Pythons advise sangomas on patients' illnesses'

THESE two inyangas are known for their powerful healing abilities - but they said they have outside help.

According to Sphamandla (32) and Sifiso Mthethwa (22), their remarkable abilities come from their ancestral pythons!

The brothers from Spruitview, Ekurhuleni, told Daily Sun they started using pythons to heal people after being called by their ancestors. The brothers even sleep with their snakes at night to allow the reptiles to transfer their powers to them.

Sphamandla said, "We communicate well with these ancestral snakes and we understand each other. They open their mouths to say things and there are many other signs of communication.

"When we consult patients, the pythons must be here because they advise us on the patients' illnesses and what muthi to use on them."

The pythons are called Thumbu and Zanele. They travel with the brothers wherever they go.

"Our snakes help us heal people who are being bewitched and those who are sick. We even strengthen weak households. But we don't heal HIV and we can't make people win the Lotto," said Sifiso.

He said he had given up his job as an electrical engineer to be an inyanga full-time as he got sick every time he left the snakes to do other work.