Six suspects accused of Kidnapping, Assaulting and Imputing witchcraft on an elderly woman aged 81 from Zinyosini, at Mount Fletcher made a brief appearance in Mt Fletcher Magistrate Court on Thursday 17 June 2021.
Their appearance in court is a sequel to an incident where the police were called by a member of the community to intervene in a mob justice situation in which the elderly woman was being assaulted and accused of witchcraft.
When the police arrived at the scene, the 81 year old was already stripped naked, tied with a rope and assaulted in an open field and in full view of the people.
The Station Commander assembled other stakeholders which included the Municipality, Traditional Leaders and Social Development in an attempt to rescue the elderly woman from the violent crowd. Eventually, the elderly was taken away from the mob, to a place of safety.
Police opened cases of Assault GBH, Kidnapping and Imputing witchcraft and arrested six suspects aged between 30 and 40 on 14 June 2021 at Kwathafa and Zinyosini in Mount Fletcher.
All six suspects remain in police custody and are expected back in court on Tuesday the 22 June 2021 in Mount Fletcher for formal bail application.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga has expressed concerns at the Youth whose morals have been eroded by social evils and lack of education into community values. “Young men such as these, are supposed to be the protectors of the elderly rather than being violent against them. They are expected to be more enlightened to know that chasing elderly people on untested and unsubstantiated allegations of witchcraft carries with it serious repercussions” said General Ntshinga.
