Sangoma kills wife's lover

A sangoma from Bulu Village at Mphoengs in Plumtree allegedly stabbed his wife's suspected lover to death with a knife, which he claimed he was instructed to always carry by ancestral spirits.

Bekezela Maphepha Mpofu (46) appeared before the Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Lawrence Kamocha charged with the murder of his neighbour, Nkululeko Sibanda (30).

Mpofu pleaded not guilty to the charge, saying he stabbed Sibanda in self-defence.

The traditional healer claimed Sibanda invited him to his homestead to discuss the affair, but the neighbour, with the help of Mpofu's wife, ganged up on him and attacked him.

Mpofu claims Sibanda told him that his wife was a prostitute and he must chase her away from his home as he had just engaged sex with her in the hut where he had gone to collect some relish.

Mpofu said he went with his wife to Sibanda's home and he told his neighbour and his wife to respect him.

The traditional healer said that is when he slapped Sibanda, who punched him with a fist, leading to a fight between them.

When he realised that they were overpowering him, he produced a knife from his pocket, which he was instructed to always carry along by my ancestral spirits.

Mpofu said he first stabbed his wife and later stabbed Sibanda, and it was dark in the hut so he did not see who he was stabbing again.