By Gcina Ntsaluba
A 57-year-old Makhanda spiritual healer, Ntombentsha Limbo, was sentenced to nine years imprisonment for the death of 10-year-old boy who was brought to her for healing. Limbo was sentenced by the Makhanda Regional Court after she was convicted on a charge of culpable homicide.
According to Luxolo Tyali the Regional Communications Manager at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA): “The offence occurred on 4 October 2023 in Joza Location, Makhanda, where the deceased Agcobile Busakwe collapsed and died after numerous unconventional treatment methods were administered on him by the healer. He had been taken to the healer by his father following some concerns regarding his health and performance at school.”
“The child was physically well and active at the time, even joking and playing with his father,” he said.
“Limbo initiated the treatment bringing the deceased and his father five litres of salted water each, in a bucket, to induce vomiting. The father finished first, while his son struggled and ultimately left about 750ml of the water, without vomiting a lot. Returning to the structure where they were being treated, the young child informed his father that he was not feeling well, citing a headache and sleepiness.”
Then the son requested to go and relieve himself, but he vomited before reaching the door. “He had soiled himself a little bit. The accused is said to have assisted him there. On their return, they found the father of deceased cleaning his watery vomit and the healer gave the boy a clean pair of pants to wear. The boy indicated that he wanted to sleep, which he was allowed to do on the couch with his head resting on his father’s lap.”
Tyali said the healer continued to treat other patients and on her return to the father and son, she suggested that an enema be done on the boy because of his lethargy and headache.
“Citing that she had been shown a vision of something in his stomach, the father agreed and another five litres of water was prepared. The child was woken up and given enema. The process was repeated until the 5L of water was finished. The child was getting progressively weak, and he was crying, at some point asking his father to stop the healer as he felt he was going to die,” said Tyali.
“These pleas fell on deaf ears, his father was in fact convinced by the healer that his son would be well, and he was told it could be the evil spirit that was refusing the treatment,” he added.
Another five litres of water was prepared, this time with a bar of sunlight soap in it, and another enema was performed with this water. The boy was then allowed to lie down, but not before water had been poured into his eyes, ears, nostrils and mouth, in another effort, to remove “evil spirits” from him.
Tyali said because the boy was not getting better Limbo called one of her mentors asking for advice. “At that stage, the father noticed that his breathing was not normal, and he was foaming at the mouth. The mentor suggested that an ambulance be called, but the father ran to a local clinic and was advised to bring the child for medical attention. He organised transport for his child who was then taken to the local clinic. Attempts were made to resuscitate the now unconscious child, to no avail.”
During the trial a medical doctor who performed the postmortem testified that had the boy been given medical attention earlier his organs and subsequently his brain would not have failed.
“The doctor told the court that even an adult having received almost 15 litres of water in his body, would not have survived.” Limbo pleaded not guilty to the charge. She admitted all the treatments and the manner in which she performed them. “She did not deny any of the evidence of the state even under examination in chief. She only disputed having caused the death of the deceased,” said Tyali.
