The Mutshinya family of Bungeni village in the Waterval area were attacked by angry villagers, following allegations that they practice witchcraft in the village.

“A group of angry villagers came around eight on Wednesday night and started beating up my husband, smashing the windows and doors of our house. It happened so fast that I even thought that I might be dreaming,” said Patron Baloyi, the wife of Andries Mutshinya (85).

Mutshinya had to be rushed to the nearby Elim Hospital after he was beaten severely by roughly 100 community members who wanted him dead. It was during this incident that one of Mutshinya´s mud rondavels was burned down.

“Had it not been for our neighbours who called the police, my husband would have been killed,” said Baloyi.

What Mirror learnt through the grapevine during its visit to the village was that Mutshinya was being accused of having killed his daughter´s friend, who also happened to be his neighbour. The man was buried in the village a week ago.

The spokesperson for the Waterval SAPS, Kedibone Mabatha, confirmed the incident and said it had happened around eight in the evening. “It is in one of those cases where we were forced to use sjamboks to disperse the crowd, who were heavily armed with dangerous wooden sticks,” he said.

He added that charges of arson, malicious damage to property, assault and attempted murder had been opened with the police and that investigations were still continuing.

“We have managed to arrest three of the people who were causing the riots. We appreciate the efforts from community members who continuously assist the police in cases like these,” he said.

The damage caused at the family dwellings is estimated at R100 000.

When Mirror visited the family last Wednesday, Mutshinya was arriving back home from the hospital. He was still recovering from injuries to his head, legs and hands.

According to Mutshinya, his family are now living in fear of the community members who had beaten him after burning down his house. “We really don’t know what will happen now. We now fear for our lives. What I know is that I am innocent and the allegations are untrue,” he said.