SANGOMA ACCUSED OF KILLING A COUPLE AND A FORMER SENIOR POLICE OFFICER DENIED BAIL
LUTENDO LIVHEBE – MUDAU. The Libode Magistrates’ Court has denied the release on bail of a charismatic young traditional healer (Sangoma) Thandazani “Zanezulu” Mcetywa (27), who is facing three counts of murder. It is alleged that he killed a married couple from Cacadu, formerly Lady Frere, and retired police Colonel Bongiwe Fikela. Mcetywa was arrested on 22 April 2022, following the discovery of the man and his wife dead in their vehicle after having consulted with him.
Further police investigations led to the addition of a further charge of murder relating to the mysterious death of Colonel Fikela under similar circumstances. The Sangoma lured his victims through advertisements on the social media platform, Tik-Tok, where he claimed to have supernatural powers to make people rich. His co-accused, Anathi Doris Njikazi, the niece of the late Colonel Fikela, was also denied bail. She is charged with conspiracy to commit murder. She allegedly conspired with Mcetywa to have her aunt killed as she wanted to benefit from the pension monies the ex-police officer expected, after her long service in the SAPS.
The court found that the two had failed to discharge their onus to prove on the balance of probabilities that exceptional circumstances exist for their release on bail. It accepted Prosecutor Yongama Hlangu’s argument that the case was very serious, and the state has a strong case against them. Mcetywa also faces a charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The case has been postponed to 30 December 2022, for the finalisation of investigations before the matter is transferred to a superior court.
