The body of a 30 year old Spiritual Healer Mopipi Abraham Phiri was on 12 January 2020, retrieved from the Olifants (Lepelle) river under Malipsdrift policing area after attempting to fulfil his vow to the community of Machakaneng that he would be able to find a 12 year old boy who was swept away by the same river on 22 December 2019.
The Healer allegedly told the community of the said village that the boy was still alive and that he needed R13 000.00 to retrieve him from the river. The community allegedly agreed to first give him R10 000.00, but only after he brought back the child.
On Friday 10 January 2020, at about 17:00 the Healer indeed got into the river and was presumed drowned as he never resurfaced. The police were then called and the Search and Rescue Team was activated. His body was recovered when it emerged from the shallow waters on the river banks, several kilometers from where he got into the water.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba visited the scene and condemned the actions of this Spiritual Healer who performed dangerous rituals that ended his life. The General went further and warned all community members to desist from entering flooding rivers for whatever reason to avoid drowning.
Meanwhile, the search for the 12 year old boy from Machakaneng village who drowned during December last year is still continuing. The human remains that were found by a fisherman in the same river on Sunday 29 December 2019 are still the subject of DNA examination.
The Police have opened an Inquest docket and investigations are continuing.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
