.

The arrested people will appear in the Dzanani Magistrate's Court on 25 February.