JOHANNESBURG. —A 31-year-old sangoma who lured a client into a secluded bush under the pretence of performing a cleansing ritual before murdering and beheading him has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
William Thibedi was convicted of premeditated murder by the Atamelang Regional Court in the North West after evidence revealed how he exploited his client’s trust, killed him and threatened witnesses into silence. The murder, committed in January 2019, remained concealed for nearly four years until a family dispute exposed the crime in December 2022.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Thibedi arranged the ritual after the victim approached him seeking spiritual assistance.
NPA spokesperson Lindiwe Mabasa said Thibedi enlisted the assistance of his younger brother and a friend before taking the victim to a secluded bush area at night.
The ritual began with Thibedi pouring water mixed with traditional medicine over the victim. He then instructed his brother and friend to leave, claiming that the next stage of the ritual was confidential and could only be performed in private.
“A short while later, the two men returned and were horrified to discover Thibedi cutting off the deceased’s head with a knife,” Mabasa said. “When questioned, Thibedi claimed that his ancestors had instructed him to commit the act.”
He subsequently dug a grave and buried the victim’s body before placing his severed head and hands in a bucket, which he removed from the scene. Thibedi also threatened his younger brother and friend with serious consequences if they revealed what they had witnessed.
The victim’s family later reported him missing, unaware that he had been murdered during the supposed cleansing ritual.
The killing remained a secret until December 2022, when an argument between Thibedi and his younger brother led to a breakthrough.
During the dispute, his brother threatened to expose the murder.
A cousin overheard the confrontation and alerted other relatives. The information eventually reached the victim’s family, who reported the allegations to police.
A murder investigation was opened at Madibogo Police Station, leading to Thibedi’s arrest that same month. “Following his arrest, Thibedi made a confession and pointed out the locations where he had buried the deceased’s remains,” Mabasa said.
Police subsequently recovered the victim’s head and the bucket in which it had been concealed. —IOL
