Woman disappears after failing to pay inyanga

Vuyelwa Sibindi
A WOMAN who failed to pay a sangoma disappeared without a trace prompting the village to suspect the hand of the sangoma.

Thenjiwe Mlambo from Goho Village in Plumtree is said to have disappeared after failing to pay for services rendered by the local medicine man Brilliant Nkala.

Nkala is said to have cleaned Mlamboa��s womb and when she failed to pay he issued her with a stern warning.

a�?She once had a problem with her womb which led to her hospitalisation but she was discharged after failing to pay the money needed for her operation. She was then referred to Nkala who performed certain rituals which I am not aware of. He then charged her R2 500 for his services.A� However, she failed to pay him on time and started to avoid him,a�? said her neighbour Mongameli Tshuma.

Although there are suspicions that Mlambo could be in hiding, Tshuma found something strange with the way she disappeared hence she suspects foul play.

a�?One minute she was washing and the next she was gone. Some villagers suspect that she drowned while others blame Nkala,a�? added Tshuma.

The accused Nkala says he has no idea about issues relating to Mlambo because when he heals people he is not the same person and he does not even recall dealing with people when he is in that state.

a�?I cana��t confirm or deny Mlamboa��s ordeal as I have a spirit that does the healing inside me therefore when the spirit and the patient make an agreement my bodily form will not be part of it,a�? said Nkala.

For anything to do with his healing issues Nkala said people should contact his spirit.

a�?An agreement was made and she was to adhere to it. I am not part of that agreement as only she and the spirit know. Therefore I dona��t want to be bothered about such issues and also I do not appreciate being suspected of being behind her disappearance,a�? he said. . .